Border Battle Renewed | Big Ten Basketball's Blog

For anyone who is anyway shape or form associated with the Big 10 they'll tell you that the Wisconsin-Minnesota rivalry is one of the biggest in the conference. To me, at least, this is the second best rivalry in the Big 10. This past Saturday that rivalry renewed itself at the Kohl Center.

This game the Badgers were looking to sweep the season series from the Gophers. We accomplished that mission. However, the game was much closer than the 65-56 final score indicated. As a matter of fact the Badgers were down for much of this game. It was really nip and tuck all the way through.

Marcus Landry led the Badgers in scoring with 12 points. Which is exactly how the swing offense is meant to be run. The Badgers also had four other players in double figures with 11 each. Wisconsin's defense played in full effect this game allowing the Gophers to shoot 33 percent this game. However, the Gophers did hit 10 3's in the game.

This game really looked like it could go either way until about the 11 and a half minute mark of the second half when we took the lead. Minnesota just wasn't able to keep up with us from that point on. The big key in getting this win was the Badgers 17-21 free throw shooting in the second half which cemented the win.

To me our two games against Minnesota were two entirely different games. The game in Minneapolis the Gophers looked like they didn't belong on the same floor as the Badgers. This game the Gophers showed that they do belong on the same floor as us.

Everyone else in the Big 10 should get ready for Minnesota to be a contender in the coming years. Tubby Smith is really showing me he's the right guy for that job. They just don't have that ability to close it out quite yet. When they do get that though they'll be tough for anyone to beat.

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February 18, 2008 03:08 PM ET

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Nice entry.

2 Packer wins vs Minnesota
Paul Bunyan's Axe stays in Madtown
2 college b-ball hoops against Tubby.
Hopefully inter-divisional series wins for Brewers against Twins???

PackBrew42 is…

Miller Brewery, WI

Total Comments (4060)

February 18, 2008 03:14 PM ET

Oh and 1-0-1 against Minnesota in men's hockey so far.

February 18, 2008 03:16 PM ET

Women's hockey is 1-1 against Minnesota

badgerfan07 back in…

Whitewater , WI

Total Comments (1543)

February 18, 2008 03:33 PM ET

of course..

Anthony E-is out.

Easton , PA

Total Comments (5337)

February 18, 2008 03:41 PM ET

haha

February 18, 2008 03:55 PM ET

really good blog badge.

February 18, 2008 08:26 PM ET

thanks AE

February 24, 2008 09:30 PM ET

This was a nice blog. People really should watch out for Minnesota, but it is nice that Wisconsin has kept on top of this battle for a while.

Hoosierfan3

Total Comments (3)

March 14, 2008 11:22 PM ET

wow I thought Wisc. people only cared about Michigan, nice to see Gophers getting some respect at least.

I've been in MN for 5 years and have been on the wrong end of most of the games against Wisc. teams (though that playoff win where Favre threw all those INTs was pretty sweet...don't mean to be a smartass, I'm going to miss the guy, he was great to watch), but hopefully we'll turn it around soon. Nice blog.