Starting is No Laughing Matter for Owens
November 22, 2002 | Men's Basketball
The 2002-03 season has brought a new list of responsibilities for Freddie Owens. The junior guard from Milwaukee, Wis., is in the starting line-up for the first time in his UW career. As one of four upperclassmen on the team, Owens will be counted on to provide leadership, scoring and humor, amongst other things.
If his first two career starts are any sign, the junior who was voted 'Funniest Player on the Team' by his teammates, is taking his new role rather seriously.
After the first weekend of the season, Owens is averaging 16.0 points per game and the Badgers are 2-0. Owens was named Most Valuable Player of last weekend 's NABC Classic and selected to the all-tournament team. He scored a game-high 19 points in the title game, including 12 second-half points to spur an 84-56 route of Northern Illinois.
A year ago, Owens played in all 32 games averaging 8.1 points and 23.8 minutes per game. At times Owens demonstrated his scoring prowess and ability to take over a game during the 2001-02 Big Ten Championship campaign. He poured in 23 points in a loss to Temple, tallied 16 consecutive points against Northwestern and made the game-winning shot to knock off Michigan State. This year, as a starter, Owens has charted 30 minutes a game and is poised to have a breakout season for the Badgers.
Tomorrow night Owens will face a team from his hometown as UW-Milwaukee travels to Madison. In addition to Owens, Devin Harris, Ray Nixon and Boo Wade also hail from Milwaukee.
Tip-off against the Panthers is at 7:07 p.m. at the Kohl Center. For ticket information log onto www.uwbadgers.com or call 1-800-GO-BADGERS. The game can be seen on television in Madison on UPN Channel 14 and in Milwaukee on WDJT Channel 41.
