All-around play by Landry was key to Badgers' success
December 09, 2008 | Men's Basketball
A win is a win. Even though it was not the prettiest of efforts, the Badgers got it done on Tuesday night against an improving Idaho State team. Despite going nine possessions without a score at one point in the first half, an 8-0 Wisconsin run in the middle of the second half proved to be the difference maker in UW's 60-58 win over the Bengals.
One of the main reasons for the Badgers'' success was the all-around play of Marcus Landry. Even though he rated the team''s overall play to be a zero on a scale of 10, the senior forward showed flashes that deserve much higher scores. He finished the game with 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one steal in 34 minutes of action.
'"I just found myself in the post a few times,"' Landry said. '"I tried to be more aggressive this game and it worked out for me. Some days, it' 's not your day, and you have to find a way to get it done in other ways." '
Recognized as one of the leading scorers for Wisconsin, arguably his most impressive statistic tonight was his defensive efforts to hold Matt Stucki to only 10 points, five of which came in the final minute and a half. Stucki has been one of the top scorers for Idaho State, averaging close to 13 points per game. The Bengals senior entered Tuesday' 's contest coming off of a 20-point performance against Utah on Saturday, proving the quality of Landry''s defense.
Behind Jason Bohannon''s 18-point performance, Landry was the second leading scorer with 14 points. In a game where the Badgers went 5-for-22 from three-point land and shot a mere 37.7 percent from the floor, Landry''s presence in the post was definitely felt by the team. He shot 53.8 percent from the floor and was two rebounds away from a double-double. His calmness on the court was evident in a fast-paced game as Landry committed no turnovers during his 34 minutes of play.
'"Today I just tried to be more aggressive and show a presence inside," ' Landry said. '"You have to take what they give you and I just found myself in the post a few times."'
Looking forward, Wisconsin will take on UW-Green Bay on Saturday night at the Kohl Center. When the Badgers matched up against the Phoenix last season in Madison, Landry shot a remarkable 71.4 percent on the court and finished the game with 11 points. The senior, along with the rest of the Badgers, will look to duplicate their efforts from last season and continue their 14-0 unbeaten streak against UW-Green Bay.
