MADISON, Wis. --Wisconsin (2-5) is coming off of a busy stretch of games, playing five contests over the past 10 days. The Badgers return to a regular schedule this week, playing two games -- one at home and one on the road. Wisconsin returns home to host Virginia Tech (6-1) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Kohl Center. UW is 6-7 all-time in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, following a 60-41 loss at Georgia Tech on Dec. 5, 2019. The Badgers played Virginia Tech in the 2008 Big Ten/ACC Challenge, defeating the Hokies, 61-52.
Wisconsin opens the Big Ten Conference season on Sunday when it travels to Northwestern (4-3). Tip time is 2 p.m. from Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois.
Here are five things you need to know to recap this past weekend and look forward into the season as Wisconsin gears up to play Virginia Tech Wednesday.
1. ROCKY MOUNTAIN ROAD TRIP: The Badgers went out west last weekend and left with a split record in the Rocky Mountain Hoops Classic, beating Boise State and falling to host Colorado. Wisconsin had a great shooting weekend with percentages above average in both games and a weekend average of 41.3% (45-109) while also netting 12 baskets from 3-point range, hitting at a .273 clip. Points in the paint was another team statistic that Wisconsin continues to dominate as the Badgers had 58 total points in the paint over the weekend.
2. BADGERS BEAT BRONCOS: The first game of the tournament came against Boise State where the Badgers snapped their four-game losing streak with a 60-45 win, behind a 15-point showing from junior
Julie Pospisilova. The junior also set a new career-high in assists with eight while hitting three from 3-point land.
Sydney Hilliard contributed 11 points and two steals with gritty defensive play as the Badgers held the Broncos to an opponent season-low points. Another key part of this Badgers' win was their ability to stay out of foul trouble and capitalize off turnovers. Wisconsin forced 20 Boise State turnovers, notching 17 points off of takeaways.
3. HONORS FOR JULIE P: Junior Julie Pospíšilová was named to the Rocky Mountain Hoops Classic All-Tournament team. The 6-foot guard averaged team-best 12.5 points while adding 4.5 rebounds per game. She dished off a career-high eight assists vs. Boise State to average 4.5 assists per game. Pospisilova also added 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals per game.
4. BROOKE NO QUARTER: Sophomore
Brooke Schramek turned up her play on the weekend, scoring a career-best 11 points vs. Colorado on Sunday. The 6-foot-1 guard also added eight points against Boise State to average 9.5 points per game on the weekend, which ranked third on the team. Schramek shot 53.3% (8-15) from the field on the weekend, while adding six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. On the season, she averages 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.
4. SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH: The Badgers face Virginia Tech Hokies the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Wednesday night at the Kohl Center. The Hokies are currently 6-1 on the year with all of their games so far coming against non-conference opponents. Their one loss comes to Missouri State in the San Juan Shootout this past Friday. The loss dropped VTU out of the national poll after being ranked No. 24 last week. Hokies' main contributors are junior center Elizabeth Kitley, averaging a double-double with 20.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Guards Aisha Sheppard and Kayana Traylor, a Purdue transfer, boast double-digit averages with 13.6 and 11.3 points per game, respectively.
