The Starting Five: Rhode Island

Wisconsin

3-1

RHODE ISLAND

3-2

Game Coverage

Dec. 9 | 3:30 p.m. | Kohl Center | Madison, Wis.

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MADISON, Wis. — With its previously scheduled ACC/Big Ten Challenge game against Louisville postponed, Wisconsin hosts Rhode Island on Wednesday for a 3:30 p.m. (CT) tip on Big Ten Network.

The Rams - who have won three straight - will be playing their sixth game in the first 15 days of the season. URI ranked No. 33 nationally in nonconference strength of schedule before even adding Wisconsin.

THE STARTING FIVE

1) STILL STREAKING: Wisconsin saw its 11-game win streak (dating back to last season) snapped in heart-breaking fashion at Marquette last Friday, the Badgers still own an 11-game home win streak, the longest in the Big Ten.

UW's active home win streak began back on Jan. 4, 2020 with a win over No. 17 Maryland.

UW has won 18 consecutive home games against non-conference opponents dating back to 2017.

2) D-FENSE! D-FENSE! Wisconsin continues to stifle opponents, allowing just 58.5 points per game this season (ranked third in the Big Ten). The Badgers lead the NCAA in blocks per game at 7.0 rejections per contest. UW ranks sixth in the nation in Ken Pomeroy's Adjusted Defensive Efficiency, averaging 86.8 points per 100 possessions.

3) BADGERS DON'T BEAT THEMSELVES: The Badgers average just 8.5 turnovers per game. Dating back to last season, UW has committed 11 or fewer turnovers in 22 consecutive games.

Individually, senior point guard D'Mitrik Trice has dished out 15 assists to just three turnovers playing a team-high 103 minutes so far this season.

Along with Brad Davison, UW's starting backcourt has 22 assists with just five turnovers in 189 combined minutes on the year.

4) HIGH HIGH HOPES: Now 3-1 on the season, Wisconsin currently ranks No. 13 in this week's AP Top 25. UW checked in at No. 4 last week, marking the Badgers' highest ranking since being ranked No. 3 on March 16, 2015. This marks just the fourth season in which Wisconsin has appeared in the AP Top 5.

Wisconsin is one of six teams from the Big Ten ranked in the latest AP Top 25: No. 3 Iowa, No. 4 Michigan State, No. 6 Illinois, No. 13 Wisconsin, No. 21 Rutgers and No. 22 Ohio State.

5) PRESEASON PRAISE: Wisconsin has a trio of players on watch lists for major awards: PG D'Mitrik Trice (Bob Cousy Award), PF Nate Reuvers (Karl Malone Award) and C Micah Potter (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).

University of Wisconsin Athletics