#20 Saint Mary's
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Game Coverage
November 5 | 8 p.m. | The Pentagon | Sioux Falls, S.D.
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin men's basketball team officially begins its 2019-20 season with a top-20 matchup against #20 Saint Mary's on Tuesday. Tip is set for 8 p.m. (CT) at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
1) RETURNING ARSENAL: The Badgers return 6 of their top 8 scorers from their 2019 NCAA Tournament team. Wisconsin's current roster accounted for 61.9% (1,443 of 2,333 points) of their scoring in 2019-20, led by returning starters
Brad Davison,
Nate Reuvers and
D'Mitrik Trice. In total, UW returns 69.7% of its minutes played from last season (4,828 of 6,924).
2) OPENING DAY SUCCESS: Wisconsin has won 16 of its last 17 season openers dating back to 2001. The lone loss came in a 69-67 setback to Western Illinois in the 2015-16 debut. Last season, the Badgers opened up their season with an 85-63 win over Coppin State.
D'Mitrik Trice led UW with a career high 21 points (5-9 3FGs) and
Brevin Pritzl finished with 16 points on the night.
3) LAST TIME OUT: Nate Reuvers led a well-balanced offensive attack for the Badgers with 15 points, one of five UW players to finish in double-figure scoring as Wisconsin coasted to an 82-53 home-exhibition victory over UW-La Crosse.
Kobe King (14),
Aleem Ford (13),
Brad Davison (12), and
D'Mitrik Trice (10) also reached double-figures in points with King leading the pack in both rebounds (eight) and assists (five). True freshman
Tyler Wahl also impressed in his collegiate debut, tallying seven points, five blocks and seven rebounds in 16 minutes of action.
4) WINNING WAYS: UW has recorded at least 30 wins in four of the last 13 seasons, the most of any team in the Big Ten. Michigan [3], Michigan State [3], Ohio State [3] and Purdue [1] are the only other Big Ten schools to win 30 games in a season over that span.
5) BATTLING THE BEST: The unranked Badgers have a difficult task ahead of them when they battle the #20 Gaels on the road in South Dakota. This is the first time since 1995 that the Badgers open up their season against a ranked opponent. In 4 seasons, head coach
Greg Gard has posted 13 wins over ranked teams, including 6 away from home. UW will have to overcome both opening game jitters and contest an NCAA tournament-level Saint Mary's squad in what looks to be an exciting season-opening matchup.
LAST TIME OUT
Wisconsin 82, UW-La Crosse 53 (exhibition)
- Wisconsin unofficially tipped off its season with an 82-53 exhibition win over UW-La Crosse last Friday.
- The Badgers showcased a well-balanced offensive attack with 5 Badgers scoring in double figures.
- Nate Reuvers - Led all players with 15 points (6-11 FG, 2-3 3FG), 6 rebounds and 4 blocks
- Kobe King - Aggressive in attacking the rim, scoring 14 points (6-8 FG), game-high 8 rebounds, 5 assists
- Brad Davison - Balanced performance with 13 points (5-8 FG), 7 rebounds, 2 assists
- Aleem Ford - Showcased ability to score both inside and outside, recording 12 points (5-8 FG, 2-3 3FG)
- D'Mitrik Trice - Finished with 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists
- True freshman forward Tyler Wahl impressed in his collegiate debut, tallying 7 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks in 16 minutes of action.
SCOUTING REPORT: SAINT MARY'S
The Saint Mary's Gaels enter the 2019-20 season with high expecations and star-power. The reigning West Coast Conference (WCC) tournament champions have made the NCAA Tournament two of the last three seasons and claimed 20 or more wins the past 12 seasons, including a victory over top-ranked Gonzaga last season. Saint Mary's returns their top-three scorers from last season in senior guard
Jordan Ford, 22.1 ppg, junior forward
Malik Fitts, 15.2 ppg and senior guard
Tanner Krebs, 8.9 ppg. In total, the Gaels bring back 88.2 percent of their scoring from last season after losing just one starter and three total players.
SERIES VS. SAINT MARY'S:
- Tuesday's game marks the third all time meeting between Wisconsin and Saint Mary's in a series that dates back to 1974.
- The series, tied 1-1, includes a pair of games played in Madison, including an 82-76 win for UW in the most recent meeting in 1976.
- The matchup marks the fifth-ever neutral site season opener in UW history, the previous four have ended in Wisconsin victories.
- UW holds a 14-6 all-time record against teams from the West Coast Conference.
4 MOORE
- On the night of May 25, the Wisconsin basketball family was forever changed. Assistant coach Howard Moore and his family were involved in a horrific auto accident that claimed the lives of Moore's wife, Jen, and 9-year old daughter, Jaidyn.
- His 13-year old son, Jerell, survived with minor injuries, while Moore sustained severe burns and later endured a heart attack that has left him facing a long and challenging recovery.
- Throughout the season, our team will be honoring the Moore family through a simple motto: Do Moore. Be Moore. 4 Moore.
- The number 4 represents the four members of the family. The six words represent far more than a saying, but instead a symbol of strength and an inspiration on for how to live our lives.
- Our game uniforms will feature a "4MOORE" patch, (includes the names of Jen and Jaidyn). Also featuring on shooting shirts and wristbands.
- An assistance fund has been established with the name "The Howard Moore Family Fund." Text the word "MOORE," to 69050 to donate.
