Playing freshmen is always a risky endeavor. Regardless of how talented they are, the inexperience can often cost a team games. North Dakota State coach Tim Miles is young and he has decided to forego experience and play his young guns. The Bison start four freshmen.
As expected from a young team, NDSU has trouble taking care of the ball. Miles has placed the keys to his offense in 5'10' freshman point guard, Ben Woodside. Woodside has put up big numbers (17.1 points per game and 4.9 assists), but he is turning the ball over 3.6 times a game. As a team, the Bison are turning the ball over an alarming 17.8 times per game.
Brett Winkelman is one freshman who does not seem to be feeling the jitters. He hit a layup at the buzzer to lead his team to the Holiday Stores GranTree Inn Tournament championship against Northern Illinois and a 3-pointer to beat Montana State in order to get into the finals. Winkelman has won three straight newcomer of the week awards for Division I independent schools. He is putting up 12.4 points a game and grabbing 7.1 boards, while shooting 54 percent from behind the 3-point line.
6'7' Junior Andre Smith provides leadership and inside toughness for North Dakota State. He is second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game and he leads the Bison in rebounding, at 7.5 per game. He was named player of the week for Division I independent schools after their holiday tournament championship.
The youngsters seem to be rounding into form. After starting the year 2-5, the Bison have won seven of their last 10 games.
The Badgers have continued to play well over the past few weeks. They have won all 10 games at home this season and currently sit atop the Big Ten standings. Alando Tucker has continued to astound the Kohl Center faithful. Despite some free-throw shooting woes, Tucker ranks fourth in the Big Ten in scoring with 19 points per game, while pulling down 5.4 rebounds a game.
Under Bo Ryan, the Badgers have been known for taking care of the basketball and that has not changed this season. They are second in the Big Ten in turnovers, giving up just 12.4 per game. In their 82-63 thrashing of Michigan State, Wisconsin turned the ball over just once in the first half.
The Badgers continue to shoot well like they have in past years (47 percent from the field), but it seems as if they are doing it differently. In past seasons, the Badgers relied on their swing offense to find open shots for shooters such as Kirk Penney, Clayton Hansen and Devin Harris. This year's squad ranks eighth in the conference in assists per game. They do not run the offense as well and instead of playing a team game like in years past, there is a lot more one on one basketball. Despite the change the Badgers have continued to prosper.
A huge part of their success has been its defense. Kammron Taylor, Tucker and Michael Flowers have provided pressure on the wings, knowing they have Brian Butch and Greg Stiemsma behind them if they get beat. Butch ranks sixth in the Big Ten in blocks (1.3 per game) and Steimsma ranks third (1.6), while playing just 11.7 minutes per game.
Wisconsin will get a break from their grueling Big Ten schedule when the Bison come to Madison. The non-conference game will be the first since December. Ball control will be the key to whether or not it's a welcome break. If the Badgers can continue to take care of the ball, while taking advantage of the inexperience of North Dakota State, they should be able to pull out a victory on Saturday.
