Despite being down starting shooting guard Max Klesmit due to an ankle injury suffered during Wisconsin’s win at Rutgers on Monday, the Badgers cruised to a 21-point victory over Minnesota, marking the program’s eighth straight win over the Golden Gophers.
Kamari McGee — the team’s de facto sixth man — stepped into the starting lineup and made his first start for the Cardinal and White. McGee totaled 15 points, five rebounds, and three steals while playing a season-high 33 minutes. Steven Crowl paced the Badgers in points with 18 and added five rebounds and three assists. Encouragingly, Crowl went 2-for-2 on three-pointers, further boosting his three-point percentage after a slow start to the season. John Blackwell returned to earth after logging 32 and 21 points in his last two appearances, tallying nine points on 3-of-10 shooting. John Tonje was the only other Badger to reach double figures, scoring 16 points with six rebounds and three assists.
Dawson Garcia led Minnesota with 22 points and 10 rebounds and was the lone Golden Gopher to score more than eight points. Minnesota turned the ball over 14 times and was held to 38.6 percent shooting from the field…