How Wisconsin’s Dominant Running Game Became Its Achilles’ Heel in Loss to BYU

The Wisconsin Badgers suffered a heartbreaking 91-89 loss to BYU on Saturday, ending their NCAA Tournament run in the opening weekend.

Despite a valiant comeback effort, the Badgers couldn’t overcome key issues, including inconsistent defense and poor shooting. However, the biggest blow came from the free-throw line. Wisconsin, the nation’s top free-throw shooter at 82.7%, missed several key attempts, finishing at 79.3%. In contrast, BYU shot an exceptional 93.8% (15/16), which proved decisive. With a higher volume of free throws, Wisconsin’s struggles at the line ultimately cost them a chance at their eighth consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearance.