Badgers Sleepwalk Their Way To Home Defeat

After getting the conference season off to a promising start with a decisive road victory over Nebraska, 11th-ranked Wisconsin men's basketball (1-1 Big Ten, 12-3 overall) laid an egg on Saturday, losing their Big Ten home opener to Iowa (1-1 Big Ten, 9-6 overall) by a final score of 72-65.

While many will point to Wisconsin's 3-of-28 performance from beyond the three-point line, the Badgers' first losing conference home opener in 12 years was the result of poor transition defense. After making defense a hallmark of their game throughout the non-conference schedule, UW allowed Iowa to score 14 points on fast break opportunities, with the Badgers only managing to notch two of their own.

UW's lack of depth was on clear display as they struggled from the get-go and couldnt turn to a viable alternative on the bench. Sophomore guard Ben Brust, Wisconsin's leading bench scorer at just over ten points a game coming into Saturday, struggled mightily against the Hawkeyes, the school he originally signed with prior to then-coach Todd Lickliter's dismissal. While the Hawkthorn Woods, Ill. native did finish with 11 points, he was 4-of-13 from the field and just 1-of-9 from beyond the arc, those misses leading to several fast break opportunities for the opportunistic Hawkeyes.

As much as Wisconsin's bench play was non-existent, Iowa's was the key to their victory. Freshman guard Aaron White led three Hawkeyes in double digits with 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting, the lone misfire being followed up by an offensive rebound and putback that gave Iowa the lead for good. Senior guard Bryce Cartwright also came up big off the bench, finishing the game with 17 points of his own on 7-of-12 from the field.

But the bottom line was that Wisconsin's inability to build depth in the non-conference portion of the season came back to bite them on Saturday. With junior forward Ryan Evans in foul trouble and limited to just 15 minutes of floor time, the Badgers were forced to have five players play over 30 minutes, with senior guard Jordan Taylor staying on the floor for the entire 40 minutes. Ultimately, fatigue set in, as Taylor and others were caught a step slow on the defensive end throughout the second half, something Badger fans have not been accustomed to seeing from what was the nation's top scoring defense.

Wisconsin now has just two days to prepare for a much stiffer test at home as Michigan State rolls into town on Tuesday night. With a road date against another top-20 team in Michigan just beyond that and another at Purdue to follow, Wisconsin is now staring a 1-4 start in Big Ten play square in the face.

One bad performance and the conversation has immediately gone from final four to bubble hopes. Oh how quickly things can change.

Badgers Set For Final Non-Conference Tune-Up

One of the more oft-mentioned mantras in sports is that each and every game is a unique challenge in itself, the old "one game at a time" philosophy. But as Wisconsin men's basketball sets to cap off their non-conference season today against Mississippi Valley State, one has to believe they have their eye on Nebraska.

After their 6-0 start was derailed by consecutive losses at the hands of Marquette and North Carolina, the 14th-ranked Badgers (10-2) have turned their season back on the right track with victories over UW-Green Bay, UNLV, UW-Milwaukee, and Savannah State heading into the final exam break. With just one final game between them and Tuesday night's conference opener in Lincoln, the Badgers know that this game has to be more than simply about winning.

But while preparation is on the minds of the Wisconsin players and coaching staff as they get set to face the Delta Devils (1-9), there is also a keen recognition of whatever validity remains in the "one game at a time" myth. After all, a sluggish performance Friday does the Badgers no good with Christmas followed up almost immediately by the first Big Ten road test of the season. 

One player who needs to get back on track is senior guard Jordan Taylor. While the preseason All-American has continued to play the point with unparalleled efficiency, the shot has simply been off most of the season for the Bloomington, Minn native. That said, Taylor's 0-for-10 performance in the December 10th victory over UNLV seemed to be the rock bottom and since then Taylor has rattled off games of 14 and 12 points. His presence on the offensive end, not simply as the facilitator, is something the Badgers will need as they head into Big Ten play.

Serving as the matinee for Friday night's women's game against UW-Green Bay, the Badgers will tip off at 4:30 at the Kohl Center, looking to finish off the non-conference season 11-2 for the 2nd straight season.

Badgers Roll Into Finals With Big Win

After surviving a tough road test Tuesday night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin men's basketball returned home to the Kohl Center and stormed past an overwhelmed Savannah State (1-1 MEAC, 4-8 overall) team in their 66-33 win Thursday night. The Badgers (10-2) were quick out of the gates, hitting 8 of their first 9 shots while jumping out to a 16-4 lead just over 5 minutes into the game.

Once again, junior forward Jared Berggren led the scoring for UW. The Princeton, Minn native followed up his 17 point performance against Milwaukee with 13 points Thursday night, 11 coming in the first half. Berggren took advantage of the smaller Savannah State front court and imposed his will on the interior.

All five Wisconsin starters finished the game with at least 8 points, with 4 of the 5 finishing the night in double figures scoring. Sophomore guard Josh Gasser had a resurgence of sorts, finishing the night 4-of-7 from the field en route to a 10 point, 5 rebound night.

The Badgers now take a week off for finals before finishing off the non-conference season on December 23rd against Mississippi Valley State. The Big Ten opener at Nebraska is now just 12 days away.

Badgers Eek Out Road Win in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE, Wis.-Leading by 17 points with just over 15 minutes left, it seemed as if Wisconsin men’s basketball would have no trouble picking up its first true road win of the young season. But after UW-Milwaukee (2-0 Horizon, 8-3 overall) responded with a 21-4 run over the next ten minutes, the Badgers immediately had a fight on their hands. But thanks in large part to a clutch three-pointer in the final minute made by senior guard Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin (9-2 overall) got out of Milwaukee with a 60-54 victory.

Playing in front of a crowd of 10,143 at US Cellular Arena, the largest crowd in UW-M history, it looked for much of the night as if UW was going to run away with a rout. Junior forward Ryan Evans gave the Badgers a big lift throughout the first half and early in the 2^nd, scoring a career-high 16 points in just the first 26 minutes of the game.

“{Evans} did a really good job of taking his assignments and sticking to them,” UW head coach Bo Ryan said. “He was also able to get some buckets finished underneath and to get to the free throw line…defensively he has been doing a good job {all season} and offensively, same thing.”

But as Evans began to struggle offensively, Panther Senior forward Tony Meier took center stage, leading a sudden charge that took Tuesday’s game from laugher to dual in a matter of minutes. Meier finished the game with a team-high 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting, hitting two clutch three-point shots during the Panther run before going cold as UW-M faded down stretch.

Tuesday night was all about runs. Wisconsin got off to a hot start with a 14-2 run in the first half that gave them a 22-8 lead in the first half. Ultimately, the cushion that early run gave UW allowed them to withstand a furious comeback by the Panthers that had US Cellular Arena rocking late in the 2^nd half.

Having survived the test Milwaukee gave them, the Badgers are now able to use the experience gained Tuesday night as they head into Big Ten play.

“It was a good road test for us to play in an environment like this,” junior forward Jared Berggren said. “To survive the run they made, its good preparation for what is to come in the Big Ten season and the rest of the year.”

After missing a late shot that could have gotten the Badgers right back in the game against North Carolina, Taylor’s last-minute heroics were a welcome sight for a Badger team desperately needing their star point guard to recover from his recent slump. Giving a discernible yell after the bucket, it was clear Taylor understood the enormity of the shot, one that gave UW a cushion they ultimately rode to the six-point win.

“I felt like he backed off a bit so I took the shot,” Taylor said. “I was just fortunate to have it go down.”

Evans recalled the shot a bit differently, noting that he saw something in Taylor that has been missed over the past few weeks.

“To tell you the truth, I knew it was going in…” Evans said. “There’s a look in his eye when you know Jordan is going to make the shot.”

With their first road victory now in hand, the Badgers now look forward to the homestretch of the non-conference schedule. Just two games and 14 days remain before the Big Ten opener in Lincoln, Nebraska on December 27^th. 

Badgers Set for Road Test in Milwaukee

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.”

Big Day From Brust Gives Badgers Much-Needed Win

It was far from pretty, but the Badgers finally picked up the non-conference win they needed as they defeated UNLV 62-51 on Saturday. While Wisconsin (8-2, 0-0) shot just 37% from the field as a team, sophomore guard Ben Brust saved them from a far worse number, finishing the afternoon with a career-high 25 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including a 7-for-7 mark from behind the three-point line. “Ben {today} makes close to half of our field goals. Without that we don’t win…” senior guard Jordan Taylor said. “Defensively it was a good effort and Ben took it over on the offensive end. We won. Doesn’t matter how you get it done.” “The past three games, a lot of them felt good, they just weren’t going in,” Brust said after tying his own school record from 3-point range. “You just have to have shooters amnesia and just keep firing to shoot out of it.” Beyond the record-setting shooting day by Brust, the Badger defense stifled a high-powered Rebel offense that had already scored 90 points in a win over North Carolina earlier in the year. UNLV sophomore forward Mike Moser, who came into Saturday averaging 15.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, only managed 4 points, picking up 9 of his 11 rebounds on the defensive glass. Despite struggling on the boards in recent games, UW dominated on Saturday, picking up 10 offensive rebounds against UNLV (9-2, 0-0) and putting up 8 more shots than the Runnin’ Rebels. “The fact that {UNLV} did not have an offensive rebound in the first half, I thought our guys did a good job of putting bodies on them,” UW head coach Bo Ryan said. “We battled them on the glass, I can take that.” That work on the defensive end ultimately allowed Wisconsin to overcome a poor shooting performance in addition to a tough day for Taylor. The Badgers’ preseason All-American point guard was shadowed on the offensive end the entire contest, finishing 0-for-10 from the field with just 4 points. Taylor also finished with an uncharacteristic 3 turnovers despite managing 6 assists. Ultimately, UNLV could only manage one player in double digits scoring, as senior forward Chase Stanback led the way with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Still, that was a far cry from the 25 points he threw down on the Badgers in UNLV’s 68-65 win last season in Las Vegas. “They are a very talented team, they score close to 80 or 90 points a game…” junior forward Mike Bruesewitz said. “Something I think we need to continue to do is to hang our hat on our defense and keep holding those high scoring teams within our threshold and make sure we can take care of business that way.” Though Brust was certainly the headline, the re-emergence of Bruesewitz and sophomore guard Josh Gasser was perhaps the most encouraging sign as the Badgers move on to the latter part of the non-conference slate. Bruesewitz rebounded from recent struggles to have a solid afternoon, showing much more energy on both ends of the floor than he had shown over the last few games. His 6 points and team-high 10 rebounds were crucial for a Badger team that has not done the little things quite as well of late. And having struggled offensively while being hampered by a sore right wrist, Gasser made his presence known from the get-go, finishing with 6 points and 8 rebounds at the second guard spot. “I felt like I was able to put the ball on the floor a little bit against their bigger guys,” Bruesewitz said. “That takes some pressuring off Jordan, trying to get in the lane. I was able to create some stuff for myself and for my teammates.” Next up for the Badgers is a midweek road game against UW-Milwaukee. The Panthers (8-2, 2-0 Horizon) are coming off a 67-51 loss to Northern Iowa and are coached by former UW assistant coach Rob Jeter. Tip time is 7:00pm on Tuesday. “It’s only a third into the season and its moving fast…” Taylor said. “If we put it all together we’ve got a team that can do a lot of things this year.”

Ted Porath- All Attention on UNLV

This weekend's matchup will be the Badgers' (7-2 overall) final game of a three-game home stand and will be the second game of a home-and-home series the Badgers currently have with UNLV (9-1). Wisconsin will look to take out some revenge on the Rebels, as UNLV beat the Badgers in Las Vegas last year 68-65. After breaking a two-game slide in a romp of UW-Green Bay, the Badgers now turn their attention to unranked UNLV. While this might seem like a game Wisconsin should win easily, that is definitely not the case. UNLV, despite losing its place in the AP Top-25 due to a 19-point loss to a capable Wichita State squad, holds a 9-1 record and was the team that took down then-No. 1 North Carolina from the ranks of the unbeaten. If UNLV can take down North Carolina-a team that beat Wisconsin earlier this year-it can certainly give the Badgers all they can handle. Leading the way for the Runnin' Rebels this year has been sophomore forward Mike Moser, who leads UNLV in both points per game (15.8) and rebounds per game (12.5). While Moser can dominate on the inside like he did against an NBA-like North Carolina front line, against which he racked up 18 rebounds, he can also stretch the floor by making three-point baskets. Moser's ability to play both inside and out will definitely pose a big concern for the Badgers Saturday. Another big concern for the Badgers will be UNLV's man-to-man pressure defense, made famous by former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian. The defense has forced an average of 16 turnovers per game this season. With this pressure defense and its ability to push the ball on offense, UNLV will try to get the Badgers out of their slow-paced possession-by-possession style and force them to play at a much faster pace, which UNLV hopes will get the Badgers uncomfortable and cause the them to commit a high amount of turnovers. This should be a concern for the Badgers because in their game against Marquette-a team that features a similar pressure-style defense-the Badgers looked frustrated all afternoon and committed 12 turnovers, including five by normally sure-handed senior point guard Jordan Taylor. With UNLV putting pressure on the ball, somebody else for the Badgers will have to step up and play big to take pressure off of Taylor. A player who can do that is sophomore guard Josh Gasser. Gasser, who got out to a hot start in the first part of the season, has not scored more than seven points in any of his last four games. If Gasser can regain his early season form, with his ability to penetrate and making outside shots, he can exploit an overaggressive UNLV defense. Look for Gasser to get back in the swing of things and be an x-factor for the Badgers Saturday. Read more: http://host.madison.com/daily-cardinal/sports/men-s-basketball-all-attention-on-unlv/article_0a2381ba-2214-11e1-a630-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1g9mionHK