Going Retro
Wisconsin plans to wear retro uniforms when it hosts Wofford Monday night, but the Badgers hope one modern trend continues: their near-invincibility at home.
The 20th-ranked Badgers (5-1) have won 27 straight home games – the nation’s third-longest active streak – and are 96-5 at home under coach Bo Ryan, who took over before the 2001-02 season.
Oddsmakers from Bodog have made Wisconsin -23 point spread favorites (View College Basketball odds) for today’s game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 68% of bets for this game have been placed on Wisconsin -23 (View College Basketball bet percentages).
They’ll enjoy the comfort of the Kohl Center after losing 82-58 at Duke’s raucous Cameron Indoor Stadium last Tuesday. In that game, which was part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Wisconsin shot just 36.9 percent from the field and trailed 48-25 at halftime.
"If anything could go wrong, it did," Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said. "The second half seemed pretty even on the (stat) sheet, but when you’re playing down in a hole like that, it’s almost impossible for our kids to come back."
In five home games this season, the Badgers have outscored opponents 396-228. Despite losing its top two scorers from 2006-07, Wisconsin is averaging 75.7 points thanks in large part to the improved play of sophomore guard Trevon Hughes.
After averaging just 1.4 points in limited action as a freshman, Hughes has 18.2 points per game this season.
Jon Leuer turned in his best collegiate game against Duke, as the 6-foot-10 freshman had 12 points – matching Hughes for the team high – and six rebounds. Leuer is one of six Badgers who has scored in double figures in at least of Wisconsin’s first six games.
Wisconsin has never played Wofford (3-1), which finished 10-20 last season and has only played one other Division I opponent in 2007-08. The Terriers lost their opener 67-45 on Nov. 9 to then-No. 19 Arkansas, and has since beaten two Division II teams and a NAIA school.
They held Division II Toccoa Falls to 12 first-half points and a 25.5 percent field-goal percentage in an 85-35 win last Monday. Six players scored at least nine points for Wofford, with those six shooting a combined 27-for-34 from the field.
Freshman Terry Martin leads Wofford with 11.8 points per game in just 16.5 minutes, while 6-foot-8 sophomore guard Corey Godzinski averages 11.3 points. The team’s two top returning scorers, seniors Shane Nichols and Drew Gibson, have both struggled with injuries. Gibson has not played since a Nov. 13 victory over Lees-Mcrae, while Nichols has yet to appear in a game this season.
Wofford will have to overcome a considerable height disadvantage, as four of Wisconsin’s starters are at least 6-foot-7, next to just two Terrier starters. The Badgers are 5-1 all-time against Southern Conference teams.
Wisconsin’s throwback uniforms date to 1941, when the program won the national championship. Two members of that team will be honored before the game.
by Staff Writers – Email Us
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