Badgers Handle UW-Green Bay 65-55
December 07, 2004 | Men's Basketball
A 12-0 run to open the game proved to be the difference as the UW men's basketball team defeated UW-Green Bay 65-55 at the Kohl Center Tuesday evening, running the Badgers' home winning streak to 32.
Coming off a career-high 27-point performance at Rutgers Saturday night, Mike Wilkinson led the Badgers again with 18 points. Alando Tucker chipped in with 16 points, while Sharif Chambliss contributed 13.
The Badgers jumped on UWGB right out of the gates, taking the commanding 12-0 lead less than four minutes in. The Phoenix closed to within 16-9 with 11:42 remaining in the half, however, Wisconsin went on a 16-2 run over the next six minutes and 37 seconds to surge ahead 32-11.
UW was able to get out to the big lead thanks to hitting 13 of its first 22 shots from the field while the Phoenix started just 5 of 18.
UWGB closed to within 35-21 at the half thanks to back-to-back three-pointers by Matt Rohde to commence the opening 20 minutes of play. Chambliss led a balanced scoring effort in the first half with 10 points, while Wilkinson added nine.
Tucker had the hot hand for Wisconsin early in the second half, hitting each of his four field goal attempts. The Phoenix never seriously threatened after the intermisssion, as the Badgers' lead grew to as big at 21 at 56-35 with 7:29 remaining.
UWGB outscored the Badgers 14-4 over the final three and a half minutes to account for the final margin.
UW was productive on the defensive end, converting Green Bay 14 turnovers into 20 points. Wisconsin finished with 46 percent shooting from the field (23 of 50), while the Phoenix bounced back from their cold start to shoot 45.7 percent (21 of 46), including a 12-of-24 effort in the second half (54.5 percent).
Josh Lawrence and Javier Mendiburu led UWGB with 10 points apiece.
The Badgers return to action Saturday when they travel to Milwaukee to take on Marquette. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
Game Notes
Wisconsin improves to 11-0 all-time against UW-Green Bay with the win ' The victory increases the Badgers' current home winning streak to 32 games. UW entered tonight's contest tied with Stephen F. Austin for the longest current home win streak in the country ' Tonight's game kicked off a stretch of three games in nine days against in-state rivals for Wisconsin. The win improves UW to 18-1 in its last 19 games against UWGB, UW-Milwaukee and Marquette.
Postgame Quotes
UW-Green Bay coach Tod Kowalczyk
Opening Statement:
'When you start out in a hole like we did tonight it was hard for us to catch up. We had some opportunities to score early and we couldn't convert and a lot of the goes to their size and their coaching. I certainly think that Wisconsin is a team that is so good on the front line and is well coached and experienced that we struggled early on with their size.'
On Mike Wilkinson being a tough match-up:
'He's tough to guard. He can really score with any move, early on he had a spin move inside and the he hit a three. For us our five-men are not used to defending guys like him. Not too many five men can step outside the arc and also post up. With us and the five-men that we play against typically we don't have to go out and guard three point shooters from that position. Our four men are used to it. I think that's really a key to their team and their offensive spacing 'they have that spacing because every guy on the floor is a capable three point shooter and that's what we had a hard time defending.'
On Wisconsin's play at the start of the second half:
'Well they went inside and posted up Tucker. Our game plan was to double team him and in the first half we did double team him, I thought pretty effectively. I think our double team was a little bit late in the second half. That was really a key to their second half start was getting the ball inside.'
On the match-up between Matt Rhode and Alando Tucker:
'Well Matt Rhode is the type of guy that he needs to hunt his shots and fin opportunities to score and he did a pretty good job of trying to find some looks tonight. Matt is a good player who will bounce back from this.'
Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan
On the quick start to the game:
'I don't know if it gives you control, but we knocked down some shots that were open, and knowing that there is going to be other opportunities. You like to get off to a good start like that, but if you don't it 's not the end of the world. We've had team start on us like that and end up fighting our way back in.'
On getting the ball into the post more in the second half:
'We always stress that it wasn't any more so than any other time. WE made the good hard cuts, got open, they played out a little more on the shooters. You just got to work the clock down the stretch. To some it was probably looking like ugly basketball, but when we got the ball we are going to get to the free throw line if we keep making the cuts, and when you get there take advantage of it. We are always trying to get it into the post.'
On how the team played in the second half:
'In spurts they looked pretty good, because they were doing what we wanted them to do, we kept building the fouls up on them. You cant let a team come in a play that physical without making it be a foul. There were times you say we are just going to play physical and let the refs call the game, and see how they are going to call it, that's smart playing.'
