Key stats that defined Wisconsin's NCAA Tournament win over Montana

USA Today

21-03-2025

Key stats that defined Wisconsin's NCAA Tournament win over Montana
The Wisconsin Badgers silenced all doubters Thursday afternoon, defeating the Montana Grizzlies 85-66 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
After a competitive first half, the Badgers pulled away in the frame thanks to strong performances from John Blackwell and Steven Crowl, as well as key reserve minutes from forward Xavier Amos. Five Wisconsin players scored in the double figures, demonstrating the team's depth of talent.
Wisconsin will now meet No. 6-seed BYU in the second round, a team that is red-hot with 10 wins in its last 11 games. BYU defeated a strong VCU Rams team that many had highlighted as a potential sleeper in the round of 64. The Badgers' front-court matches up well against the Cougars, just as it did against Montana. Wisconsin's primary key to victory is a strong defensive performance against one nation's best offensive units. If it does, the Badgers should move onto the Sweet 16.
Before the focus shifts to the BYU matchup, here are three stats that defined Wisconsin's first-round victory over Montana:
Xavier Amos' 11 points, four rebounds, and two blocks
Xavier Amos delivered a season-best performance against Montana, totaling 11 points, four rebounds and two key blocks in 13 minutes off the bench. Those tallies are all far above his season-long averages of 3.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.3 blocks, hopefully marking the start of a hot stretch in tournament play.
The forward's best play came at the 9:55-minute mark of the second half, where he hit a huge three to extend Wisconsin's lead to 16. If Amos can keep this level of play up, Wisconsin has a real chance at making a deep run, potentially all the way to the Final Four.
Wisconsin's 24 two-point makes
One of Wisconsin's keys to victory against Montana was attacking the basket consistently, especially against a smaller Grizzlies lineup. Both Nolan Winter and Steven Crowl did just that, each finding success in the painted area throughout the contest. Another player who excelled down low was John Blackwell, who connected on seven of his 10 two-point attempts. Blackwell led the Badgers in scoring and played a key role in the victory.
This area of the game will again be key against the BYU Cougars, who aren't as tall as the Badgers in the front-court.
Wisconsin shooting 16-of-20 from the free throw line
Wisconsin has been exceptional at the free-throw line throughout the season. It was a good sign to see that strong shooting continue into the NCAA Tournament, as the team shot a solid 80% from the charity stripe, helping to clinch the comfortable victory. John Tonje led the way in the area, connecting on all nine of his free throw attempts. The star wing only needed to attempt five shots from the field. He still made a strong contribution with those terrific foul-shooting numbers.
BYU sometimes struggles at the line, so winning that area could be key to Wisconsin finding a win on Saturday.
Overall, Wisconsin played a strong opening-round game. The team will now look to triumph over BYU and reach its first Sweet Sixteen since 2017. If Wisconsin extends Thursday's high level of play into Saturday, that goal might become a reality.
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