Wisconsin Badgers Overcome Multiple Double-Digit Deficits for Big Ten Wins

The Badgers have shown newfound resilience in coming back from large halftime deficits against top opponents.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:47am

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The Wisconsin men's basketball team has recently overcome double-digit deficits in three of its six Big Ten wins so far this season, including rallying from 14 points down against then-No. 1 Michigan, 11 points down at Minnesota, and most recently 18 points down against Minnesota at home. This resilience marks a significant turnaround from earlier in the season when the Badgers struggled to come back from halftime deficits. Wisconsin associate head coach Joe Krabbenhoft said the team has "grown tremendously" in developing this ability to fight back, which was a key factor in securing several crucial conference victories.

Why it matters

Wisconsin's newfound resilience and ability to overcome large deficits against top Big Ten opponents is an important development that could pay dividends as the Badgers face a tougher stretch of their conference schedule. The comebacks, including the signature win over the then-No. 1 Michigan Wolverines, have boosted Wisconsin's postseason resume and proven the team can compete with any team in the league.

The details

In Wisconsin's first 13 games of the season in November and December, the Badgers were 9-0 when leading at halftime but 0-4 when trailing. However, the team has since shown a much greater ability to fight back from large deficits, overcoming 14-, 11- and 18-point holes to win Big Ten games against Michigan, Minnesota (twice). The Badgers' minimum win probabilities in those comebacks were measured at just 1%, 21.3% and 15.9% respectively, underscoring how improbable the turnarounds were. Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard credited the team's newfound "toughness" and "resilience" as key factors in the dramatic rallies.

  • On January 11, Wisconsin overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat then-No. 1 Michigan.
  • On January 18, the Badgers came back from 11 points down to win at Minnesota.
  • On January 25, Wisconsin rallied from 18 points behind to defeat Minnesota at home.

The players

Greg Gard

The head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team.

Joe Krabbenhoft

The associate head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team.

Jack Janicki

A guard on the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“We've grown tremendously over the course of this season to this point.”

— Joe Krabbenhoft, Associate Head Coach (stevenspointjournal.com)

“We've got a toughness to us that we didn't have in November. We got some fight to us. ... They've gotten more resilient. They're not there all the time yet, but we've got more toughness to us than we had, like I said, back in November, early December.”

— Greg Gard, Head Coach (stevenspointjournal.com)

“It's easier to do something when you know you can do it. And winning is a habit, just like anything else. And it can be contagious. So once you get a taste of that, it really sucks to lose even more.”

— Jack Janicki, Guard (stevenspointjournal.com)

What’s next

The Badgers will face a tougher stretch of their Big Ten schedule in the coming weeks, so their ability to continue overcoming deficits will be crucial as they aim to secure a high seed in the conference tournament and NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Wisconsin's remarkable comebacks from double-digit deficits against top Big Ten opponents have demonstrated the team's newfound resilience and toughness, a critical development that could propel the Badgers to greater success as they navigate the challenging conference slate ahead.