After a close defeat against in-state rival Milwaukee two weeks ago, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team (7-6) returns to the hardwood tonight as they open conference play against the No. 23 Iowa Hawkeyes (12-1) at home.
After having the last two weeks off to focus on finals and Christmas Break, there wasn’t any concern shown from head coach Jonathan Tsipis regarding his squad's extended layoff.
“We got them back yesterday and got two practices in to work off the rust,” Tsipis said. “We had a normal practice and then had a later practice where we got a lot of shooting in and a lot of video review in last night.”
Last year's game against the Hawkeyes was a hotly contested contest all the way until the fourth quarter.
“We were really active against them last year on both ends of the floor. It was a one-point game going into the fourth quarter, and we didn’t shoot it well in the fourth quarter,” Tsipis said. “They made some really key threes down the stretch when it was a one to two possession game and that was ultimately what won them the game in the end.”
The Badgers will have to contain one of the nation's best players in Iowa’s junior forward Megan Gustafson, who is top-10 in both scoring and rebounding in the nation. Tsipis is focused on her being the main threat to his defense Thursday night, but also realizes he and his team cannot have tunnel vision.
“I think it starts off with how you are going to defend her [Gustafson] and try to keep someone like her who is averaging 23 points and 12.3 rebounds a game and shooting 70 percent from the field in check, but at the same time also taking into account she is surrounded by 3-point shooters,” Tsipis said. “I think there are some things that we can do defensively to make her earn those points.”
Gustafson, a native of Port Wing, Wis., has had a lot of success in her home state, and that success has garnered the respect of one Wisconsin coach.
“Not only is she from Wisconsin, she’s the state's all time girls basketball leading scorer,” Tsipis said. “I have a high amount of respect for her because of how she has built and developed her game through the first three years at Iowa and what she had accomplished in the state of Wisconsin in high school.”
Heading into this year's contest, Iowa has only lost one game, that being Florida State. Besides the stellar play of Gustafson, a couple things jumped out to Tsipis and his staff on tape that they are going to try to limit in the game.
“I think first you have to stop them in transition. I think that is where they are extremely deadly, even on a make they are really good on getting the ball up the floor quickly and putting a lot pressure on your defense,” Tsipis said. “The second thing is that they lead the Big Ten in field goal percentage, and offensively they are just very efficient, as they lead the nation in assists per game.”
Look for freshman Niya Beverley, senior Cayla McMorris, junior Marsha Howard and sophomore Courtney Fredrickson to disrupt the efficient Hawkeye offense and be key assets on the offensive side of the ball.
One of the significant aspects that Beverley, McMorris, Howard and Fredrickson have brought to the Badgers this year has been their ability to guard their opponents effectively, making them need to create their own shots.
“One of our goals for this game has to be forcing them to create their own shots and not selling out in certain areas to limit them from getting from a good shot to a great shot.”
The Badgers have had the luxury of opening up conference play at home in four of the last five years, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Tsipis as he prepares his squad to battle Iowa in the conference opener Thursday night.
“They are a battle-tested team, and I would much rather open up at home then on the road in conference play.”
If the Badgers can play good transition basketball, limit Gustafson’s impact on the game and force the Hawkeyes into creating their own shots, the Badgers may come out with an early conference win against a tough Hawkeye team.
Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at the Kohl Center
