The No. 10 Badgers and their fans are enjoying a five-game winning streak which they hope will continue Wednesday against unranked Penn State. The Badgers' last matchup against the Nittany Lions was on Jan. 15, when Wisconsin cruised to an 80-55 victory.
Penn State will be missing senior forward Geary Claxton due to a torn knee ligament, which happened during the last game against the Badgers. Prior to the injury, Claxton helped the team to a seven-game winning streak, averaging just under 17 points a game.
Junior forward Jamelle Cornley leads the Nittany Lions with 12.3 points per game and adds just under six rebounds a game.
He is a beast in the post and is hard to stop. [We] have to try and control him a little bit. [The] biggest thing will be for us to play our solid ball and make them have to guard us,"" senior center Greg Stiesma said.
Cornley had 13 points and four rebounds against the Badgers in January. Freshman guard Talor Battle is a strong player, averaging just over nine points and three assists per game; leads the team with 1.3 steals a game.
The Badgers will have a size advantage over Penn State. With Wisconsin's strong forces under the basket, senior forward Brian Butch, 6'11,"" junior forward Marcus Landry, 6'7,"" junior forward Joe Krabbenhoft, 6'7"" and Stiesma, 6'11,"" size will hopefully be too much for Penn State to handle.
Stiesma believes that Wisconsin's height will be an advantage because it will force Penn State to match up to them.
The Badgers' defense has been holding its own, especially the last couple of games they played.
Wisconsin had a lot to be proud of after their 57-42 win against Michigan State last Thursday. The Badgers allowed the fewest number of points scored against them this season, showing the Badgers' defense is only improving.
The Badgers only had one turnover throughout the game, a new school record. Key plays were made by Stiesma, coming off the bench and blocking three shots. Butch's four throughout the game and senior guard Michael Flowers holding standout senior guard Drew Neitzel to one 3-pointer will give momentum and drive toward the game on Wednesday.
Landry played a stellar game against the Nittany Lions back in January, scoring 16 points, six rebounds and four assists, all above his averages. Landry had gone two for four behind the arc.
The whole team shot exceptionally well from the 3-point mark, shooting 10 for 18. Flowers contributed five and ended the night with 23 points, a season high. Wisconsin players are not afraid to shoot the ball when given an open look and work their offense until they get the shot they want.
""I do whatever the offense allows me to do. I shoot the same way with a hand in my face or not,"" sophomore guard Jason Bohannon said.
Assistant coach Gary Close says that although Wisconsin likes to work the ball around, they do not rely heavily on using the entire length of the shot clock.
""We try to get the best shot we can get. If you play against a really good defensive team, it doesn't really come too early,"" Close said. ""You have to move around a little bit and try to create a good look. We will take any good look we can get.""
The Badgers are a very unique team, with players who excel in different areas. With sophomore guard Trevon Hughes finding his open teammates, Flowers' stellar defense, Butch's outside shooting, Landry's quickness and Stiesma's long arms to block, Wisconsin is a tough team to beat.
