The Badgers offense will look to bounce back after a 54-point performance against UNC-Wilmington on Monday. Two of UW's starters did not score and the Badgers managed just 16 first half points. Kammron Taylor continued to impress, scoring eight of his 13 points in the game's final minute, including a buzzer-beater to give Wisconsin their eighth win in nine games. UW-Milwaukee's pesky man-to-man defense can give opponents fits, and in their past two games, the Panthers have held opponents under 55 points. The Badgers will have a big time size advantage on the inside. Junior forward Jason Chappell and sophomore center Brian Butch should get their fair share of touches on the inside.
With a smaller line-up featuring only one starter over 6' 7'', UW-Milwaukee likes to get out and run on the fast break. Senior forward Joah Tucker leads the Panthers with 15.7 points per game while senior guard Boo Davis and senior forward Adrian Tigert contribute 13.8 and 10.7 points, respectively. The Badger defense clamped down against UNC-Wilmington, holding the Seahawks to only 51 points. After giving up 91 points to Wake Forest earlier this season, Wisconsin has shown steady improvement defensively. While surrendering only 51 points is an impressive feat, the Badgers will face a UW-Milwaukee squad that averages 71.3 points per contest and packs much more offensive firepower than the Seahawks.
UWM head coach Rob Jeter hopes it will be a happy homecoming when he returns to the Kohl Center. The four-year Badger assistant coach left UW in April to replace Bruce Pearl as Panther's head man. Jeter has spent 10 of his last 11 seasons as an assistant to coach Bo Ryan on staffs at UW-Platteville, UWM and Wisconsin. In his first head coaching job, Jeter inherited a senior dominated team with four returning starters from the Panthers' 2004-05 Sweet 16 run. UWM has won three straight and come into Madison with a record of 4-2. Yes, it sounds like a broken record, but coach Ryan comes into tonight's game with a 63-3 record at the Kohl Center.
After dismantling the Phoenix from UW-Green Bay and downing the Marquette Golden Eagles, the Badgers need only defeat UW-Milwaukee to take the crown as top team in the state. The Badgers lead the all-time series against the Panthers 12-1 and have never lost to UWM at the Kohl Center. The Panthers boast one of the most athletic teams that the Badgers will face this non-conference season, and Panther's head coach Rob Jeter, coach Ryan's prot??g??, will have UWM ready to pounce. The Badgers had better be ready if they want to avoid an upset.
