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Preview: Green Bay at Wisconsin
While their Big Ten rivals are recording impressive non-conference wins, Wisconsin appears to be stuck in neutral. The Badgers welcome Green Bay to the Kohl Center after making just 9-of-23 free throws in a 60-50 loss at Marquette last Saturday. Wisconsin should face little resistance from the Phoenix, who dropped their 12th straight non-conference road game last Thursday against Tennessee Tech. The Phoenix are facing long odds at the Kohl Center, where Wisconsin is 170-16 under coach Bo Ryan. The Badgers are still adjusting to life without junior guard Josh Gasser, the team’s top defender, who’s out for the season with a knee injury. Wisconsin has been atrocious at the foul line, where the team is shooting just 62.8 percent.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
ABOUT GREEN BAY (3-5): Center Alec Brown averages 11.3 points and 6.6 rebounds but he played only 22 minutes against Tennessee Tech after battling foul trouble, which has become an ongoing issue for the 7-1 junior. Sophomore point guard Keifer Sykes, a preseason All-Horizon League second-team selection, leads the Phoenix with 16 points per game. Freshman forward Jordan Fouse has made a strong first impression while averaging five points and leading the team in rebounds (7.5), steals (1.4) and blocks (1.4). The Phoenix average 68 points while shooting 40.6 percent from the field and just 28 percent from 3-point range.
ABOUT WISCONSIN (6-4): Senior forward Mike Bruesewitz missed the Marquette game because of a concussion suffered during practice last week, and it’s unclear whether he’ll be available against Green Bay. Freshman guard Sam Dekker made his first career start in place of Bruesewitz and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Dekker is averaging 10 points while senior forward Jared Berggren ranks among the Big Ten’s leaders in points (14.3), rebounds (6.7), field goal percentage (57.1) and blocks (1.6). Wisconsin led the NCAA in scoring defense last season and is holding opponents to 57.4 points this season. Junior guard Ben Brust ranks third in the Big Ten in rebounding, averaging 7.5 per game.
TIP-INS
1. The Badgers are 17-1 all-time against Green Bay, including 15-0 in Madison.
2. Green Bay C Brennan Cougill, a 6-9, 265-pound senior, shares the team lead in assists at 2.75 per game.
3. Wisconsin senior F Ryan Evans, a career 71-percent free-throw shooter, is shooting 31.8 percent (14 of 44) from the line this season.
PREDICTION: Wisconsin 65, Green Bay 51
