The UW men's basketball team will take on Florida International (3-4) Saturday at the Kohl Center, a game that the Badgers (6-1) will be able to use as an opportunity to grow.
An area that UW has excelled in this season is forcing turnovers. Their plus seven turnover margin average leads all Big Ten teams. In the Badgers 81-66 victory over Florida State on Tuesday night Wisconsin was able to force 21 turnovers.
""Our defense is one of those things that we try to enforce,"" senior forward Alando Tucker said Thursday. ""Forcing turnovers helps us get more shots up. If you want to be able to add more possessions to the game you have to be able to play defense.""
While forcing turnovers is a defensive statistic, head coach Bo Ryan said turnovers are key to the two offensive categories he always starts with.
""Remember, the two things on offense: get more shots and better shots,"" Ryan said. ""The way you get more shots is don't turn the ball over. And on defense it's get the other team to not get as many shots. Keep them off the offensive boards and get them to turn it over.""
Freshman guard Jason Bohannon, who before Tuesday's game had only one turnover all season, clearly is buying in to Ryan's philosophy of using turnovers to win the possession battle.
""One turnover in the game can make the difference,"" Bohannon said. ""It's something we really try to do—take care of the ball and take good shots.""
The edge from the line
Another key to UW's early success has been its ability to convert at the free throw line. Through seven games, Wisconsin has made more free throws (119) than its opponents have attempted (107).
""Tell me the last time a team has shot less free throws than its opponents made and won the game,"" Ryan said.
Tucker's improvement at the line has been a great boost to the offense. Tucker is shooting 65 percent from the free throw line, up from the 55 percent mark he posted last season. In Tuesday's win over Florida State, Tucker was 9-of-11 from the line.
""It's pretty much from the neck up. It's all mental,"" Tucker said. ""I was trying to listen to different people and that's one of the things you can't do.""
While many theories are out there as to how to shoot free throws, Tucker said it's all about having confidence.
""I just step up and relax, like hey, just shoot the ball,"" Tucker said.
A bad rep
Unfortunately, for Florida International, many sports fans had never heard of the school until its football team brawled with Miami (Fla.) Oct. 14.
FIU certainly would like the incident to go away and Bohannon said it is not an issue as UW takes on the school this weekend.
""It's a part of sports and sometimes tempers flare,"" Bohannon said. ""You just have to go out there and keep your composure and play basketball.""
Saturday's game tips off at 1 p.m. from the Kohl Center.
