By Shannon RyanMADISON, Wis. - Just another victory against a ranked opponent at the Kohl Center.
While it has become a common occurrence, Wisconsin fans will take the repetitiveness. The latest Kohl Center conquest was especially captivating for the No. 16 Badgers (17-5, 7-3 Big Ten), who served No. 5 Michigan State (19-4, 9-1)its first conference loss of the season 67-49.
"I thought for the most part that was an old-fashioned whooping," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.
The Wisconsin victory extended the Badgers' home winning streak to 18 games. With three home victories against top 10 teams for the first time since 1988-89, their tournament resume looks polished.
Photo: Wisconsin's Ryan Evans dunks one home in the Badgers' win. (Andy Manis/AP)
The Badgers already had beaten No. 6 Duke, No. 15 Ohio State and No. 4
Purdue on their home court this season. After falling to Michigan State
54-47 on the road, Wisconsin can add the Spartans to the list.
"It's nice to beat teams like that at home that have a lot of talent," said guard Jordan Taylor, who scored 17 points with four assists and only one turnover. "At the same time, it's one game."
Michigan State had been cruising through the Big Ten schedule with nine straight victories and the only team in the league without a loss. The Spartans fell off course in Madison, where they never led after an opening free throw and lost point guard Kalin Lucas to an ankle injury in the second half.
This week could make the conference race much tighter as Michigan State must play at rival Illinois on Saturday and then host Purdue on Tuesday in the first of two meetings this season.
"it's huge we want to win the Big Ten title," Taylor said. "It puts us back in contention. ... We just have to keep winning and see how it plays out."
Lucas was helped off the court with less than 11 minutes remaining after he twisted his right ankle on a three-point attempt when he came down on Wisconsin's Keaton Nankivil's foot.
Izzo predicted this might be the hardest stretch of games during his tenure. And it started rougher than anyone expected.
The Spartans were hardly ever in the game, falling behind 10-1 in the first four minutes and trailing by 17 points in the first half.
Taylor led an unstoppable three-point attack, scoring 10 points in the opening five minutes. He and Jason Bohannon (19 points) each made three of the Badgers' nine three-pointers.
Wisconsin turned the ball over five times but forced 13 Michigan State turnovers.
"I told a lot of people we're not going to go undefeated," Izzo said. "Now we have to figure out how to bounce back."
"It's nice to beat teams like that at home that have a lot of talent," said guard Jordan Taylor, who scored 17 points with four assists and only one turnover. "At the same time, it's one game."
Michigan State had been cruising through the Big Ten schedule with nine straight victories and the only team in the league without a loss. The Spartans fell off course in Madison, where they never led after an opening free throw and lost point guard Kalin Lucas to an ankle injury in the second half.
This week could make the conference race much tighter as Michigan State must play at rival Illinois on Saturday and then host Purdue on Tuesday in the first of two meetings this season.
"it's huge we want to win the Big Ten title," Taylor said. "It puts us back in contention. ... We just have to keep winning and see how it plays out."
Lucas was helped off the court with less than 11 minutes remaining after he twisted his right ankle on a three-point attempt when he came down on Wisconsin's Keaton Nankivil's foot.
Izzo predicted this might be the hardest stretch of games during his tenure. And it started rougher than anyone expected.
The Spartans were hardly ever in the game, falling behind 10-1 in the first four minutes and trailing by 17 points in the first half.
Taylor led an unstoppable three-point attack, scoring 10 points in the opening five minutes. He and Jason Bohannon (19 points) each made three of the Badgers' nine three-pointers.
Wisconsin turned the ball over five times but forced 13 Michigan State turnovers.
"I told a lot of people we're not going to go undefeated," Izzo said. "Now we have to figure out how to bounce back."
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