The "Cardiac Kids" Do It Again: Badgers Erase Late Deficit to Stun No. 8 Illinois in Overtime
For the fifth time in nine games, Wisconsin overcame a double-digit deficit to secure a victory, this time knocking off a top-10 rival on the road.
At this point, maybe they just like the drama.
For the Wisconsin Badgers (17-7, 9-4 Big Ten), falling behind by double digits isn’t a death sentence; it’s apparently just part of the game plan. In a season quickly becoming defined by heart-stopping resilience, the Badgers added another chapter to their instant-classic collection on Tuesday night, erasing a 12-point second-half deficit to take down No. 8 Illinois, 92-90, in overtime.
This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. It was Wisconsin’s second road win over a top-10 opponent this season (having beaten No. 2 Michigan in January), making them one of only two teams in the country with such a resume.
But the story wasn’t that they won—it was how they won. Again.
The “Cardiac Kids” Resume
With 8:10 remaining in the second half, the State Farm Center was rocking, and Wisconsin trailed 71-59. In years past, that might have been the dagger. For this group? It was just Tuesday.
The victory marked the 5th time in the last 9 games that Wisconsin has overcome a double-digit deficit to win. The list of escapes is becoming ridiculous:
Down 14 at Michigan
Down 11 at Minnesota
Down 20 vs. Minnesota
Down 11 vs. Ohio State
Down 12 at Illinois
This latest rally was historic. It marked the Badgers’ largest second-half road comeback since Feb. 16, 2002.
Boyd and Blackwell Deliver
While the team’s grit is the headline, the backcourt duo of Nick Boyd and John Blackwell provided the firepower.
Boyd was sensational, finishing with 25 points (19 in the second half/OT) and dishing out 5 assists with zero turnovers in 39 minutes. He became the first Badger in over 20 years to post a 25/5/0 stat line against a top-10 opponent on the road.
Blackwell was equally lethal, pouring in 24 points and hitting 5-of-11 from deep. Together, they became the first Big Ten duo since at least 2005 to both score 20+ points in multiple road games against top-10 teams in the same season.
Postgame Notes: Wisconsin vs. Illinois
Notable statistics and records from the victory at the State Farm Center.
Team Notes
History Repeated: This is the first time since the 2001-02 season that Wisconsin has registered two double-digit second-half comebacks in conference play.
Offensive Firepower: The Badgers scored 92 points, topping the 90-point mark for a school-record 10th time this season.
Raining Threes: Wisconsin hit a season-high 16 3-pointers (16-of-36), the most the program has ever hit in a road game.
Elite Company: Wisconsin and Illinois are the only two schools in the nation with multiple top-10 road wins this season.
Individual Notes
Nick Boyd continues his All-Big Ten caliber campaign. This was his 15th 20-point game of the season, ranking him 2nd in the conference.
Austin Rapp provided a massive spark off the bench with 18 points (4-of-7 from 3-point range). He is averaging 18.5 ppg over his last two outings.
Nolan Winter was a force on the glass, pulling down 11 rebounds to go with his 4 points. It was his 13th double-digit rebounding effort of the year.
Greg Gard Era
Climbing the Ranks: Greg Gard improved to 126-81 in Big Ten play, tying former Michigan coach John Beilein for 18th place on the conference’s all-time wins list.
Giant Slayers: Under Gard, Wisconsin has now collected 17 wins over AP Top-10 opponents, with 7 of those coming in true road games—tied for the most in the nation during his tenure.
Continue Reading:
The Wisconsin Badgers "What If" Series - Ch. 1: What If J.J. Watt Stayed at Wisconsin in 2011?
Introducing the “What If” Series
Wisconsin Basketball Notes: Inside the Historic Comeback vs. Minnesota
It wasn’t pretty for the first 20 minutes, but the Wisconsin basketball team stormed back from an 18-point deficit to extend its winning streak over the Minnesota Gophers to 11 games.
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