Badgers Knock Off No. 2 Pitt
December 16, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Alando Tucker scored a season-high 32 points and Brian Butch added a career-high 27 as seventh-ranked Wisconsin upset second-ranked Pitt, 89-75, Saturday at the Kohl Center. It was the Badger's third win over a second-ranked opponent in team history and their first since 1997.
Pitt (10-1) fell for the first time this season and for the first time in December under head coach Jamie Dixon (25-1). Wisconsin (11-1) also ended the Panther's 21-game, non-conference winning streak.
In what was advertised as a matchup between Big Ten Preseason POY Tucker and Big East Preseason POY Aaron Gray, it was Badger big man Butch who stole the show.
Butch had 20 in the first half and was 8-of-11 from the field for the game. He had three assists, two 3-pointers and his 11 rebounds gave him his fifth career double-double. Butch scored the final seven points for Wisconsin in the first half, including two free throws with 1.6 seconds left to give his team a 47-37 halftime lead.
Gray was slowed with an illness, but played 32 minutes and led five Panther's in double figures with 17 points. He finished two rebounds shy of his fifth consecutive double-double and shot 5-of-10 from the field.
Tucker's 10 rebounds was the difference in the Badgers' 41-31 edge on the boards. It was his eighth career double-double and first this season.
Wisconsin outscored Pitt 24-12 over the final seven minutes of the first half and never trailed in the second. The Panther's trimmed UW's lead to seven in the opening minutes of the second half, but two free throws and a dunk by Butch on consecutive possessions extended the lead to 54-43.
Backup point guard Ronald Ramon played a large role in keeping Pitt close. He had 11 in the first half with Levance Fields in foul trouble and tied his season high of 16. Ramon had three 3's in the first half, but added only one on 2-of-9 shooting in the second.
Kammron Taylor scored all of his 14 points in the second half for Wisconsin. Pitt tried to work a 2-3 zone against UW, but Taylor hit two quick 3's to take the Panthers out of it. His second gave the Badgers a 68-55 lead with just over 11 minutes left.
The two teams combined for 49 fouls and 74 free throws. UW was 31-of-44, the most free throws attempted since the 2001-02 season. Pitt was 19-of-30.
Post-Game Notes
' This was the first regular season basketball game in UW history between two teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 10.
' Wisconsin beat a second-ranked team for the third time in school history. The last time it happened was March 8, 1997 against Minnesota in Madison.
' UW is 3-18 all-time against teams ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Poll, including 2-8 in Madison.
' Only one other time have the Badgers been involved in a contest featuring two, top-10 teams in the Associated Press Poll. Ironically, it was against Pitt in the 2004 NCAA tournament.
' Alando Tucker scored 30 or more points for the second time in his career. He scored a career-high 38 points against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 19, 2005.
' Tucker scored 20 points in the first half for the second time in his career. His career high in one half is 23, scored in the second half against Wake Forest on Nov. 29, 2005.
' Brian Butch also had 20 points in the first half, a career high.
' UW ended a string of 21 consecutive non-conference wins for Pitt. It was also Pitt's first loss in games played in December under head coach Jamie Dixon (25-1).
' UW led 47-37 at the half, the 11th time Wisconsin has led at halftime this season (12 games).
' UW leads the all-time series 11-7
' Today's attendance was 17,190 ' the 61st consecutive sellout crowd at the Kohl Center.
' UW has won 12 consecutive games at home dating back to last season and is 81-5 at the Kohl Center since 2001.
