Game Coverage
Friday, Nov. 24 | 8 pm — Kohl Center
MADISON, Wis. — Following a trio of battles against ranked opponents, the Badgers return home for one game against I-94 rival Milwaukee on Friday at the Kohl Center. The game is the first of 3 this season against in-state foes.
Up next, the Badgers will travel to Virginia for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Nov. 27. UW and UVA split a pair of Challenge games in 2012 and 2013, with each team winning on the opponent's home floor.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW: MILWAUKEE
1. TOUGHEST STRETCH: Wisconsin just finished playing 3 consecutive non-conference games against AP top-25 teams (Xavier, Baylor, UCLA) for the first time in school history (more on page 3).
2. THISCLOSE: The Badgers are 0-3 against the AP top 25, but were extremely close to winning all 3. UW was tied or within 2 points with 2:00 remaining in all 3 games.
3. STILL STANDING TALL: Despite a 2-3 start to the season, the Badgers are still ranked among the top teams according to Ken Pomeroy. Wisconsin is ranked No. 33 overall in the KenPom.com ratings, owning a top-50 offense (#49) and defense (#24).
4. HAPP HAVING HIS WAY: One of just two returning All-Americans in college basketball, junior Ethan Happ is off to an impressive start. He is the only major conference player averaging at least 19.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg and 4.0 apg (more on page 4).
5. YOUTH MOVEMENT: Against UCLA, Wisconsin started freshmen Brad Davison and Aleem Ford. The last time UW had 2 or more freshmen in the starting lineup was the final game of the 1997-98 season. Overall, freshmen are accounting for 26.4% pct of the Badgers' points (more on page 5).
ALL-TIME vs. MILWAUKEE: Wisconsin and Milwaukee will meet for the 34th time on Friday in a series that began in 1901. Outside the Big Ten, UW has faced only Marquette (123) more frequently than UWM.
- UW owns a 31-2 lead in the all-time series, but the Panthers won the most recent meeting, 68-67, in 2015 in Madison. That UWM win came in the third-to-last game of Bo Ryan's coaching career and snapped a streak of 22 consecutive wins by the Badgers in the series.
- Wisconsin and Milwaukee did not play each other last season, snapping a string of meeting
every season from 1992 through 2015.
- Prior to coming to Madison, UW head coach Greg Gard served as an assistant coach under Bo Ryan at Milwaukee for two seasons (2000 and 2001), compiling a record of 30-27 (.526).
For complete game notes, click here.
