Wisconsin Vs. Washington: Badgers Take First-Half Lead as Big Ten Tournament Opens

Wisconsin opened its Big Ten tournament run Thursday afternoon with a narrow edge over Washington, leading 35-31 with 2:05 left in the first half in Chicago.

The No. 5 seed Badgers entered the third-round matchup looking to keep alive a familiar March pattern after reaching the Big Ten title game from the same seed in each of the past two seasons. Washington, the No. 12 seed, arrived with momentum after an overtime win a day earlier and showed quickly that this rematch would be tighter than Wisconsin’s regular-season blowout in Seattle.

Nick Boyd and John Blackwell Set the Early Pace

Wisconsin’s offense got its best early production from Nick Boyd and John Blackwell. Boyd had 13 points and four assists before halftime, while Blackwell added 11 points as the Badgers built a small but meaningful cushion.

That backcourt production mattered because Washington stayed within reach for most of the opening half. Wisconsin shot 41% from the floor and hit seven 3-pointers in the early going, enough to keep control without fully breaking the game open.

The Badgers also got work on the glass from Aleksas Bieliauskas, who had seven rebounds in the first half. That helped Wisconsin manage a game that never completely settled into a comfortable rhythm.

Washington Stayed Close Behind Hannes Steinbach

Washington did not fade after playing extra basketball the day before. Hannes Steinbach led the Huskies with 10 points and seven rebounds in the first half, giving them a steady interior presence against a Wisconsin team that had beaten them 90-73 on February 28.

Courtland Muldrew also provided useful support, and the Huskies remained close despite uneven perimeter shooting. Washington was just 2-for-10 from 3-point range in the first-half snapshot, but it did enough inside and at the foul line to prevent Wisconsin from turning the game into another runaway.

That resilience fits the way Washington reached this matchup. The Huskies rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit on Wednesday and beat USC 83-79 in overtime, with Zoom Diallo leading the way in a high-minute, high-pressure performance.

Why This Game Matters for the Badgers

For Wisconsin, Thursday is about more than surviving one tournament game. The Badgers finished the regular season 22-9 overall and 14-6 in Big Ten play, good for the No. 5 seed and another chance to make noise in Chicago before the NCAA tournament bracket is revealed Sunday.

A win would move Wisconsin into a quarterfinal against Illinois on Friday, giving the Badgers another résumé-building opportunity and a chance to build momentum at exactly the right time of year.

The larger issue is form. Wisconsin closed the regular season with a strong win over Purdue and entered the tournament as one of the conference’s more dangerous teams when its guards are creating clean looks and its shooters are spacing the floor.

The Rematch Looked Different From the First Meeting

The first meeting between these teams was defined by Wisconsin’s shooting avalanche. Braeden Carrington scored 32 points in that February road win and hit a program-record nine 3-pointers, helping the Badgers overwhelm Washington.

Thursday’s game was different from the start. Washington looked better prepared for Wisconsin’s spacing, and the Badgers had to work much harder for separation. Instead of one long scoring burst, the first half became a series of smaller runs and responses.

That is often how conference tournament games unfold, especially when one team is trying to protect seeding and the other is playing with upset urgency.

What to Watch in the Second Half

The biggest question for Wisconsin is whether it can turn a slim lead into control. The Badgers had the more efficient perimeter offense in the first half, but Washington’s work inside and its ability to hang around kept the pressure on.

For the Huskies, the test is whether they can sustain another late push less than 24 hours after an overtime win. If Steinbach continues to produce and the guards find more consistent outside shooting, Washington has a path to make the final minutes uncomfortable for the Badgers.

As of late in the first half, Wisconsin had the lead it wanted. It did not yet have the separation it expected.