DETROIT - While the Hoops Odyssey boys are off doing the postgame rounds, let me clean up some garbage from the last game.

Davidson came back on the boards to finish within 3. It seemed worse than this, but the turnover margin was only +5 for Davidson, but they had nine steals.

We don't get info like second-chance points.

Now, the lineups for game two, which is five minutes away.

Kansas starts:
G: Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson
F: Darnell Jackson, Darrell Arthur

Nova counters with:
G Scottie Reynolds, Cory Stokes
F Antonio Pena, Dwayne Anderson and Dante Cunningham.

Our ref, Doug "Show of" Shows (pardon me for channeling Berman for a moment), Pat Evans and TV Teddy Valentine, who I may have to report for stalking me. He's like Visa, everywhere I go.

Danny Manning just came out onto the court. His famed championship run in 1988 came through Detroit. Back then, they played in the Pontiac Silverdome. They beat Vanderbilt and Kansas St to get to the Final Four. The 4th team in that regional was Purdue, which is why I was there. The Boilers were the top seed, but lost to Mitch Richmond and KSU.

Not that I'm bitter.

Posted by Jerry Palm at 09:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DETROIT - Davidson comfortably finished off Wisconsin 73-56 and will play the winner of Kansas-Villanova on Sunday. I wonder if they thought to bring the white unis, which they would need if Nova wins.

How do they look in white?

Curry was spectacular with 33, but unlike Davidson's other games in this tournament, he wasn't really the story.

The story was Wisconsin's gross incompetence at the offensive end, where they didn't do, and rarely even tried to do, what they do best. They were sloppy with the ball (and Davidson forced some problems there to be sure), but the real crime was failing to try to take advantage of their size inside. Wisconsin did some of that in the first half, but as soon as they got down in the second half, that part of their game was done.

And when they did get shots, they didn't fall. Wisconsin was a woeful 5-20 in the second half, 1-6 from long range, and even 9-16 from the line.

Tom O'Connor, the George Mason AD, just congratulated Davidson's AD, who was sitting in front of me.

This game was so bad, even LeBron left early.

If there are any other final stats of note, I'll pass them along.

Meanwhile, our "luxury porta johns" have, um, crapped out here. Water is flowing down the ramp. It's not quite like the pictures you saw from the Georgia Dome during the SEC tournament, but no less unpleasant.

Not caused by a leaky toilet.

Back with Game two in a bit.

Posted by Jerry Palm at 09:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DETROIT - McKillop finally gave Curry a break after a three point play on a reverse layup with the Wildcats up 63-46 and about 9 minutes left. He can sit him the rest of the night. Wisconsin is done. They will not score 63 points.

The Badgers can't hit a layup, can't hit a free throw, can't run an alley oop, can't hardly complete any pass, can't defend, can't tie their shoes, etc. I'm worried they'll get lost going back to the locker room after the game.

It's so bad, that if Davidson left the floor, Wisconsin still wouldn't score 63.

Of course, now they need 65, because it's 65-48 Wildcats at the 8-minute timeout.

Posted by Jerry Palm at 08:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DETROIT - Wisconsin has no idea what it's doing. They can't handle the ball. On the rare occasions they do, they can't shoot. They can't defend, but it's gotten so that even when they do, Davidson is outhustling them for the rebounds. we'll see how much resilience they have, but they aren't showing much so far.

Michael Flowers went down hard on an out-of-bounds play, and came up rubbing his elbow, but he stayed in.

LeBron was showed on the screen, and boos rained down. I didn't know that many locals were here.

It's a 12-point Davidson lead with 11:16 left.

Posted by Jerry Palm at 08:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DETROIT - I guess the refs got their whistles back from the shop. After calling a total of eight fouls in the first half, they have already called 13, and both teams were in the bonus with 13:51 to go.

There have been so many fouls, that there was a foul on a free throw attempt, and Davidson committed four on one Wisconsin possession.

However, due undoubtedly to fatigue, the refs failed to blow a whistle for 50 consecutive seconds, which allowed Curry to bury back-to-back threes and extend Davidson's lead to nine.

It is not looking good for the Badgers at the moment.

Posted by Jerry Palm at 08:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DETROIT - Davidson has come out strong to start the second half even though Curry hasn't done much himself. He missed four of first five shots, but the Wildcats lead by six with 15:57 left.

Wisconsin's first half problem getting back on D hasn't fixed. Davidson beatsUW down floor twice already, although they failed to convert one of them.

UW has another problem. They have six fouls already, meaning Davidson is shooting from here on out. The Badgers only had two in first half.

Wisconsin also has four turnovers already, so it's been pretty much a disaster so far.

On top of that, Trevon Hughes hasn't played much and looks a little gimpy out there.

McKillop pulled Lovedale out after a minute or so and read him the riot act for blowing a defensive assignment. Davidson got the stop anyway. He's back in now.

I asked LeBron why he came, and he said it was to see Curry. I asked if he had ever played with him before, he said no, but that he just wanted to see him because, "he's good."

Yes, he is.

We have waitress service here apparently. Someone walked by with water and snacks.

Posted by Jerry Palm at 08:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DETROIT - Butch hit one of two, so we're tied at 36 at the half. That's a lot of points for UW to give up in a half, but that can be chalked up to some hot shooting. Davidson was 14 for 26 for 53.8%, and that's only because they went cold at the end, missing five of their last six. The Wildcats are 8-14 from long range, and four different players have threes. Curry leads them with 11 points, his best first half total of the tournament so far. Keeping him under 25 after the break will be a key for Wisconsin.

Flowers has 11 also for UW, which shot 48% (12-25) and almost matched Davidson with 7 threes. Butch has nine and Bohannon has 8, but Trevon Hughes has yet to score.

Another problem for Wisconsin is that they got beat down the floor on at least four occasions for easy baskets, which will not please Bo Ryan. I have to believe he will spend most of the halftime break addressing defensive breakdowns.

...

The stats have finally arrived. Wisconsin is killing Davidson on the boards, not surprisingly, with a 17-7 lead. The Badgers have 8 offensive rebounds. Davidson is winning the turnover battle 5-2, but most of those Wisconsin turnovers came in the first few minutes.

When I walked up to go get some pop (which I didn't get because I have to go up to the second floor to get it, and there's no time for that trip - I'd never get a cab), I saw the Badger mascot walking around with his head off, and all I can say is it must be really in there because he was a puddle of sweat.

We got no halftime entertainment. No dance teams, no stupid pet tricks, nothing.

LeBron James has disappeared for now. If I get a chance, I'll ask him why he's here.

The teams found their way to the floor, so we must be close to second half action.

Posted by Jerry Palm at 08:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DETROIT - We just got our last media timeout of the half with four seconds left after Butch got away with another walk and was fouled going up for a shot.

It was about time he went inside. He's been playing on the perimeter too much in the first half. The biggest guy on the floor needs to post up some. He can shoot the three, but he's hunting it too much.

Bryant Barr's three is the only made shot for Davidson in its last five, which include misses by Curry on a layup and a forced three.

We'll have a tight game at the half either way.

Posted by Jerry Palm at 07:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DETROIT - Brian Butch got slapped in the face, switched pivot feet, found Krabbenhoft inside for a layup to tie the game, at which point, we finally got our 8-minute media timeout with 2:43 to go.

The refs are generally letting them play. Besides Butch complaining about getting hit in the face, UW players complained at the last timeout about getting pushed in the back in the post. I don't have as good a look at the other end of the floor, but I'm sure stuff isn't being called there either.

This place is so open that sound just sort of disappears. The UW band at the opposite corner of the floor from us is barely audible here.

Posted by Jerry Palm at 07:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DETROIT - Davidson is pretty hot from the floor so far, shooting 10/17, but Wisconsin is matching them blow for blow and leads 28-25 with 6:02 left. By my count, we already have 11 made threes in the game between the two teams.

Davidson coach McKillop is a pretty animated guy. Recently, when Landry was posting up on Boris Meno, McKillop kept yelling, "Don't let him push you Boris!" over and over. He's always up and yelling something, or turning to the bench to shout instructions there.

Davidson has, like many smaller schools, a pretty cheesy looking mascot. They are the Wildcats, but the mascot looks like a dog, with some glued on whiskers.

Wilddogs?

Posted by Jerry Palm at 07:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DETROIT - Davidson's letting it all hang out, but it's not quite enough for their coach yet. After an offensive rebound, the one area in which Wisconsin is excelling at the moment, Bob McKillop turned to his bench and screamed at his players, "GET THE LOOSE BALLS!!!!"

Already a player has flown off of the raised floor in pursuit of a ball. Michael Flowers went flying off the end by the UW bench a moment ago.

It's 13-10 Davidson at the 12 minute timeout thanks to three long balls, two by Curry. The Wildcats have done a good job of pressuring the ball defensively and not giving UW too many good looks.

The Wildcats would do well not to awaken the ferocious, sleeping Badgers, lest the knaw their faces off.

Posted by Jerry Palm at 07:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DETROIT - Wisconsin's ball security has been pretty questionable in the first four minutes. We don't have live stats, but I'd say they have three or four turnovers already, at least two of which came because of quick hands by Davidson players. That's why the Wildcats lead 7-5.

Here's how close I am to the Davidson huddle:

Davidson players getting last minute instructions.

Wisconsin players shook hands with the UW scorer before taking the floor. Must be some kind of tradition.

Guess who just sat down behind me.

Not as good as his picture on the cover of Vogue, but LeBron is taking in tonight's action.

Posted by Jerry Palm at 07:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DETROIT - The starting lineups have been presented for game one, so here they are.

For the Badgers:
G Michael Flowers, Trevon Hughes
F Marcus Landry, Joe Krabbenhoft
C Brian Butch

Davidson starts:
G Jason Richards, Stephen Curry
F Max Paulhus Gosselin, Thomas Sander, Andrew Lovedale

Our refs are David Hall, Tom Eades and Paul Faia.

If you get a look at the Davidson pep band (I tried to take a picture with my cheesy phone camera, but it didn't turn out so well), you'll see a lot of graybeards in the group. I asked the director about that, and he told me that the school is so small that they can't field a pep band, so they recruit some local pros to fill in. I'd say it's about 1/3 pros, 2/3 joes. And janes.

Posted by Jerry Palm at 06:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DETROIT -- The Detroit regional features two of the three double-digit seeds remaining in the tournament. It's not likely either will still be there when the dust clears on Friday.

Continue reading "Midwest Regional: The Day Before Preview" »

Posted by Jerry Palm at 05:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OMAHA, NE.--Kansas State had the better players. Wisconsin had the better team.

The Badgers used a steady, pass-first offense and its usual suffocating perimeter defense to bury Michael Beasley University here in the first game of the Omaha Regional's second round 72-55.

Continue reading "Omaha Regional- Wisconsin constricts the Cats, 72-55." »

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 07:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OMAHA, NE.-- As you can tell by this picture, the blood-loving media just LOVE when there's an injury. Notice all the cameras pointed at Kansas State's Bill Walker as he lay on the floor?

(What is this, Princess Di or something? Tame your cameras paparazzi)

Wisconsin does what they like to do, squeeze the life out of people. They bled the clock down to the four minute mark and hold an insurmountable 72-53 lead. That loud slamming sound you just heard was the sound of a door slamming.

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 06:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

OMAHA, NE.-- As an unbiased observer in the game, I gotta say, it looks like Kansas State is getting the shaft on a handful of calls in this second half so far. They've been whistled for eight fouls, while Udub has just four.

But I will say that double-technical call was warranted, Bill Walker appeared to be innocent, but I've noticed he's been hacking and hand-checking a bit more than should be allowed. Still, these calls need to even out a bit for the Cats.

(Bill Walker giving the zebra the business after a questionable double-technical)

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 05:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OMAHA, NE.-- Apparently the governor of the great state of Kansas, Kathleen Sebilius, is a K-State fan, as you can tell by her purple attire for today's game:

(the governor of Kansas getting interviewed by a writer that just won't leave her alone to enjoy the game)

My guess is that she'll be changing to a blue blazer for game two today.The honorable gov is sitting in the first row right behind the two rows of press peeps.

It's now Wisconsin 49-35 on the strength of a 3-point jumper by Trevon Hughes. He's making up for that last ill-advised rush at the end of the first half.

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 05:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

OMAHA, NE.-- As the Badgers were exiting through the bowels of the stadium, one of the UW players said this to another player regarding Trevon Hughes' length-of-the-court drive and subsequent three-point attempt at the end of the first half.

(Coach Ryan, so angry his eyes are devil red, consults with Hughes about his last second shot to end the half)

At the half it's Wisconsin 39, Kansas State 33. But really, it's Udub's three-point shooter 21, Beasley 17. THAT'S the story of the first half of the game. Overall, the Badgers are 7-for-15 from beyond the arc while KSU is 0-for-4, choosing to pound the ball inside instead. State has 24 points in the paint, UW has just 10. KSU is also leading the rebounding at 17-12.

Wisconsin has to like the pace of the game so far, however.

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 05:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OMAHA, NE.-- It's now 26-18 at the 6:36 mark .

But during the previous timeout, while the Cats were huddling, Michael Beasley was way down at the end of the bench getting his left ankle re-taped. He hasn't looked gimpy or anything - to say the least - but it's something to keep in mind as the game goes on.

(Beasley getting a quick tape job during a timeout)

Meanwhile, Beasley is 4-for-9 with 10 points and the rest of the Cats are 2-for-10. Wisky is now 4-for-10 from three point land and their ball movement has been incredible. If Bohannon heats up, look out.

Also, there have been some huge ovations from the Badger fans for Krabbenhof, Stiemsma and Butch every time they've come out of the game. Their fans are saavy enough to know they are the key to containing Beasley.

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 04:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OMAHA, NE.-- Wisconsin either seems alright with Michael Beasley getting his points or they can't stop him, because he's slashed, dashed aand fallaway jumpered to eight of his teams points and taken seven of the Cats' 13 offensive shots.

But UW just hit another and got an old school three-point play by Greg Stiemsma to surge ahead 16-12.

(Look at all the different types of shoes that K-State players wear. Does Nike approve?)

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 04:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OMAHA, NE.-- Today is day two of the Omaha Regional and the two biggest questions going into today's action have to be...

1- Will K-State revert to typical freshman form and play great one day, but awful the next?
When you consider they'll be going against the best defensive team in the country in Wisconsin, this could be the case.

2- Will Kansas be pushed at all by the much-shorter, matchup-challenged UNLV Walkin' Rebs?

Judging by the looks of things, my guess is that Kansas will come out looking better than anybody in today's action. Just my hunch of course.

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 03:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OMAHA, NE.-- Wisconsin won, but Josh Akognon was the show tonight.

Cal State Fullerton's Junior spark-plug did a lot of shakin' and bakin' and went off for 31 points, but didn't have enough talent around him as the Badgers take the last game of the day here in The O, 71-56.

(That look of concern on Wisconsin Coach Bo Ryan's face is there because he knows if Udub plays like it did tonight against K-State on Saturday, they'll be starting their off-season Sunday.)

Continue reading "Omaha Regional- Wisconsin eventually bleed Titans dry. Pull out the win." »

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 11:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

OMAHA, NE.-- Cal State Fullerton's Frank Robinson committed his fifth foul at the nine-minute mark and that could signal an end for the Titan hopes.

(Robinson was the second leading scorer for CSUF before fouling out)

Right now, Wisconsin holds a 56-45 lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the game. But Josh Akognon is still putting on a show, leading the Titans in scoring with 22 points. But Wisconsin is like a snake slowly squeezing the life out of them. Brian Butch still leads Wisky's balanced attack with 12 points and seven rebounds.

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OMAHA, NE.-- Intense backing of screaming fans wills Udub back ahead 35-31.

Trevon Hughes just went slashing through the lane, put up a layup, got fouled by Frank Robinson and came crashing down to the floor. Every single Big Red fan flew to their feet and pumped their fists at once. This game is intense man. Intense.

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OMAHA, NE.-- Cal State Fullerton led early, fell behind, then rallied to pull within two at the break. It's Wisconsin 30-28 as the Titan dance girls hit the floor.

Josh Akognon is mostly the story for the Titans, garnering 12 points and ducking inside to grab five rebounds (yes, a 5'11" guard is the top rebounder in the game).

For being such a human bruise, Scott Cutley has had a quiet game so far with just five points and two rebounds.

Wisconsin has dictated the pace, but still has only a two point lead. The Badgers are hitting just 38% of their shots, but hold a 21-17 rebounding edge. 6'11" Brian Butch has just two rebounds and leads the Badgers with eight points on the night.

Most surprising stat? Cal State Fullerton, a team that doesn't start anyone taller than 6'5" has outscored the Badgers 16-14 in the paint.

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 10:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OMAHA, NE.-- This might be a moment to keep in mind, but Brian Butch made a driving layup to help Wisconsin finally wrestle the lead away from Fullerton at 17-16.

This may be one of those things where it's a lead they take for good. Just a guess on my part.

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 10:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OMAHA, NE.-- Dear Wisconsin, don't fall asleep on Fullerton here.

Right now it's 13-8 CSUF at the 15 minute mark after a three-point rainbow from Josh Akognon.

I can't imagine it's going to last, so let's enjoy this while we can.

Posted by Eric Sorenson at 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - All Wisconsin does is win.

That was evident this season as the Badgers swept both Big Ten Conference titles, winning the regular season and tournament championships.

Wisconsin captured the tournament title Sunday with a 61-48 victory over upstart Illinois at Conseco Fieldhouse.
"All we care about is winning, " said Brian Butch, who scored 12 points against the 10th-seeded Illini.

Continue reading "Big Ten: Champs Of The Big Ten" »

Posted by Mike Carmin at 07:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - No doubt which team was the best in the Big Ten this season.
Wisconsin pulled off a double championship, winning the regular season title and now the tournament championship.
The Badgers beat Illinois 61-48. Nice run by the Illini but Wisconsin was just too much.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 05:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Bo Ryan's next big decision is when does he empty his bench? It should be soon.
Wisconsin is in control, leading 57-39 with under four minutes to play.
Known for their inside game, the Badgers are 9 of 18 from 3-point range.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 05:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Under eight minutes to play and Wisconsin has a 53-35 lead. It's all but over right now.
Illinois looks tired and can't do anything to stop the Badgers. Another Brian Butch 3-pointer and a dunk have brought Wisconsin's fans to their feet.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 04:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - The Badgers have come out scoring in the second half, building a 39-26 lead on a Michael Flowers 3-pointer.
Illinois is trying to pick up the pace but is losing ground.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 04:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Best decison of the day belongs to Wisconsin Bo Ryan.
Sophomore Trevon Hughes suffered an ankle injury on Saturday and was favoring that same ankle today. Ryan left the guard in the game.
Hughes beat the halftime buzzer with a jumper, giving the Badgers a 29-22 lead.
Could the Illini be running out of steam, playing their fourth game in four days?

Posted by Mike Carmin at 04:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - For someone who stands 6-foot-11, Brian Butch can stroke the 3-point shot.
His 3-pointer has Wisconsin on a 14-4 run and an 18-12 lead. Butch started the season 1 of 23 from beyond the arc but coach Bo Ryan told hm to keep shooting.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 03:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Wisconsin is known for defense but Illinois has four steals already.
We're tied at 10 at the second media timeout.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 03:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Typical Wisconsin game so far. Low scoring.
It's warm in Indiana today but the shooting is cold. More shots have missed the rim than gone through the basket. Wisconsin and Illinois are a combined 3 of 13 shooting through the first media timeout. The Illini lead 4-2.
Gotta love Illinois coach Bruce Weber's orange jacket.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 03:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Welcome to the Big Ten Conference championship. It's top-seeded Wisconsin and No. 10 seed Illinois.
The Badgers are in the NCAA tournament. The Illini need one more victory to secure a berth and knock a bubble team out.
Illinois is the surprise team, beating Penn State, Purdue and Minnesota. Coach Bruce Weber's team also has two tournament titles, winning in 2003 and 2005. They need one more to cap an improbable journey.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin is playing in the championship game for the fourth time in the last five years. The Badgers won the title in 2004.
We're about 20 minutes from the start.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 03:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - The surprise teams of the Big Ten tournament are set to tip off in a few minutes.
Sixth-seeded Minnesota, which beat Northwestern and Indiana, will face 10th-seeded Illinois, which advanced with victories over Penn State and Purdue.
For both teams, this will be their third game in three days.
Wonder if the Gophers thought they would be wearing white uniforms during this tournament?

Posted by Mike Carmin at 04:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Wisconsin's Michael Flowers didn't win the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year honor but he came up with a big steal against Michigan State.
Flowers' steal and layup broke a 63-all tie and helped the top-seeded Badgers subdue the Spartans 65-63.
Flowers stole a pass intended for Drew Neitzel and scored with 27.2 seconds on the clock. After a timeout, the Spartans couldn't find Neitzel and freshman Kalin Lucas had a layup attempt blocked.
Wisconsin, though, missed both free throws and Neitzel's 3-point attempt bounced off the back of the rim.
The Badgers will face the winner between Illinois and Minnesota in Sunday's championship game.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 03:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Michigan State just lost its fourth player to fouls.
This time, Raymar Morgan takes a seat after picking up his fifth foul.
Wisconsin's Joe Krabbenhoft hits both free throws bringing the Badgers within 60-59 with 3:02 to play.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 03:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Remember when I mentioned that foul trouble could haunt Michigan State?
It's happening now. The Spartans have lost three players to fouls in a span of one minute. Drew Naymick, Idong Ibok and Goran Suton have all fouled out and there's a lot of time left.
Wisconsin has just pulled within 55-54 on a 3-pointer by Brian Butch with 4:23 to play.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 03:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Could a four-point play spark Wisconsin, just like a four-point play ignited Michigan State in the first half?
The Badgers hope so. Jason Bohannon completed the play with a free throw, bringing top-seeded Wisconsin within 53-45 at the 7:52 mark.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 03:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Since Bo Ryan's technical, the Badgers have gone the other way.
Michigan State opened up a pair of 10-point leads, the last one at 45-35 with 12:38 to play. Drew Neitzel, who has 20 points, is back in the game.
Bad news for Wisconsin: Trevon Hughes left the game with an ankle injury.
MSU is up 45-37 with 11:31 to play.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 03:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Bo Ryan received a technical.
The Wisconsin coach almost got one in the first half and became angry over an offensive foul call early in the second half.
We're at the first media timeout of the second half with Michigan State ahead 35-29. The Spartans will be shooting two free throws on the other side.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 02:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - In its last three games, Wisconsin never trailed.
Today, the Badgers have only led for 58 seconds against Michigan State in the semifinals at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Behind senior guard Drew Neitzel, the Spartans are ahead 29-27 at halftime. Neitzel has 15 points.
MSU's big men experienced foul trouble in the first 20 minutes but survived with the lead.
Brian Butch has nine points for the top-seeded Badgers.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 02:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - I know I keep writing about Drew Neitzel but this kid is special.
He just faked Wisconsin's Brian Butch out of you know what on a sweet baseline move, giving Michigan State the lead at 27-25. There's 1:19 remaining until halftime and Neitzel has 13 points.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 02:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Drew Neitzel strikes again for Michigan State.
This time, he converted a four-play from the left wing to give the Spartans a 20-16 lead. The left-handed shooting guard has 11 points as the Spartans now lead 22-18 with 7:46 left until halftime.
MSU, though, is experiencing foul problems. Starting big men Drew Naymick and Goran Suton each have two fouls and reserve Idong Ibok has three fouls

Posted by Mike Carmin at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - On Friday, Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan was whistled for a technical in the first half.
Today, Ryan has already been warned by the officials. He's close to getting another T.
Michigan State is looking sharp right now, leading 15-11 with 11:22 left until halftime.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 01:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Michigan State's Drew Neitzel is at it again.
The hot shooting senior guard has seven of the Spartans' first nine points with four minutes expired in our first semifinal. Neitzel had 28 points against Ohio State in Friday's quarterfinal victory.
Michigan State is ahead 9-5.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 01:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Welcome to the Big Ten semifinals at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The first game is top-seeded Wisconsin and No. 4 Michigan State, followed by two surprises, No. 6 Minnesota and No. 10 Illinois.
It will be hard to top what happened Friday night in the evening session when the Gophers won on a last-second shot and the Illini upset No. 2 seed Purdue in overtime.
Much of this town was expecting a Purdue-Indiana semifinal rematch but will watch Minnesota and Illinois instead.
Plenty of good seats available.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 01:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - What else can you say about Drew Neitzel?
Michigan State's senior guard came up big at the right time for the Spartans, who put away Ohio State 67-60 in Friday's quarterfinal action of the Big Ten Conference tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Neitzel's 3-pointer with 1:21 remaining pushed MSU's lead to 61-55. It was the last of his game-high 28 points and advanced the Spartans into Saturday's semifinal matchup against top-seeded Wisconsin.

Continue reading "Big Ten: Afternoon recap" »

Posted by Mike Carmin at 06:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Top-seeded Wisconsin prevailed over Michigan 51-34 in the first quarterfinal game at the Big Ten tournament.
It wasn't pretty but that's how the Badgers play. Their defense shutdown the Wolverines from the start. Michigan made 10 of 50 field goals, including 6 of 24 from 3-point range. The Wolverines only scored 16 points in the second half.
Joe Krabbenhoft led Wisconsin with 12 points. Anthony Wright had 11 for Michigan.
Up next is Michigan State and Ohio State.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 01:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - With about 10 minutes left, Michigan has yet to reach 30 points.
The good news is Wisconsin only has 38, and the Wolverines trail by nine points.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 01:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan picked up a technical in the first half.
Michigan coach John Beilein was warned by the officials early in the second half. Beilein was on the verge of picking one up but received a warning instead.
We're at our first media timeout with the Badgers leading 31-23.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 01:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - No wonder the Big Ten doesn't receive a lot of respect from the national media.
This first quarterfinal game is ugly. Lots of missed layups, lots of physical play and very little action.
That's why top-seeded Wisconsin is leading ninth-seeded Michigan 26-18 at halftime.
The Wolverines were down 25-13 but Zach Gibson's 3-pointer brought them within nine points. Gibson leads Michigan with eight points.
Wisconsin's leading scorer is guard Jason Bohannon, who has seven. Can't wait for the second half.
Actually, the halftime show of muscial chairs has been more entertaining than the first 20 minutes.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - After Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan was whistled for a technical, the Badgers have played better.
Although Michigan pulled within 15-13, Wisconsin has scored seven straight points to go ahead 22-13 at the last media timeout before halftime.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Now, we have some fireworks.
Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan just received a technical. After the timeout, Michigan will be shooting free throws. The Badgers are leading 15-9.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - Both Wisconsin and Michigan have gone long periods without making a field goal.
That's why the score is 13-7 with 10 minutes left in the first half.
On Thursday, Michigan and Iowa combined to miss 26 straight field goals. Could we see more of that today?

Posted by Mike Carmin at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - If Michigan had trouble scoring against Iowa, how will the Wolverines handle Wisconsin's defense?
Based on the first five minutes not very well.
Wisconsin scored the first 10 points before Manny Harris drained a 3-pointer to put Michigan on the scoreboard.
It's still early but the Wolverines had better get going.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INDIANAPOLIS - It's Day 2 of the Big Ten tournament in Conseco Fieldhouse.
Michigan, which knocked off Iowa on Thursday, will face top-seeded Wisconsin in about 15 minutes.
The Badgers lost two conference games during the regular season, both times to Purdue. The Wolverines are coming off a less-than-thriling 55-47 victory over the Hawkeyes in the first round. Michigan did play the Badgers tough in Madison, losing by three points.
Our second game will feature the 4/5 matchup between Michigan State and Ohio State.

Posted by Mike Carmin at 11:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- Even after the No. 13 Wisconsin Badgers had built up a healthy 20-point lead with under 13 minutes remaining, this game opposing two top Big Ten teams was far from over.

Indiana fought back furiously from that deficit, making up 15 points in a five minute span, but came up short at the Kohl Center, where the Badgers handed the Hoosiers their first league loss of the season, 62-49.

"If we didn't have that cushion, it might not have turned out this way," Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan said after the win, the Badgers' 35th in their last 36 in Madison.

Both teams struggled mightily from the field. Indiana, the highest-scoring team in the Big Ten, shot 33.3 percent and converted on only 3 of 21 three-point attempts. The Badgers were marginally better, shooting 34.5 percent and making 3-20 from behind the arc.

"Both teams played tough," Indiana head coach Kelvin Sampson said afterward. "Neither team could get many shots to go down."

The two-headed offensive attack of Eric Gordon and D.J. White was probably good enough for the Hoosiers to win on another night, but they had little to no support from the rest of their teammates. White had another double-double, his 13th in his last 16 games, posting 22 points and 17 rebounds. But he also had four turnovers, including three in the first half as the Hoosiers fell behind by ten points.

Gordon, playing with a left-wrist injury that he reportedly sustained in practice this week, finished with 16 points, but only got to the line for two free-throws, a number that Sampson said was too low for the conference's leader in free throw attempts and makes.

"He had a tough time going to his left, obviously, and they kept sitting on his right hand," Sampson said. "But I thought Eric played hard. He had to work for just about everything he had."

The Badgers, coming off their first Big Ten loss of the season to Purdue, took Indiana's best punch on an otherwise punchless night. They built their 20-point lead on the strength of a balanced attack and big offensive rebounds by junior guard Joe Krabbenhoft, who led the team with 12 rebounds, six coming on the offensive glass.

Ryan spoke to the energy that Krabbenhoft brings on a nightly basis.

"In life there are just some people who come and give a great effort every day, and that's Joe," he said. "Sometimes the result can look varied, but the energy will never vary."

For the Badgers, forward Marcus Landry finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and guard Trevon Hughes had 16 points. Michael Flowers, playing a bit under the weather, added 10 points and a solid defensive effort against Gordon, the leading scorer in the Big Ten.

"I really liked our defensive effort -- trying to get them to take shots that they weren't as comfortable with," Ryan said.

The Badgers' win put them at 7-1 in the Big Ten and suddenly shifted the picture in the standings. Indiana came in the lone team atop the conference, but fell to fourth. The Badgers are now tied with No. 8/7 Michigan State and Purdue in first place.

Indiana returns home next for a Sunday game against Northwestern, while the Badgers will play the same day at Minnesota. In only two weeks, these two teams will meet again in Bloomington, Ind.

That's all from Madison, Wis., where the Wisconsin survived a major scare from Indiana. Good night.

Posted by Jon Bortin at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- Amid chants of "overrated" directed at the No. 11 Indiana Hoosiers, the Wisconsin Badgers weathered a major storm from their opponent and handed IU its first Big Ten loss of the season, 62-49.

Indiana trailed by as many as 20 points, but fought back with a furious run to within five. The Hoosiers could not inch any closer.

D.J. White finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds for Indiana. Eric Gordon, after a poor showing in the first half, finished with 16 points.

Trevon Hughes had 16 points for UW. Marcus Landry added 14 points and 11 rebounds.

We'll be back with post-game thoughts and quotes after coaches and players speak to the media here at the Kohl Center.

Posted by Jon Bortin at 10:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- Indiana, down 20 points with 13 minutes to play, made a furious attempt to get back in the game and cut the lead to 48-43 moments ago.

But the Badgers, after a big putback from Joe Krabbehoft, have built back up an eight-point lead.

With 3:10 left to play, it's 53-45.

Posted by Jon Bortin at 10:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- A three-point play by D.J. White gives him 18 points and 13 rebounds.

It also cuts the lead to 48-41, UW.

It is getting tense at the Kohl Center, where we have a timeout on the floor.

7:53 remains on the clock, and it's suddenly anybody's game...

Posted by Jon Bortin at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- Indiana was on the ropes only a few minutes ago, down 20. Since then, they have gone on 10-0 run to put themselves right back in the game.

Eric Gordon just drilled a three-pointer from five feet beyond the line, prompting a UW timeout.

With 9:29 remaining, it's 46-36, UW.

Posted by Jon Bortin at 10:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. - A put-back from Greg Stiemsma has ballooned the Badger lead to 20 points at the Kohl Center.

The way things are looking right now, Indiana is going to be hard-pressed to come back in this game. Almost nothing has worked for them tonight. On offense they are still shooting under 30 percent, and they can't buy a three-pointer (1-11).

With 12 minutes to go, it's 46-28, Badgers.

Posted by Jon Bortin at 10:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- The Badgers are in the catbird seat at the Kohl Center, which just erupted heading into a timeout. After Trevon Hughes missed a three, UW got the offensive board and worked it to Hughes. The sophomore drove to the hope and dished behind his back to Michael Flowers, who gave the Badgers a 16-point lead.

The Badgers have outscored Indiana 10-4 to open the second half. For UW, it is looking awfully good.

Posted by Jon Bortin at 10:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin Badgers and Indiana Hoosiers have walked off the court at halftime with UW holding a 10-point lead in a sloppy first half.

Neither team is hitting a high percentage from the field. The Badgers are at 35 percent, and IU sits at 31 percent.

The Eric Gordon watch stands with this halftime line: four points (2-for-7 FG, 0-3 3PT), two rebounds and one assist. Gordon's teammate D.J. White has been a much bigger factor through 20 minutes. White is on pace to put up yet another double-double. He's at nine points and eight rebounds.

But White is not the leading scorer. The holder of that is Badger sophomore Trevon Hughes, who's scored 10 points on 10 field goal attempts. Marcus Landry has seven points and six rebounds for the Badgers.

If you're looking for a reason why the Badgers hold this 10 point lead over the Big Ten's top team, check the turnover department. Indiana has committed far too many, with 11 in the first half, to the Badgers' three. White has made three himself.

In the meantime, Badger fans at the Kohl Center got a kick out of one man's performance in the singing contest. In his rendition of "My Girl," he managed to put in the name of ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews. A cursory check showed her not to be on the floor.

The second half is about three minutes away. Will Indiana put together a run and keep the unbeaten Big Ten record? Check back for updates...

Posted by Jon Bortin at 09:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- After he didn't get a call on the offensive end, Eric Gordon made a silly foul on Trevon Hughes, who hit one of two free throws from the line.

Gordon, playing with a taped left wrist, came right back and hit off the glass, making him 2-for-7 tonight.

With about one minute to play in the first half, Indiana trails by eight after a D.J. White offensive foul.

Posted by Jon Bortin at 09:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- The Hoosiers are down to 30 percent shooting through the first 15 minutes of the first half. Fortunately for them, the Badgers are only at 38 percent.

D.J. White's free-throw and put-back dunk on an offensive rebound has made the score 25-15, Badgers, with under four minutes to play. Indiana has gained an edge in rebounding after going down early.

We'll see what happens in the last 3:26, a critical period for the Hoosiers before they go into halftime. So far, though, the tempo of this game belongs to the Badgers.

Posted by Jon Bortin at 09:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin's leading scorer, Brian Butch, was really struggling in the early going, missing his first four shots, all coming in the paint.

But he brought on the din of the Kohl Center crowd after hitting a three-pointer with 7:40 remaining in the first half.

Indiana was moments ago showing signs of climbing back into the game, cutting the lead to 16-12 as D.J. White picked it up a bit. But it seems the Badgers have weathered the first punch from the Hoosiers. Trevon Hughes leads all scorers with seven points.

With 7:38 remaining in the half, it's 21-12, Wisconsin.

Posted by Jon Bortin at 09:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- No. 13 Wisconsin has overwhelmed Indiana early, jumping out to a 14-6 lead with airtight defense and strong rebounding. Indiana is clearly making a conscious effort to go inside, but isn't converting early on.

Both Trevon Hughes and Marcus Landry have five points for the Badgers, who have six more shots attempted than the Hoosiers. The Badgers are shooting 40 percent early on, while Indiana is struggling from the field, at 33 percent.

Coming out of a timeout with 11:43 remaining, it is 14-6 at the Kohl Center.

Posted by Jon Bortin at 09:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- The Badgers' Marcus Landry has started hot in Madison, with five points in the first three minutes. He made a jump fade away from the paint to put the Badgers up, 4-2, and then converted a three-point play on a lay-in to make it 7-2.

Meanwhile, Eric Gordon of Indiana missed his first shot, a lean-in from the right side of the basket. With 15:48 left in the first half, it's 7-4 at the Kohl Center, where a packed house is LOUD tonight.

Posted by Jon Bortin at 09:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- Good evening from Madison, Wis., where, for the first time in more than a year, two ranked teams will oppose each other on the Kohl Center court. In about 20 minutes, we'll tip between No. 11 Indiana, looking to stay unbeaten in the Big Ten, and No. 13 Wisconsin, which is coming off its first league setback of the season.

The Hoosiers (6-0 Big Ten, 17-2 overall) face a big litmus test here tonight. The Kohl Center is one of the more intimidating venues in the country. In seven seasons under head coach Bo Ryan, the Badgers are 103-6 at home, the second best over that span. In Big Ten games, the Badgers (6-1, 16-3) are a sterling 50-2 under Ryan.

IU, of course, is looking to rebound from a improbable 68-63 loss to UConn on Saturday. That defeat brought an end to a 13-game winning streak overall and a string of 29 straight wins at Assembly Hall.

A big reason for the Hoosier's success in the first half of the season is the oft-talked about freshman, Eric Gordon. He's leading the Big Ten with 21.7 points per game. Not only is Gordon capable of hitting the three-ball, but he also gets to the line more often than any player in the conference. We'll be keeping an eye tonight on Gordon's left wrist, which he reportedly injured in practice earlier this week. Gordon's father said earlier this week that his son would be wearing a protective pad on the wrist for the game tonight.

The Badgers also face a serious challenge on the low block tonight by the name of D.J. White. The senior has posted 12 double-doubles in his last 15 times out. His work on the boards could give Wisconsin fits. White leads the league in rebounds (10.2) and is a scoring threat, to be sure (16.8 points per game). He and Gordon are key components of the conference's highest scoring team, at 79 points per game.

Meanwhile, the Badgers' continued theme, as seems to be the case every season under Ryan, is stifling defense. No team in the Big Ten is more stingy on defense. The Badgers have held league opponents to under 55 points per contest, and they're scoring this year, too. Senior Brian Butch leads in both points (13.2) and rebounds (7.8). Sophomore guard Trevon Hughes also averages 13 points a game.

Wisconsin has bested Indiana in six of the last nine match-ups between the two teams and will surely be seeking some measure of revenge from last year's loss. That Hoosier win, exactly one year ago today in Bloomington, ended the Badgers' school-record 17-game winning streak.

Indiana, in their fashionable red-and-white striped pants, has just taken the court and started the lay-up line. Gordon's wrist is indeed taped. But if it's any indication of how that will affect him, he drilled his first three-pointer taken in warm-ups.

We'll have more once the game gets underway from Madison!

Posted by Jon Bortin at 08:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- In a matchup between in-state rivals, Marquette's experienced group of juniors out-lasted a gritty Badger team still trying to replace the point production of departed 2006 seniors Kammron Taylor and Alando Tucker. The final score was 81-76.

Continue reading "Marquette Blows By Badgers In Second Half" »

Posted by Mike Beacom at 07:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- A pretty drive to the hoop by Dominic James, followed by a nifty jumped by Jerel McNeal gave the lead back to Marquette for a brief moment. Then the Badgers' Brian Butch knotted the score 54-54 with an easy lay-in with 11 minutes to go.

James had missed a break-away layup only minutes earlier -- part of a sloppy run for the Golden Eagles -- but now it appears both teams have their offenses back in shape.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 07:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- A double technical on Marquette's Dominic James and Wisconsin's Trevon Hughes -- following a James foul -- got both benches up in arms. After the foul James and Hughes were eye-to-eye when a Badger player tried to break up the confrontation. From there it escalated. The Badgers got the better end of the deal, though, as they kept the momentum and the lead, 50-46.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 07:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MADISON, Wis. -- Thanks to a long jumper by sophomore guard Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin has taken the lead back in the second half of its in-state contest against Marquette. The Golden Eagles have controlled the score for much of the contest, but thanks to the fine shooting of Brian Butch (and now Hughes) Wisconsin has gained control.

The fast-tempo Golden Eagles have been playing sloppy when trying to run thus far. And forward Lazar Hayward just picked up foul No. 4 .. uh-oh.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 07:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DURHAM, N.C. -- With less than five minutes to go in the game, the crowd at Cameron Indoor Stadium started a chant of "A-C-C." By that time, it was already more than clear that seventh-ranked Duke was going to continue its dominance in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on the way to a 82-58 win against No. 20 Wisconsin.

Continue reading "Duke cruises to easy win vs. Badgers" »

Posted by Evan Markfield at 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DURHAM, N.C. -- With just two and a half minutes to go and a 21-point lead, the crowd here at Cameron has started a chant of "our house" and it sure looks to be true. The Devils are just running clock now and will have an easy double-digit win. The only drama here is a Duke official asking the Crazies to return a Wisconsin shirt that a fan was forced to take off before the game started. No word on if they've located the shirt in question.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DURHAM, N.C. -- Not much really to report here in the Duke-Wisconsin game. The Blue Devils have maintained a steady 18-20 point lead throughout the entire second half, and now it looks like Coach K is trying to get some of his younger players hands-on experience running plays, as he shouts instructions from the sideline. Not that 20 points is insurmountable, but the last eight minutes of this one might be nothing more than a glorified practice for the Blue Devils.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 10:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DURHAM, N.C. -- As if the Badgers didn't have enough problems down 52-29, Brian Butch just picked up his fourth foul less than three minutes into the second half.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DURHAM, N.C. -- Apparently, Mike Krzyzewski wasn't happy with the energy at the start of the second half. During a lull one minute into the second half, Coach K stood up and waved his arms, imploring the crowd to get fired up with a shout of "Let's go!"

Posted by Evan Markfield at 10:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DURHAM, N.C. -- Just before the half, the Cameron Crazies were chanting about how the Blue Devils were doubling up the Badgers. While a few more points got scored after that, it was pretty close to being a 2-for-1 at the break.

Continue reading "It's a blowout at halftime" »

Posted by Evan Markfield at 10:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DURHAM, N.C. -- A brief unrelated-to-the-game side note here, but it appears as if Duke's hated rival, North Carolina has a couple of players in the house tonight. Football players, that is. Mike Paulus, a quarterback who redshirted this season for the Tar Heels, is the younger brother of Duke point guard Greg Paulus. And it looks like Mike brought along another UNC freshman, Greg Little. Little is keeping a low-profile, it appears, no doubt because last weekend he ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-winning 25-yarder, to beat Duke in overtime. Meanwhile, Duke has opened up a 20-point lead with less than four minutes to go in the half.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 09:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DURHAM, N.C. -- Turnovers are starting to become a problem for the BAdgers, and Duke is quickly taking advantage. Freshman Taylor King turned an errant inbounds pass into a 3-pointer to put Duke up 33-18. A minute later, he buried another one to make it 36-18. The Badgers are starting to get back on their heels a little bit here, which is only feeding the fans' frenzy.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 09:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DURHAM, N.C. -- After a completely ridiculous blocked shot by Gerald Henderson -- he skied up to palm the top of the ball -- Greg Paulus hit a three, and then the Devils got another quick bucket to fire up the crowd here with a 25-14 lead. So far, Wisconsin has answered each time Duke looked like it was about to blow things open, so we'll see how they respond to this.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 09:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DURHAM, N.C. -- Wisconsin guard Trevon Hughes made a quick impact on the Blue Devils fans in the game's opening minute, burying a 3-pointer from so far away that the Crazies behind me remarked, "Man, that's J.J." -- a reference, obviously, to former Duke sharpshooter J.J. Redick. But the Blue Devils have recovered since then, despite some poor shot choices, to lead 10-7 four and a half minutes in.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 09:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DURHAM, N.C. -- We're almost ready for tipoff at Cameron Indoor Stadium in a battle of two unbeaten teams, Duke and Wisconsin, in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Blue Devils have never lost a game in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, but they could have their hands full with the Badgers.

Wisconsin is 5-0 for the first time in coach Bo Ryan's seven years at the helm (perhaps because of Ryan's uncanny ability to crank dat).

In the first four games of the season, the Badgers have had seven different players score at least 10 points in a game, which will make things challenging for a Duke defense that is coming off a win in which it held Eastern Kentucky to 12 first-half points.

Duke's freshmen big men will also have to keep the Badgers off the glass. Wisconsin has a plus-16.6 per game rebounding edge so far this year. But it will take more than just winning the rebound battle to keep the Blue Devils from staying perfect -- both on the season and in this annual battle of conferences.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 08:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)