No. 23 Wisconsin held off a gritty Washington comeback behind John Blackwell‘s 34-point, six-3-pointer performance to secure an 85-82 victory and book a Big Ten quarterfinal spot.
The Wisconsin Badgers (23-9) advanced to the Big Ten quarterfinals with a harrowing 85-82 victory over Washington Huskies (16-17) Thursday at United Center, surviving an 18-6 late run that nearly erased an 18-point lead. The fifth-seeded Badgers will face fourth-seeded Illinois on Friday in a marquee matchup.
The catalyst was John Blackwell, who posted a game-high 34 points on 6-for-15 shooting from 3-point range, outscoring the entire Washington roster in the second half. His scoring burst helped Wisconsin build a commanding 66-48 lead with 13:23 remaining, but the Huskies mounted a relentless charge.
Washington’s comeback was fueled by freshman Hannes Steinbach‘s 25 points and 16 rebounds—his 22nd double-double—and Zoom Diallo‘s 21 points and seven assists. Diallo’s driving layup with 17 seconds left closed the gap to 83-82, but Andrew Rohde sank both free throws on a one-and-one to force Washington into a desperate final possession. Diallo’s pull-up 3-pointer at the buzzer missed, sealing Wisconsin’s escape.
Playing a third consecutive game without starting forward Nolan Winter (ankle), Wisconsin’s fast start was critical. They built a 20-7 lead early, with Hayden Jones‘s three-point play highlighting an opening offensive flurry. The Huskies whittled the deficit to 27-23 late in the first half, but Blackwell and Nick Boyd (23 points, nine assists) combined for 13 straight points to restore control. Aleksas Bieliauskas‘s three-point play just before halftime extended the lead to 43-33.
From a strategic perspective, Wisconsin’s ability to withstand Washington’s pressure without their top interior presence speaks to their offensive versatility. Blackwell’s volume from deep—nearly 39% of Wisconsin’s 3-pointers came from him—was both a high-risk, high-reward tactic and a response to Winter’s absence clogging the lane.
For Washington, the loss ends a valiant tournament run by a program adapting to the Big Ten. Steinbach’s emergence as a consistent double-double threat and Diallo’s playmaking offer promise, but the postseason revealed defensive vulnerabilities when trailing by double digits.
What’s next? Wisconsin’s quarterfinal clash with Illinois presents a familiar foe; the teams split two regular-season meetings. The Badgers’ perimeter attack will test an Illini defense that relies on physicality. Meanwhile, Washington’s season concludes at 16-17, with this tournament run providing crucial experience for a young core.
The game’s narrative arc—dominance to desperation—mirrors the volatility of single-elimination tournament basketball. Blackwell’s scoring explosion was the difference, but Wisconsin’s composure in the final minute, epitomized by Rohde’s clutch free throws, proved just as vital.
For fans, the late collapse will spark debate about rotations and late-game strategy, but the result moves Wisconsin one step closer to a potential automatic NCAA Tournament bid. The Huskies, despite the loss, likely secured an at-large opportunity with this showing.
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