UW head coach Lisa Stone and the women?s basketball team will travel to Evanston, Ill., today for a Monday night showdown against the winless Wildcats of Northwestern.
With injuries to key starters early in the season, the Wildcats (0-13, 4-21) currently hold the last place position in the Big Ten. The Badgers (5-8, 12-11), however, know all too well that a team?s record is no indication of its abilities.
?We?re going to play them like they?re the best team in the conference, like they?re the No. 1 team in the country,? senior Janese Banks said. ?Any given night, anybody can win in our conference.?
With the home court advantage, Northwestern will look to the blocks for success in their starting center, Amy Jaeschke.
?[Northwestern] is still a Division I team with one of the most premiere post players in the country in Jaeschke,? Stone said. ?They?re dangerous because they?re so hungry [for a win], and on top of all that, they?re playing at home.?
Northwestern last played in Madison Jan. 27, a game that ended in a 75-45 rout in favor of Wisconsin. The win was the second straight for UW at the time, initiating what would become a bit of a season-saving streak for the team.
?[The wins] have been a big boost for us, and especially with the games [this week]; it gives us that encouragement,? Banks said. ?To get that ?roll? going and to get that momentum will be huge.?
With a win last Thursday night against Illinois, the Badgers are now 4-2 in their past six games with five games remaining. Stone recognizes a sharper focus by her players, which in her mind has led to the team’s recent success.
?We?ve been paying more attention to detail,? Stone said. ?We?re a lot more consistent, and we?re taking care of the basketball. We?re playing our best basketball at the right time of the year, so we want to continue that as we finish the season strong.?
From a momentum standpoint, the team can argue its case for ?most feared opponent.? The Badgers’ young players have gained experience and are starting to gel with the seniors and their respective skill sets. It is this balanced scoring attack that forces teams to respect each individual defensively, which creates opportunities in the one-on-one game.
?I think every game when we can get three or four players in double digits, it?s important to us,? Banks said. ?Instead of focusing on one or two of us, they have to focus on everybody and worry about guarding all of us.?
To avoid becoming the first win for the Wildcats, the Badgers have to avoid giving the game away by turning the ball over and wasting offensive possessions. At times against Illinois, Wisconsin settled for low-percentage shots with time remaining on the shot clock. It is this shot selection that Stone is focused on for tonight’s game.
?It?s something you always talk about ? good shot, better shot and best shot,? Stone said. ?Our team?s hunger for success sometimes overtakes them, and that was some decision making and some details we will go over.?
Win or lose against Northwestern, Wisconsin won?t have much time to react to the outcome, with a game Wednesday in Madison against Indiana. Without much time to prepare and rest, the more efficient the Badgers are in practice, the better.
?Our kids right now want to play,? Stone said. ?This time of the season you want to play games, so it?s going to be important to get rest and be prepared. We?re not going to let up ? pedal to the metal.?
