The UW men's basketball team (2-0 overall) successfully defended its home court Wednesday night, beating UW-Green Bay 79-62 in a slow game that lacked sharpness for both teams.
""I think it's a tough game to evaluate from a coaching point of view,"" UW-Green Bay head coach Tod Kowalczyk said after the game. ""There was absolutely zero flow to that game.""
The Badgers seemed to show two different sides of its more experienced squad, which is still getting a feel to the added depth on the roster. In the first half, the Badgers scored an above-average 45 points, using a quick start led by junior guard Michael Flowers, who hit two early 3-pointers.
""Our guys moved the ball well and sometimes you probe and take what the other team gives you,"" head coach Bo Ryan said. ""I still think we took some jump shots that we could have made another pass on.""
UW used its quick start to gain momentum it carried through much of the first half. The Badgers took a 45-29 lead into the locker room at the half.
It was in the second half when the Badgers scoring slowed down a bit, something senior guard Kammron Taylor attributed to increased intensity shown by UW-Green Bay.
""I think they came out with some more energy in the second half,"" Taylor said. ""We just didn't match their energy those first couple of minutes, but it's good that we have that experience on the team to help us catch ourselves.""
Wisconsin did eventually match that intensity as the defense showed consistency by holding the Phoenix to around 37 percent shooting in both halves. The decrease in scoring in the second half can be attributed to changes they made defensively, a sign the Phoenix are well coached.
""Any time these schools are going to play each other ... it's always going to be a dog fight,"" Ryan said. ""I really think these [in-state] games have always helped us for the Big Ten because of how competitive they are.""
Indeed, Wednesday's game against the Phoenix was more competitive than Sunday's victory over Mercer and the Badgers seemed to play a more complete game against the Phoenix. After struggling to find a third scorer against Mercer, something that plagued the Badgers last year, Taylor and fellow senior Alando Tucker only accounted for 30 of UW's 79 points Wednesday. At times it was Flowers who acted as the third scorer by throwing in 12 points, and at others it was sophomore forward Marcus Landry, who converted all three of his field goals for eight points.
Wisconsin was also able to overcome the absence of junior center Greg Stiemsma, who only played four minutes after being in foul trouble for most of the game.
Badger fans must now hope the Sports Illustrated cover does not curse Madison as they prepare for Southern University Sunday.
