The Badgers have won at least one part of the conference title for the second time in three seasons.
In the final minute of regulation filled with clutch shots and go-forward buckets, Wisconsin's Chucky Hepburn called the glass — and then he called the game. On Tuesday evening with 1.5 seconds left between the No. 10 Badgers and the No. 8 visiting Purdue, the Wisconsin freshman broke the 67-all game with a heave from the 3-point line, which removed the glass and cup, That made the Badgers at least part of the Big Ten title for the second time in three years in a 70–67 victory.
Hepburn's advancing bucket gave him 15th, 16th and 17th points of the night and blessed the congregation in Madison to begin the coronation for the program's fifth regular-season title since 2000. Purdue had little chance of forcing overtime and its play on the ensuing play was intercepted by Wisconsin as the clock expired.
Ladies and Gentleman, we give you @ChuckyHepburn!!!
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 2, 2022
CC: @BadgerMBB pic.twitter.com/pg78HWA5T7
Hepburn's shot came at the end of a frantic final sequence that began suitably with a kiss from the glass, when teammate Johnny Davis balked at a jumper with 25 seconds to spare and gave Wisconsin a 67–64 lead. and ended up with his own which effectively sealed the victory. , In between, Purdue star Jaden Ivey added drama to all of this with a game-tying 3 over the key.
THE ENDING OF PURDUE-WISCONSIN 😳 pic.twitter.com/P5W87dY2DX
— ESPN (@espn) March 2, 2022
Hepburn, a freshman who averaged 7.8 points per game in the season, was one of three Wisconsin players who finished in double digits in the scoring. Tyler Wahl took the lead with 19 points and star Johnny Davis added 17 after a slow start. Purdue, meanwhile, was led by Jaden Ivey by 22 points.
Wisconsin, now settled 15-1 this season with games on six points or fewer, could claim an outright Big Ten title on Sunday as Nebraska tours Madison.
Here are three takeaways from Wisconsin's dramatic win on Tuesday.
1. Purdue is never dead
About halfway through the second half, Wisconsin ran out of their biggest lead of the game and took control by 11 points. This is around the same time that Purdue commissioned the jet, eventually making a comeback that allowed Wisconsin to take the lead before finishing the job. It marked the seventh time this season that Boilermaker has gone past double digits in a game, but only for the fourth time it has not been able to surpass it with a win (with three prior comebacks all coming in the final 11 minutes). are). It's probably not a good idea that Purdue has to constantly jump out of holes this season, but here's credit: Purdue is never dead, even when it feels like it should be. Put that little nugget in your hat for March.
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2. Purdue Is Dead in the Big Ten Race
A win over Wisconsin on Tuesday was a must for Purdue to keep their Big Ten regular-season title hopes alive. Alas, late-game Jaden Ivey couldn't help crossing the double-bank at Weird Madison. The Boilermakers fell two games from Wisconsin's lead in the standings with the loss and the Badgers 1.5 games ahead of Illinois, so it's everything but a wrap for the regular-season race.
3. Johnny Davis comes alive after a slow start
Throughout the season, Davis has been the superstar who regularly appears at the biggest games and biggest moments. And while he arrived late to the party on Tuesday - he struggled in the first half, hitting just one shot off the ground - his second-half arrival helped seal the deal. He finished with 10 points in the final 20 minutes of action and made one of the most clutch shots of the game as he banked in a 2-pointer from the top of the key with 25 seconds remaining to cushion Wisconsin 67-64 .