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SPORTS

Wisconsin gets defensive in win

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Also by Eric C. Krueger:

5 Keys 4 UW (March 9, 2007)
5 Keys 4 UW (January 31, 2007)
5 Keys 4 UW (February 7, 2007)
5 Keys 4 UW (February 14, 2007)
5 Keys 4 UW (February 23, 2007)

by Eric C. Krueger

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

In the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team's win over Iowa Sunday, the Badgers held the Hawkeyes to a season-low 28 percent shooting.

Senior Adam Haluska, who entered the game as the Big Ten's leading scorer, was held to 3-of-18 shooting by a combination of Wisconsin defenders, including junior guard Michael Flowers and sophomore forward Joe Krabbenhoft. In addition, Alando Tucker held Iowa's second leading scorer, freshman Tyler Smith, to eight points on 3-of-17 shooting.

Defending shooters is presumably easier at home than on the road, but head coach Bo Ryan maintains the preparation is the same.

"Nothing is really different," Ryan said. "We don't say, 'OK, we're on the road so this is what we have to do to 3-point shooters any differently than at home. Defensively, we don't do anything differently."

A large part of the Badgers' defensive preparation falls on the players who get none of the media attention.

While Wisconsin's deep, talented bench often steps up during the games, the reserves' abilities are invaluable in practice as members of the scout team.

The scout team is responsible for learning not only Wisconsin's offensive and defensive sets, but also for learning what the upcoming opponent will likely present.

Being members of the scout team can often be a difficult and thankless job, but their contributions have not gone unnoticed by Ryan.

"They're all working hard," Ryan said. "If you have that going, you always have a chance to be successful."

According to Ryan, UW's scout team has been successful in stimulating what other teams are trying to do, singling out Jason Bohannon, Trevon Hughes, Tanner Bronson and Kevin Gullikson for their efforts.

Cue the SportsCenter theme music

While it could be argued Wisconsin still does not get the same media attention as Duke or Florida, the unprecedented success the Badgers have achieved this season has brought with it some additional media attention.

"I'm glad that our guys are getting the positive (attention)," Ryan said. "They've earned it. [The media] is talking 'Wisconsin.' So how can anybody not think that that's positive for the school, the state, the program and everything else?"

The Badgers could easily allow the national attention to become a distraction, but 17 straight wins are proof enough to Ryan that his players' maturity has allowed them to stay levelheaded.

"The guys have handled it extremely well because they're still playing hard," Ryan said. "If they were out there not diving for loose balls, not scrapping, then I'd get a little nervous. But they are, so as long as that keeps happening, we're OK."

Alando Tucker — POW!

Following his 27-point, 11-of-14 shooting explosion against the Hawkeyes Sunday, senior forward Alando Tucker was named the Big Ten's co-Player of the Week.

Tucker shares the award with Ohio State's Greg Oden, who averaged 18 points and 11.5 rebounds in the Buckeyes' wins over Northwestern and Michigan State.

The honor is Tucker's second such award on the year and fourth of his career.

Tucker also scored 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting last week as Wisconsin defeated Michigan 57-46.

Moving on up

Already No. 2 in the Associated Press Poll for the past three weeks, Wisconsin moved up from No. 3 to No. 2 in this week's ESPN/USA Today's Coaches' Poll as well.

While the Badgers did their part to stand pat in the polls, Wisconsin benefited from Stanford's 75-68 upset victory over UCLA Sunday. The Bruins had occupied the No. 2 spot in the Coaches' Poll, but fell to No. 5 this week.

Big Ten opponent Ohio State also moved up one spot, jumping from No. 5 to No. 4 in both polls.

Indiana, which Wisconsin plays Wednesday, earned a No. 25 ranking in the Coaches' Poll.

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