The Wisconsin men's basketball team hosts the Delaware State Hornets tonight at the Kohl Center for their second matchup in the South Padre Invitational.
During this year's tournament, four teams (Wisconsin, Missouri, Auburn and Oklahoma State) get two home games each. Then the tournament will shift to South Padre Island, Texas on Nov. 24 and Nov. 25.
So far, preseason Big Ten Player of the Year Alando Tucker has lived up to his hype, averaging 18.3 points per game in Wisconsin's three games played. The senior forward has looked solid with an effective jumpshot and aggressiveness that had led to lots of opportunities at the free throw line.
Senior guard Kammron Taylor has also lived up to high expectations, averaging 14 points per game. Taylor possesses a scoring point guard mentality but has adapted well to working with his fellow starting guard, junior Michael Flowers. Flowers is averaging 8.7 points per game while leading the Badgers in assists with 3.7 per contest.
The Delaware State Hornets (1-2) are a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team with plenty of big game experience. After a blowout win in their opener against St. Paul, the Hornets have played two powerhouse opponents in Pittsburgh and North Carolina State. The Hornets put up a surprisingly strong fight against Pittsburgh, as they trailed by only 10 points at the half and ultimately lost by 17.
Last season, the Hornets finished with a respectable 21-14 record, winning 16 of their 18 conference games. Following a 2-10 start against some tough opponents, the Hornets finished off strong with a 19-4 record.
Two key stars have emerged for the Hornets in their first three games: junior forward Roy Bright is averaging 13 points and six rebounds while senior guard Jahsha Bluntt is averaging 13 points and four rebounds. However, it will take a serious effort to knock off Wisconsin's rhythm, especially at the Kohl Center.
Wisconsin's 74-5 record at the Kohl Center in the last five seasons is the fifth best home record in the country during that span. In UW's first two games, they are holding opponents to an average of 55 points per game while shooting just 35 percent from the field. The Badgers have also forced 40 turnovers while committing only 23.
The Badgers have also been pleased with the performance of three main contributors off the bench. Freshman guard Jason Bohnannon has shown a lot of confidence in his abilities and had a seven point, three rebound performance against UW-Green Bay. Sophomore forward Marcus Landry had an eight point, three rebound performance as well and has used his size and athleticism to his advantage inside. Lastly, sophomore forward Joe Krabbenhoft has made a huge impact by averaging eight rebounds a game, the highest total on the team.
While the Badgers have played well in their first two matchups, there are still plenty of things they can improve on, especially their free throw shooting. They are shooting only 50 percent from the line, which could come back to hurt them in a close game.
With only a week before a big home matchup against the Florida State Seminoles, it's crucial that the Badgers build up comfort in their game plan and compatibility in their system before a game of such magnitude.
