Wisconsin and Michigan Men's Basketball Clash in 2026 Big Ten Semifinal
The 23rd-ranked Wisconsin Badgers (24-9) took on the third-ranked Michigan Wolverines (30-2) in a Big Ten Tournament Semifinal Game. The Badgers, coming off a heart-stopping victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini, handed the Wolverines their first loss of the season back in January. The Wolverines, who just achieved their third win over Ohio State this season, would avenge their prior loss to the Badgers. At the same time, the Wolverines would also repeat a spot in the Big Ten Tournament Championship, edging out Wisconsin 68 to 65.
The majority of Wisconsin's points in the first half came from beyond the arc. The Badgers put on a three-point showcase. Wisconsin's big man, Aleksas Bieliauskas, ran hot and went three-for-four in three-pointers. With eight minutes left in the first quarter, both teams combined for 12 uncharacteristic turnovers and 11 made field goals. Michigan's starters struggled from the field in the first half. At one point, they made more free throws than field goals. The Wolverines' bench came in clutch and outscored Wisconsin's bench to shrink their lead to one with a minute and 15 seconds to go. A highlight layup by Nick Boyd seemingly closed out the half with 40 seconds to go, but a passing sequence from Michigan led to a tying three-pointer from Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg, assisted by Trey McKenney. This completed a 10 to two run in favor of the Badgers to end the half. Wisconsin held Michigan to its fewest points in the first half this season, at 28. The half lacked any offensive rhythm, as both teams shot 30% from the field. Wisconsin's first-half success, marked by three-point shooting, ran short as Michigan's bench closed the gap, outscoring Wisconsin's bench 14 to one. Both teams split the turnover total with eight each. The scoring leader for Wisconsin in the first half was Beliauskas with nine points. McKenney led Michigan with seven points.
Wisconsin ran cold beyond the arc at the start of the second half. They started zero-for-five, a troubling pattern that led them to miss 12 of 15 three-point attempts. Michigan picked up where they left off at the end of the first half, extending their prior 10 to two run to a 19 to five run. With 12:55 left in the second half, Wisconsin found itself in foul trouble and struggled to defend the rebounding. Nearing the halfway mark of the second half, Michigan's shooting from the field significantly improved. Michigan took a double-figure lead over the Badgers, 50 to 39. Wolverines Center and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Aday Mara, led the way defensively with five blocks. At this point, it appeared Michigan might run away with it.
With just over seven minutes to go, the Badgers went on a desperate 11 to two run to cut the lead to six. Wisconsin then seemed to rediscover its first-half shooting and tied the game after a flurry of three-pointers. This extended their 11-to-two run to 17 with just over five minutes to play. Most of those three-pointers came from forward Austin Rapp. All his points were made in the second half, and all from beyond the arc. He reignited the Badgers' offense and seemed to shift the momentum in Wisconsin's favor, leading 62 to 60 with two and a half minutes to go. It was their first time leading since the first half. Mara tied the game for the Wolverines with a minute and a half to go. Going into the final minute, Elliot Cadeau hit a nail-biting three-pointer that touched every bit of the rim, extending the Wolverines' lead by three. Boyd struck back, nailing another three-pointer with 29 on the clock. Michigan had the game in its hands. Yaxel Lenderborg, Big Ten player of the year, stepped up and nailed a massive three-point shot with point four left on the clock. This sealed the Michigan Wolverines' victory, 68-65. They held off the Badgers' desperate three-point spree, avenged their home loss, and are moving on to the Big Ten title game to play the winner of UCLA and Purdue.
