UW’s game with Indiana a board test
Badgers must limit offensive rebounds
MADISON – Wisconsin played arguably its best overall game of the season in dispatching Minnesota on New Year's Eve.
The Badgers pounded the ball inside and scored efficiently, particularly after halftime. Led by the work of D'Mitrik Trice, their defense on guard Marcus Carr was exceptional. Nate Reuvers and Micah Potter prevented center Liam Robbins from dominating play.
Nevertheless, one area of concern was that UW allowed a season-high 16 offensive rebounds and 19 secondchance points in the 12-point victory.
UW (9-2, 3-1 Big Ten) needs to be stronger on the glass when it hosts Indiana (7-4, 2-2) at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Specifically, UW must control sopho
more forward Trayce Jackson-Davis and redshirt junior forward Race Thompson.
Jackson-Davis had 22 points and 13 rebounds and Thompson added 13 points and 11 rebounds in the Hoosiers’ 63-55 victory over Maryland on Monday night.
“They had a nice win against Maryland,” UW coach Greg Gard said. “They’re a team that presents a lot of challenges.”
Jackson-Davis and Thompson grabbed four offensive rebounds apiece and Indiana finished with 12 offensive rebounds, a 14-4 edge in second-chance points and a 36-24 edge in points in the paint, critical factors in their ability to wipe out a 10-point deficit after halftime.
“Offensively in the second half we were a much different team,” said Indiana coach Archie Miller, whose team scored 42 points after an ugly first-half performance. “We were more physical around the basket. It started with Trayce. We were much more physical on the offensive glass. I know Race and Trayce really started to get after it there.”
Jackson-Davis is averaging 20.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He is
Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis had 22 points and 13 rebounds in a victory over Maryland on Monday night.
shooting 53.1% and has three doubledoubles this season.
Thompson is averaging 9.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and is shooting 57.6%. He recorded his second double-double of the season.
“Coach says that if you get the most rebounds in the game, you win the game,” Thompson said. “So, at the end of the day, me and Trayce have got to do our job and get as many rebounds as we can throughout the game and the outcome will be what we want if we get more than the other team.”
Thompson and Jackson-Davis were at their best in the second half against Maryland.
An offensive rebound by Thompson led to a three-pointer to help Indiana pull within 37-32. Thompson then grabbed a defensive rebound and the Hoosiers got another three-pointer to pull within 37-35.
Jackson-Davis scored three times after grabbing offensive rebounds, twice after his misses. He hit just 2 of 9 shots in the first half but hit 7 of 9 shots in the second half.
“He is a guy who has the ability to respond,” Miller said. “He was a much different player in the second half. He had a big impact on the game. Moving forward, hopefully we can get him going earlier, especially around the basket.”
UW swept two games against the Hoosiers last season, winning by 20 in Madison and by four in Bloomington to clinch a share of the Big Ten title.
Jackson-Davis averaged 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the two games and hit just 5 of 14 field-goal attempts. Thompson averaged 5.5 points and 7.5 rebounds and hit 3 of 8 field-goal attempts.
Minnesota’s Robbins is averaging 14.2 points and shooting 49.5%. He scored 12 points in the loss to UW, but six came after the Badgers built a 26point lead and he hit only 4 of 11 shots.
“We knew we had to stop him and make him uncomfortable,” Trice said, “make him work to get his post touches.
“I think our bigs did a great job of keeping them from getting it close to the basket. Our bigs did a really good job and our guards did a great job of keeping them out of the driving lanes.
“We were just locked in defensively for 40 minutes and it showed.”
UW must do the same to JacksonDavis and Thompson.