There’s the trap game, the letdown game and the bounce back game.
The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team survived the trap game, heading into its matchup with then-No 12 Michigan State.
But, after beating the Spartans — their biggest win of the season — the Badgers just couldn’t survive the inevitable “letdown” game against Maryland on Monday, losing 70-64.
Now, the sixth-ranked Badgers (8-2, 2-1) look for victory in the “bounce back game,” but it won’t be easy on the road against No. 21 Minnesota (9-1, 2-1) at the odd 3:30 p.m. tipoff Thursday on the Big Ten Network, since it’s New Years Eve.
La Crosse’s Jonathan Davis played just 18 minutes in the loss to the Terrapins, scoring four points on 2-for-3 shooting.
The 6-foot-5 freshman guard is averaging 7.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and a combined 1.3 blocks/steals. Davis is shooting 47.6% from the field (4-for-10 from deep) and just 10 of 16 from the free-throw line.
And while Wisconsin took out then-No. 12 Michigan St. 85-76 on Christmas, the Gophers beat the Spartans 81-56 at home on Monday. That came after they took out then-No. 4 Iowa 102-95 in overtime on Christmas.
TOP PHOTO: FILE – Wisconsin’s Jonathan Davis, left, shoots against Michigan State’s Joshua Langford during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Dec. 25, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. Wisconsin won 85-76. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)