Wisconsin gives up potential outright Big Ten title with loss to Nebraska

When playing in the Big Ten, there can be plenty of highs. For example, the Wisconsin Badgers clinched at least a share of the conference championship by hitting a game-winning shot against Purdue on Tuesday. It’s the program’s second regular-season Big Ten title in three years under Greg Gard.

But there are plenty of lows as well, with Wisconsin being on the receiving end of a brutal loss to Nebraska on Sunday afternoon. The Cornhuskers traveled to the Kohl Center with not much on the line. Fred Hoiberg’s team is dead last in the Big Ten and will not have any kind of postseason outside of the conference tournament. They took one from a Badgers team still pushing for a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament, 74-73.

With a loss, the Illinois Fighting Illini will now have a chance to put their name next to Wisconsin on the regular-season trophy with a win against Iowa on Sunday night. Although Illinois got a head-to-head victory at home in early February, the two would still split the title and would both be named Big Ten co-champions.

Wisconsin played much of the second half without their star player, Johnny Davis. He was seen limping off the court and was eventually ruled out after being on the receiving end of a Flagrant-2 foul. A huge Big Ten tournament is upcoming and Gard will be hoping to have one of the contenders for National Player of the Year healthy for it.

As for the big picture, the upset loss on Sunday could have a slight effect on where the Badgers are placed in the NCAA Tournament. Heading into the game, the latest CBS Sports bracketology placed Wisconsin in the South region, facing off against Montana State as a two-seed. Nebraska will count as a Quadrant 3 loss, a major blip in what is otherwise an impressive resume.

Wisconsin Badgers HC Greg Gard gives update on Johnny Davis

Wisconsin Badgers fans held their breath on Sunday afternoon, with National Player of the Year candidate Johnny Davis going down with an injury. He limped off the floor early in the second half during a loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers and did not return to the action.

After the game, Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard gave an update on one of the best players in the country. He gave an answer that will have the Badgers exhale, saying Davis is going to be fine heading into the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.

“I’m optimistic that he’s gonna be fine,” Gard said during his postgame press conference.