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While most of the credit must be given to Michigan State's defensive effort, the Badgers, mediocre at the best of times, were absolutely terrible. Wisconsin shot 35 percent from the field and 64 percent from the line, missing open shots by wide margins and failing to crash the boards.

Wisconsin's strategy throughout the tournament's first four rounds had been to find one player who can consistently hit shots, get an early lead and protect it with bruising defense.

On Saturday, only one element of that formula was working. The Badgers held Michigan State without a field goal in the final 11:42 of the first half and roughed up the Spartans throughout the game.

Michigan State embraced that philosophy by getting a quick lead, getting the ball to Morris Peterson for big points and keeping Wisconsin out of the game with defense.

Wisconsin was pounded on the offensive boards. The Badgers had just two offensive rebounds with the game still in reach, their second-worst performance of the season.

Wisconsin's Kirk Penney (20) fights for the ball with MSU's Morris Peterson (42) and Andre Hutson.(AP)

As it did through most of the season, Wisconsin lacked a go-to guy Saturday. Earlier in the tournament, Division II transfer Jon Bryant had emerged from an unproductive season to average 16.8 points per game.

Bryant was nearly invisible on Saturday, throwing up an air ball on his first 3-point attempt and going scoreless until hitting a layup with 5:40 to play.

While Bryant sat on the bench shaking his head in disgust, the rest of the Badgers failed to pick up the slack. Roy Boone scored 18 points, but Boone's nine in the first half and freshman Kirk Penney's two 3-pointers were the only significant points until the game was out of reach.