Winning at Purdue a big challenge
MADISON – Brad Davison has played in — and started — 79 Big Ten basketball games.
That number is by far the most among the players on the Wisconsin roster.
Davison returned for a fifth season at UW partially because he has no plans to play basketball professionally and he enjoyed his first four seasons at UW, particularly 2019-2020 when the Badgers won a share of the Big Ten title.
Yet there is one achievement that has eluded him — and every UW player since the 2013-2014 season. Defeating Purdue in Mackey Arena. “I’ve won at every other arena,” Davison said.
The Badgers (10-2, 1-1 Big Ten) get another chance when they face the thirdranked Boilermakers (12-1, 1-1 Big Ten) at 6 p.m. Monday in West Lafayette, Indiana. The game is to be televised by BTN.
Handing the Boilermakers their first home loss this season likely will require a near-flawless performance.
UW has lost its last five Big Ten games at Mackey, is 18-73 against the Boilermakers in West Lafayette and doesn’t appear close to being fully healthy and in sync.
Guards Jahcobi Neath and Lorne Bowman and forward Ben Carlson — all in Gard’s regular rotation — were among five players who did not dress Wednesday in UW’s 89-85 victory over Illinois State.
They were presumably in COVID-19 protocols.
Guard Johnny Davis recorded his first double-double (20 points, 11 rebounds) in the victory, but that was his first action since he played 38 minutes in a loss to Ohio State on Dec. 11.
Davis missed all 4 three-point attempts and finished 6 of 23. Davison contributed seven points and three assists but missed all 8 three-point attempts and finished 1 of 9.
UW has played just one game since a victory over Nicholls on Dec. 15 and has had all 17 players together for practice twice, the two days before a COVID outbreak forced the Badgers to cancel their Dec. 23 home game against George Mason.
Neath has missed six of 11 games because of injuries and illness. His best game of the season came against Nicholls when he contributed nine points, seven rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal in a season-high 27 minutes.
Bowman, who is shooting 52.9% from three-point range (9 of 17), missed UW’s first two Big Ten games because of illness. He has played just once since Dec. 15.
Purdue appears to be the deepest, most versatile and best team in the Big Ten.
The Boilermakers feature the best pair of big men in the league in Trevion Williams (13.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg) and Zach Edey (14.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and arguably the best guard in Jaden Ivey (16.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg).
UW big men Steven Crowl and Chris Vogt will have to play well and stay out of foul trouble.
The Boilermakers are shooting a remarkable 56.1% and because teams have to contend down low with Williams and Edey, the Boilermakers get open looks from the perimeter. They are shooting 41.1% from three-point range.
UW is 2-4 against Purdue since Davison’s freshman season n 2017-2018, including a 0-3 mark at Mackey Arena.
The Badgers did record a victory last season at Mackey Arena — an 85-62 decision over North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament.
“The one game I won at Mackey Arena was against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament,” Davison said. “So it half counts. I’ve got to beat Purdue at Mackey Arena. All love to Mackey Arena and Purdue.”