Forgoing her usual Monday afternoon wardrobes of either business clothes or UW warm-ups, UW head coach Jane Albright strode into the Kohl Center wearing a baggy pink sweater and blue jeans. Her casual attire, however, didn?t match her tone as she discussed Wisconsin?s chances of salvaging a season that currently teeters on the rim of disaster.
“As human beings we prepare physically for one day,” Albright said. “Mentally, we?re trying to take care of yesterday, tomorrow and today when we go on a basketball court, because we?re trying to relive the fact that we can win in a tournament game. We?re trying to prove we can play in the NCAA tournament. That?s very overwhelming, for everybody.”
Even more overwhelming, the Badgers stand a decent chance of missing the NCAA tournament altogether. That prospect seemed preposterous just six weeks ago, when Wisconsin held a No. 5 national ranking. In fact, talk of a No. 1 seed for UW circulated. Now, after losing nine of their last 10 games, the Badgers probably need two wins in this weekend?s Big Ten tournament to assure themselves of an NCAA tournament berth.
“This has not been fun,” Albright said. “This has been pressure-filled, and we have not handled it well.”
According to Albright, UW?s stretch of losses has stemmed from its less-than-inspired defensive play. In the Badgers? 17 wins, UW opponents have hit, on average, less than 38 percent of their shots. In Wisconsin?s 10 losses, opponents have averaged better than 46 percent from the floor. And the Badgers lack of defense has become particularly acute of late: Ohio State, Minnesota, Texas Tech and Iowa ? the last four teams to defeat UW ? have averaged better than 52 percent shooting from the field.
“Is that a physical or a mental thing? I think it?s a mental thing,” Albright said. “We?re in very good physical shape. I think it?s a pressure. I think we hesitate. I think that we worry because we didn?t score. That?s part of the game, when teams get on rolls and when they don?t.”
Wisconsin got more bad news Sunday. In addition to losing 82-55 to Ohio State ? easily UW?s worst performance of the season ? the Badgers? leading scorer, power forward Jessie Stomski, suffered a concussion 16 minutes into the game and missed the entire second half. Albright said Monday that Stomski?s head still hurt, and the coach didn?t rule out the chance that Stomski?s concussion would force her to miss part or all of the Big Ten tournament.
“Our first clue was when she asked if we had any turnovers [Sunday],” Albright said (Wisconsin committed 19 giveaways in the first half against Ohio State).
Stomski was unavailable for comment Monday.
UW?s other starting post player, center Emily Ashbaugh, has experienced back pain since Wisconsin?s 76-74 loss to Minnesota last Thursday. Albright said the pain might prevent Ashbaugh from playing more than four consecutive minutes during the Big Ten tournament.
