MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin will play host it its first ranked opponent of the season in the No.13 Michigan Wolverines Thursday night at the Kohl Center. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
Here are five thing you need to know before tuning in.
1. SUPER SOPHOMORES: The sophomore duo of
Brooke Schramek and
Halle Douglass both found success in Wisconsin's Big Ten opener against Northwestern last Sunday afternoon. This was the third game in a row the Badgers saw Schramek break out of her shell for the Wisconsin offense. The guard has set new career highs in scoring in three out of the last four games for the Badgers, bumping her season scoring average up to 6.0 points per game and shooting .420 (21-50) from the field, good for the third highest percentage on the team. Schramek finished with a career-high 18 points on the day while scoring seven straight in second half to cut the Wildcat lead down to seven.
Douglass has also started to find her stride for Wisconsin. After missing the first three games of the season due to a leg injury, the guard has put up important minutes over the last two outings, averaging nearly 20 minutes a game while shooting 88.9% (8-9) from the free-throw line. Douglass also had a career game at Northwestern, dropping a career-high 10 points, shooting 3-6 from the field and 4-5 from the charity stripe.
2. SECOND HALF BADGERS: Over the last two games against Northwestern and Virginia Tech, the Badgers have proved they are a second half team, outscoring both opponents in the second half. While UW ran out of time and was unable to complete the comeback in either game, offensive production seems to be on the rise as a whole for head coach
Marisa Moseley's team. On both occasions, both the Hokies and the Wildcats got out to an early lead in the first period thanks to great shooting. Moving forward, aggressive defense from the jump could allow the Badgers a bit more room to breathe early in the game on offense.
3. SARA FINDING HER STRIDE: Junior forward
Sara Stapleton has turned on the jets after starting out the year a bit slow offensively. Stapleton put up 16 point against the Hokies and added six points vs. the Wildcats Sunday, but her ability to play smart defense without fouling has been one of the biggest contributions to her team as of late. Playing a season high 30 minutes against Northwestern and totaling 23 minutes against Virginia Tech, Stapleton's size and power will be important for Wisconsin as the team moves further into the aggressive Big Ten. She ranks third on the team with 7.6 points per game and averages 4.0 rebounds per game, which ranks second on the team.
4. SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES: No. 13 Michigan sits 8-1 overall on the year with its lone loss coming to No. 10 Louisville in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge last week. The Badgers will act as the Wolverines' first Big Ten matchup and only third road game of the year. As a team, Michigan ranks eight in both scoring offense, averaging 69.6 points per game, and overall field goal percentage with 43.4%. Leading the way for the Wolverines in reigning Big Ten player of the year and All-American Naz Hillmon. Hilmon averages 20.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while shooting 60% from the field. Michigan is not an over-active 3-point shooting team in the Big Ten, so the Badgers will have to play strong defense in the paint and force the Wolverines to make outside shots in order to knock off their first ranked opponent of the year.
5. HOW TO WATCH: Tickets for Thursday's game are a part of the $3 Thursdays promotion and can be found
here. Fans can also tune in on Big Ten Network or via radio stream on WIBA 1310AM. Live stats can be found at uwbadgers.com with live updates, videos and stats always ready to go by following @BadgerWBB on Twitter.
