Wisconsin will be looking to continue both its recent winning streak and its dominance against Minnesota in a Big Ten matchup on Friday night in Madison, Wis.
The Badgers (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) have won four consecutive games, including a 75-63 victory at Rutgers on Monday. Wisconsin also has won seven straight against Minnesota and 16 of the last 18 meetings.
Minnesota (8-7, 0-4) lost at home to Ohio State 89-88 in double overtime on Monday, while hitting just 12 of 27 free-throw attempts.
The Badgers are averaging 83.3 points per game, their most since 1970-71. Wisconsin also leads the nation in free-throw percentage at 85.5.
“They’re getting back to really being able to shoot the basketball from five spots, which makes thing tough depending on who they have out their on the lineup,” Minnesota coach Ben Johnson said on his weekly radio show. “When you can spread a defense out with five guys that can all shoot it from 3, that puts your defense in a bind. And we know they’re always tough at home.”
Wisconsin graduate transfer John Tonje averages a team-best 18.4 points. John Blackwell, who has scored a total of 53 points in the last two games, averages 15.8. Nolan Winter adds 11.2 points and team-leading 6.1 boards per game.
Badgers forward Steven Crowl, who was inconsistent early, has come on during the four-game winning streak, averaging 16.3 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 74.3 percent. Guard Max Klesmit, who averages 10.5 points and leads in assists (3.0), left with an ankle injury midway through the second half against Rutgers and his status is uncertain.
“He’s day-to-day right now. It continues to respond as we go through the next few days,” Gard said. “I think we have other guys. I don’t think roles are going to change.”
Minnesota is scoring a Big Ten-worst 68.8 points per game while allowing 66.7, fifth-best in the conference. The Gophers are shooting just 31.1 percent from 3-point range and are last in the conference in free-throw shooting at 61.8 percent.
“They guard well,” Gard said. “If you look at their roster, they’re all seniors or they’ve got GR by them, meaning they’re grad students. Dawson Garcia is a really good player, Mike Mitchell is a really good player. They’ve been a little banged up, but they’re getting healthier now.”
Garcia leads the Gophers with 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Mitchell averages 12.8 points and Lu’Cye Patterson adds 10.7.
Parker Fox had a season-high 21 points and Patterson 20 in the loss to Ohio State, but Garcia managed just five points on 2-of-9 shooting.
The last five games between Wisconsin and Minnesota have been decided by a total of 16 points.
