Wisconsin upsets Purdue on Kaminsky’s jersey retirement night

WISCONSIN 57

PURDUE 53

Madison, W.I. ~ The Wisconsin Badgers Men’s Basketball Program needed this win. For the players and especially the fan base. In a dismal season for the team, the Badgers have their momentum back after a shocking 57-53 victory over the sixth-ranked Purdue Boilermakers in a very special night in which beloved former Wisconsin star, Frank Kaminsky was honored.

However, new Badgers star Ethan Happ stole a bit of the spotlight on Kaminsky’s big night; he had his #44 jersey retired and got a plack from the Kohl Center floor.

Happ was all smiles after his 21 point, 12 rebound game when the fans stormed the court including Kaminsky, who gave a big hug to Happ, and his former teammates that helped Wisconsin make two straight Final Fours. The party slid into the locker room as Wisconsin alumni such as Kaminsky, Sam Dekker, Josh Gasser, Ben Brust, Nigel Hayes, and Bronson Koenig dumped water onto head coach Greg Gard as he entered the locker room.

Happ was the leader and drew double teams in this game as usual, but got some big help from guards including Brad Davison and Brevin Pritzl. Davison scored 16 point and made some big plays down the stretch. Pritzl added eight points for the Badgers to go along with six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

But it wasn’t the offense that won the Wisconsin its fifth Big 10 game of the season, it was the defense.

They knew coming in to their second match-up with Purdue that they needed tough D. In their last meeting, the Badgers gave up 78 points in a game that the Boilermakers won by 28 points. However, this time, it was different.

“I’ve seen a lot of really good defensive efforts,” said Gard. “This probably ranks right up there in terms of the job they did. They were engaged, they were for the most part in the right spot at the right time. They’ve grown.”

Wisconsin held Purdue to a 39.7 shooting percentage. The Boilermakers only shot 4 of 17 from three point land, and only scored 16 points from the paint.

Wisconsin got a big win; their first over a ranked team this season out of seven games, and it was much needed especially with what happened in the pregame and halftime.

Hopefully this win gives the team and and fans resurgence and new life coming down the stretch of the season.

By Jacob Szczap