Wednesday night's 68-49 victory over UW-Milwaukee gave UW head coach Bo Ryan his second win over former assistant Rob Jeter, now the head coach of the Panthers.
""The second time playing him is no different than when I was a player or coaching with him,"" Jeter said after the game. ""It's just nothing but guys playing solid basketball.""
The Badgers did exactly that, ignoring the fact that Wednesday night's game was sandwiched between two top-tier opponents in No. 20 Marquette and No. 2 Pittsburgh.
""We wanted to make sure we came out with the same intensity as Marquette,"" senior forward Alando Tucker said.
Wisconsin did not do that immediately, but it was Tucker who sparked an 11-0 run midway through the first half that allowed the Badgers to pull away from what was only a 14-11 lead.
Senior forward Jason Chappell attributed Tucker's six points in that stretch to his ability to get height on his jump shot.
""I wish I could do that,"" Chappell joked.
The Panthers came into the Kohl Center with a very young team and only one starter, junior forward Paige Paulsen, who had ever started a game at the Division I level before this season. Ryan was quick to remind everyone after the game that the Panthers will get better and that Wisconsin will have to travel to Milwaukee next season to play them.
""We know that probably next year it will be a battle,"" Ryan said.
As far as the difference in this year's return to the Kohl Center for Jeter: ""I didn't get a technical foul this year,"" Jeter said.
Old teammates
Another reunion on the court occurred when UWM senior forward Nick Hansen got in the game and guarded UW junior center Brian Butch. The two were teammates at Appleton West.
Hansen typically does not get a lot of playing time, averaging only 1.8 minutes a game.
""It's Christmas,"" Jeter said jokingly in regards to Hansen getting 21 minutes against the Badgers.
Actually, UWM's big guys were in foul trouble for most of the game creating the matchup between Hansen and Butch.
Here comes Pitt
UW will now turn its attention to the big game Saturday against No. 2 Pittsburgh.
""It's another chance for us to prove ourselves,"" Tucker said.
Ryan downplayed Saturday's matchup.
""Milwaukee's not ranked? Pitt is ranked? Now I know that,"" Ryan said.
Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Kohl Center and will be televised on ESPN.
