Having seemingly gotten back on their feet after two
consecutive losses to top-10 teams North Carolina and Marquette, #14/15
Wisconsin (8-2, 0-0 Big Ten) now faces its final road test of the
non-conference schedule as they visit in-state rival UW-Milwaukee (8-2, 2-0 Horizon)
on Tuesday night.
Fresh off of a win over UNLV on Saturday, arguably their
best victory of the young season, the Badgers now set out to prove that they
can win on the road. Although Wisconsin is 27-1 all-time against Milwaukee and
a perfect 10-0 under head coach Bo Ryan, the Panthers have a tournament-ready
team this season, having already taken down Big East member DePaul in
non-conference play.
“Milwaukee is a really, really good team…” UW junior forward
Mike Bruesewitz said Sunday. “They haven’t lost at home yet so they are going
to be a real challenge for us.”
One of the challenges in facing the Panthers this season is
that they don’t really have a stand out scorer. While leading scorer Kaylon
Williams is averaging just 12.8 points per contest, Milwaukee has three players
averaging in double figures, with another three clocking in above the 8.5 point
per game mark as well. Fighting injuries throughout the season, the Panthers
have done a remarkable job of replacing lost production while playing all ten
games without at least one projected starter.
While Wisconsin is a staggering 158-12 at home under coach
Ryan, once they leave the Kohl Center they are a modest 55-57. After finishing
last season just 5-6 in true road games, winning on the road immediately became
a point of emphasis heading into the 2011-2012 campaign. Already having lost
their first road test at #5 North Carolina, the Badgers desperately need to
pick up a win on their opponent’s home floor, if for no other reason than to
build confidence heading into the demanding Big Ten schedule.
“To go into their place and get a win would be huge against
a good team…” sophomore guard Josh Gasser said. “A road win is a road win, its
always good to have one under your belt.”
From day 1, the focus this season has been on the play of a
trio of juniors in the backcourt. While Jared Berggren has been a constant
presence on the floor for UW, the play of fellow Bruesewitz and Ryan Evans has
fluctuated wildly along the spectrum, great at times and anything but at
others.
Both had been struggling of late before resurgent
performances in Saturday’s win. Bruesewitz picked up a career-high 10 rebounds
to lead the way for the Badgers, with Evans adding 9 for a career-high of his
own. Their presence on the glass, something missing during the lull UW seemed
to hit at the beginning of the month, makes Wisconsin much more dangerous no
matter where they play.
“We’ve got so many guys who can score…” Gasser said. “We
just try to do the little things and when our chances are open, knock them down
and make some plays.”
With finals just a week away and Big Ten play not far
behind, the mental challenge of staying in the moment might be the toughest
task to handle as the Badgers try to take care of business in Milwaukee.
“We do a good job as a team to make sure that we get that
stuff done off the court,” sophomore guard Ben Brust said. “When we are on the
court, you’ve got to be focused all the time.”
“This week is going to be a little bit of a struggle…”
Bruesewitz admitted. “But that is why you are a Division 1 athlete.”
