Badgers’ offense finally heats up
MADISON – The offensive execution for much of the first half might have been the worst Greg Gard has seen during his tenure at Wisconsin, both as an assistant and head coach.
Ninth-ranked UW didn't work the ball inside enough, missed three-point attempts by the bushel and didn't hit double-digit points until 5 minutes 26 seconds remained in the opening half. Brutal.
The Badgers eventually cut harder, moved the ball better and the shots started falling. UW wiped out a 10point first-half deficit and dominated the second half en route to a 67-53 victory Tuesday night at the Kohl Center.
Despite the frigid offense in the opening half, four players scored in double figures for UW (7-1, 1-0 Big Ten).
Brad Davison, who hit a combined 12 of 20 three-pointers in two victories over Nebraska last season, hit 3 of 5 Tuesday night and led UW with 15
points, seven assists and three rebounds.
“The whole goal about non-conference play is to work the kinks out, learn a lot about yourselves, grow as a team, figure out roles and be rolling when conference play starts,” Davison said before the game. “Now we’re excited to chase a championship.”
Aleem Ford hit just 1 of 6 three-point attempts but played hard throughout and contributed 13 points and eight rebounds.
Micah Potter scored seven points and added two assists during a devastating 16-0 run in the second half and finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds and two assists.
Nate Reuvers struggled on both ends at times but finished with 10 points and four rebounds.
Jonathan Davis and D’Mitrik Trice added seven points apiece.
The Badgers didn’t score until Davis hit a three-pointer 4:43 into the game and then went scoreless until Davison hit two free throws with 8:43 left in the half.
They finished the half 3 of 15 from three-point range and 9 of 29 overall and with a 25-24 lead.
They hit 5 of 11 three-pointers and 13 of 26 shots overall after halftime to pull away for the comfortable victory.
Nebraska (4-4, 0-1) struggled to score consistently all night and finished 8 of 27 from three-point range and 18 of 54 overall.
UW early on got plenty of open looks from the perimeter but next to nothing in the lane.
The results were brutal as the Badgers made just 1 of 11 three-point attempts and 4 of 22 shots overall and fell into a 21-11 hole with 4:42 left in the opening half.
The Badgers without warning went on a 14-0 run over a span of 3:06 to turn the 10-point deficit into a 25-21 lead with 1:14 left in the half.
Ford hit a three-pointer, Potter hit a three-pointer, Trice hit a floater in the lane, Davis hit a jumper, Ford scored inside and Davison hit two free throws.
UW could have extended the lead but Davison was called for traveling and Thorir Thorbjarnarson hit a threepointer to close the first-half scoring and pull Nebraska within 25-24.
The Badgers built a 32-26 lead early in the second half but then went scoreless on five consecutive possessions, which allowed Nebraska to stay close.
Potter shucked the Cornhuskers’ hopes during a 16-0 UW run.
Potter started the run with two free throws to give UW a 34-33 lead with 14:03 left. He scored inside, fed Trevor Anderson for an open three-pointer, converted a three-point play and then fed Davison for an open three-pointer.
When Davison added another threepointer, the lead was 48-33 with 9:22 left.