Shot buzzer-beater! Nolan Winter wins Elite NCAA tournament championship
Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter said without hesitation that he anticipates being ready for the NCAA Tournament after recovering from an ankle injury.
CHICAGO – The Wisconsin Badgers ' unfortunate result against Michigan in the Big Ten tournament semifinals was followed by some very fortunate news about an injured player. Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter said without reservation that he will "be ready to go next week" for the NCAA Tournament. Winter has missed Wisconsin's last four games with an ankle injury that he suffered in the second half of the Badgers' March 4 win over Maryland.
He had been officially designated as "out" for UW's games against Purdue, Washington and Illinois before being upgraded to "questionable" for the Michigan game. "I woke up this morning feeling a lot better than I have in previous days, moving around pretty good," Winter said in the locker room after UW's 68-65 loss to Michigan. "But at the end of the day, just wanted what was best for the team.
" The injury happened as Winter got a rebound and second-chance basket. He did not put any weight on his left leg as he was helped to the tunnel, silencing a concerned Kohl Center crowd. "Honestly, it was more of just a shock to my body because I hadn't sprained this ankle before," Winter said.
"So I was a little concerned at the time, but once we got our tests and evaluations back, it was all good news. " Winter's optimism is in line with what Wisconsin coach Greg Gard has said at various points during his injury recovery. Gard said UW hopefully "avoided the worst" in the immediate aftermath of the injury March 4, and he said March 9 that he "definitely will be ready" for the NCAA Tournament.