Busting Brackets
Fansided

Wisconsin Basketball: 3 takeaways from blowout win over No. 21 Minnesota

By Benjamin Zacher

Dec 31, 2020; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard D'Mitrik Trice (0) looks to pass as Minnesota Gophers guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) defends during the second half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2020; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard D'Mitrik Trice (0) looks to pass as Minnesota Gophers guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) defends during the second half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Wisconsin Badgers Nate Reuvers Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Wisconsin Badgers Nate Reuvers Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Nate Reuvers has struggled in Wisconsin’s latest outings – and they need him to return to form in order to be the complete package

After starting his senior campaign with three-straight double-digit performances with shooting performances better than 55.0%, senior forward Nate Reuvers has embarked on a stretch of subpar performances – and the Badgers will need him to get out of his slump now that Big Ten play has begun.

Reuvers led last year’s Big Ten regular-season co-champions in scoring (13.1 ppg) and blocks (1.9) while finishing second in rebounds (4.6) – and the start of his senior campaign continued that impressive stretch.  In Wisconsin’s season-opening wins over Eastern Illinois, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and Green Bay, Reuvers averaged 15.0 points, 2.6 blocks, and 5.0 rebounds – all the while shooting stellar 60.0%, 71.4%, and 55.6% clips in each respective game.

But his 11-point performance on a 40.0% clip in the Badgers’ loss to Marquette was the start of a slump for Reuvers, who recorded single-digits in points in Wisconsin’s next three outings.  He bounced back with 10 points against Nebraska – but again had single numbers against Michigan State and Maryland.  That is five single-digit games already – and he had just seven across all of last season.

Reuvers’ shooting percentages are all up from last season (44.8% to 45.1% on FGs, 33.7% to 39.1% on 3PTs, and 78.6% to 79.2% on FTs), but his points and rebounds are both down (13.1 to 10.0 in ppg and 4.5 to 4.1 rpg).  And, against Minnesota, Reuvers struggled again to find his stroke in just 19 minutes – the least played of all of Wisconsin’s starters.

Reuvers went 3-7 from the floor – a 42.9% clip – and was 1-2 from the charity stripe, recording his sixth single-digit game this season with seven points.  He did haul down six rebounds and collect a block, but his efficiency of 8.0 against Minnesota is staggering compared to D’Mitrik Trice (19.0), Aleem Ford (16.0), and Micah Potter (21.0).

Again, like Wisconsin’s defense, if the Badgers hope to contend for a national championship, they will need Nate Reuvers – their leading scorer from last season – to return to form and establish his dominance inside.

Home/Wisconsin Badgers