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Wisconsin’s home streak dead at 28

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Also by Mike Ackerstein:

Wisconsin hits road for Milwaukee (December 12, 2007)
Heisman pressures could tackle Tebow (December 10, 2007)
Wisconsin's home streak dead at 28 (December 10, 2007)
Poor ball control haunts Badgers (December 10, 2007)
Badgers put on show against Terriers (December 4, 2007)

by Mike Ackerstein

Monday, December 10, 2007

Marquette became the first team from the state of Wisconsin to ever beat Bo Ryan at the Kohl Center as the Eagles broke the Badgers' 28-game home winning streak in their victory Saturday. UW's streak was the third longest of its kind in the country.

"It's hard to break a streak," Marquette guard and Madison native Wesley Matthews said. "We know it's a tough feeling for them, but it's great [for us]."

Wisconsin has a record of 51-3 in nonconference games at the Kohl Center under Ryan, including a mark of 44-1 in their last 45 contests. MU had not beaten UW in Madison since 1997.

"It's disappointing any time you lose," senior Brian Butch said. "Especially at home with the support we had tonight. As a competitor, you don't want to lose, period, but we have to move on."

Rivalry continues to grow

With an ESPN2 broadcast and both teams holding top 25 rankings, Marquette and Wisconsin had seen their nonconference rivalry reach new heights over the past few seasons.

"I know it's always been a big deal with Marquette and Wisconsin," Marquette coach Tom Crean said, "but certainly over the past few years it's just gone up."

Saturday's game drew a sellout crowd of 17,190 to the Kohl Center for the matchup.

"Certainly we have a rivalry, and we're going to compete on the court, and we're going to compete for recruits, and there's a mutual respect," Crean said. "I think that's the best thing about it.

"The fact that the nation has picked up on it the past few years is even better because it brings a ton of attention to this state."

Flowers opens game as starter

Though he had started all the Badgers' games as a junior last season, senior guard Michael Flowers found himself coming off the bench for the first seven games this season after taking a leave of absence during the preseason. Saturday, Flowers cracked the starting lineup for the first time this season against a smaller, quicker Marquette lineup.

"The decision was already made," Ryan said about whether Flowers started because of the matchup. "It wasn't about who we were going to be playing."

Flowers scored 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting against Marquette, adding three rebounds and an assist. Foul trouble limited his playing time, however, and Flowers only logged 24 minutes before he fouled out in the second half.

"I would have loved to have him on the floor more tonight," Ryan said. "He was a guy that was getting it done and doing some good things."

Flowers is averaging 9.4 points and three assists per game this season.

Leuer steps up in another big game

In Wisconsin's 82-58 loss at Duke, freshman Jon Leuer opened some eyes with a 12-point performance as he led the Badgers in scoring. In UW's loss Saturday, Leuer once again had a solid performance, scoring nine points, including a pair of clutch 3-pointers, and grabbing five rebounds in just 13 minutes of play.

"Jon Leuer just plays," Ryan said. "He'll play anywhere. He should be on the floor more."

For the season, the freshman is now averaging 5.9 points and three rebounds in just 12.6 minutes of play per game.

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