Life on the road in the Big Ten is still treacherous
MADISON – Road warriors or road kill?
For Big Ten men’s basketball teams, last season offered more of the latter.
Home teams won 68.1% of their league games (94-44) and only four of the league’s 14 teams finished at .500 or better on the road. Michigan State led the way at 6-4, followed by Wisconsin, Maryland and Illinois, all at 5-5.
Not surprisingly, UW, Michigan State and Maryland shared the regularseason title at 14-6 and Illinois finished one game back at 13-7.
With teams playing in empty venues this season because of COVID-19 concerns, the general thinking was that road teams might be able to steal more victories.
“This will be something that we’ll track as the season goes on,” UW assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft said. “I’m sure you guys will be following it and figuring out what happens. …
“Our home court it is different. Sometimes when one of those shots goes in the crowd stands up and it gets your blood going as a player. You miss that at home.
“Conversely on the road, it’s kind of
nice that it's a little quiet. It's still a game between those lines. You've got to play. You've got to compete.”
Ninth-ranked UW (7-1, 1-0 Big Ten) is set to play its first Big Ten road game at 11:30 a.m. Friday against No. 11 Michigan State (6-1, 0-1).
The Badgers have lost their last 12 games at the Breslin Center, with the last victory on March 2, 2004. The last six losses and eight overall have been by double digits.
“I'm excited,” UW senior Aleem Ford said. “It is a great opportunity for us. Christmas Day. At Michigan State. What is better than that?”
Big Ten teams were 7-1 at home in league play through games of Tuesday night. The most stunning result was Northwestern's 79-65 victory over the Spartans.
“Disappointed,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said after the loss. “To be honest with you, confused. One of the more inept performances of my 26 years. That's kind of a harsh statement.
“I'm blaming myself. I'm the one that has to have my team ready. …Didn't think we were ready from the opening second.
“You've got to give them credit, though. (Coach) Chris (Collins) did a hell of a job. They were better coached. They played harder. There was a sense of purpose.”
UW coach Greg Gard and his players have said the key to success both home and away this season will be consistent execution and the ability to internally generate energy and momentum.
“I talked about as a team we're going to have to be very consistent,” Gard said. “Because you're not going to have a crowd rush or crowd noise to bail you out. …
“It is hard in this environment. There is no crowd to get any energy from. We've got to create our own.”
By contrast, road teams won't have to deal with thousands of hostile hosts night in and night out.
“You're not going to have hostile environments,” Gard said. “So, the teams that can maintain the highest level of consistency and when things do wobble a little bit, quickly collect yourselves. Hopefully our experience helps.”
Yet through Tuesday games, the only team to win on the road was Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights throttled Maryland, 74-60, on Dec. 14.
UW assistant Alando Tucker noted that with the addition of daily testing and restrictions on the road, traveling is more taxing than in previous seasons.
“I think it is just because of all of the conditions you have to go through just to stay safe,” he said. “It's not a normal year.
“I think on the road it is even more abnormal. Traveling parties are limited. You've got to be so particular about what you do in the hotel. It can be very taxing.”
Defeating Michigan State in the Breslin Center is a difficult assignment in any season.
“Big Ten teams are good,” senior Micah Potter said. “You can't go into a road game expecting it to be any easier. It is still the Big Ten. It is the best conference in college basketball. Every team is a good win if you win.”