John Blackwell’s cold-blooded buzzer-beater from the wing capped his 27-point masterpiece, erased an 11-point second-half hole and pushed Wisconsin’s winning streak over Minnesota to double digits—10 in a row—while announcing the sophomore as the Big Ten’s newest late-game killer.
How It Unfolded: 11-Down to Instant Euphoria in 11 Minutes
Minnesota owned the night for 29 minutes. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (20 pts, 8 reb) and Isaac Asuma (17-9-5) pushed the Gophers up 41-30 early in the second half and still led 57-52 with 7:27 left.
Then Braeden Carrington—a senior who had never made more than four threes in a game—caught fire. He buried three triples in 97 seconds, part of a larger 14-0 Wisconsin avalanche that flipped the scoreboard to 66-57 and set up the frantic finish.
The Numbers That Matter
- John Blackwell: 27 pts, 5-7 3PT, 6-6 FT, 6 reb, 5 ast—zero turnovers.
- Braeden Carrington: Career-best 21 pts, 7-10 3PT off the bench.
- Nolan Winter: 8th double-double (12 pts, 11 reb) this season.
- Wisconsin’s closing kick: 26-18 over final 7:27, including 8-2 on second-chance points.
Minnesota’s Collapse: A Familiar Script
The Gophers have now lost 10 straight to the Badgers, the longest active skid in the rivalry and their worst since dropping 11 in a row from 1970-75. Despite shooting 45 percent from deep as a team and owning the glass for three quarters, they were outscored 50-40 after halftime and committed two live-ball turnovers inside the final 1:04—both leading to Wisconsin run-outs.
What It Means for Both Sides
Wisconsin (12-5, 4-2 Big Ten) climbs back into the crowded top-four chase and owns the tiebreaker over a fellow bubble team. More importantly, AP’s latest projection model slots the Badgers as a No. 8 seed—one spot higher than before tip-off—thanks to a second Quad-1 victory.
Minnesota (10-7, 3-3) misses a golden resume bullet and drops to 1-5 in games decided by five points or fewer. BracketMatrix consensus now lists the Gophers among the “First Four Out,” with a brutal closing stretch—at No. 13 Illinois, vs. Purdue, at Michigan State—looming.
Blackwell’s Leap: From Role Player to Closer
The sophomore entered Tuesday averaging 9.8 ppg and had never scored more than 16 in a Big Ten game. His 27-piece equaled the combined output of Wisconsin’s other four starters and marked the first buzzer-beater by a Badger since Brad Davison in 2019. NBA scouts in attendance noted his 6-4 frame, 6-9 wingspan and 38-inch max vertical—tools that now pair with proven late-game nerve.
Next Up
Wisconsin returns to the Kohl Center to host Rutgers on Saturday, while Minnesota treks to Champaign to face No. 13 Illinois in a must-win for its at-large profile. Tip-off times and broadcast info are available on the official Big Ten schedule.
Why This One Stings Extra for Minnesota
It isn’t just the 10th straight loss; it’s how identical the endings feel. Five of those defeats have come by four points or fewer, three on last-possession shots. The Gophers’ last victory over Wisconsin—Feb. 9, 2016—was so long ago that current sophomore guard Drake Dobbs was still in eighth grade.
Bottom Line
Blackwell’s heroics don’t just keep the axe in Madison; they accelerate Wisconsin’s March momentum and drop another dagger into a Gophers program that can’t seem to solve the red-and-white riddle. If Tuesday is any indication, the Badgers have found their next crunch-time star—and the Big Ten has another household name.
Stay locked on onlytrustedinfo.com for the fastest post-game breakdowns and next-day scouting notes that beat the pace of the sport itself.
