John Blackwell during a game at Providence

Men's Basketball

Five Things to Know: Wisconsin vs. Robert Morris

Badgers host the Colonials

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin returns to the Kohl Center to host Robert Morris on Friday. Opening tip is set for 6 p.m. (CT) and the game will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.

STARTING FIVE LINKS
• Watch Live
• Listen Live
• Live Stats
• Buy Tickets
• Know Before You Go

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW:

Isaac Lindsey against Providence
Isaac Lindsey (10) at Providence

1. SCOUTING ROBERT MORRIS

The Badgers have never faced Robert Morris, with Friday being the first meeting between the two teams. 

The Colonials hold a 1-2 record on the season and are coming off a 66-62 loss against Towson on Sunday. RMU faced a UW conference rival in Penn State on Oct. 27 in an exhibition game. That game resulted in a 68-58 loss.

Junior guard Justice Williams has been RMU's most effective player offensively through three games, averaging 18.5 points, while graduate forward Markeese Hastings is averaging 15.3 points per game. 

 

John Blackwell drives against a Providence player
John Blackwell (25) at Providence

2.BLACKWELL PROVIDES SPARK

John Blackwell may be a freshman, but he is already earning minutes and carving out a key role in a veteran-laden rotation. In the first game of the season, Blackwell provided 12 points off the bench in 15 minutes of action for the Badgers.

Last time out at Providence, he brought the intensity once again from the bench and scored seven of Wisconsin's first nine points to start the game. Playing a career-high 26 minutes, he finished with 11 points and five rebounds.

Max Klesmit against Providence
Max Klesmit (11) at Providence

3. FORT MYERS TIP-OFF

Looking ahead, the Badgers will travel to Fort Myers, Fla. during Thanksgiving week for the sixth annual Fort Myers Tip-Off.

The two-day college basketball tournament features Wisconsin, SMU, West Virginia and Virginia. 

The Badgers will open the tournament facing Virginia on Monday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. (CT) on FS1. The winner of that will advance to the Championship game with the loser playing in the third place game. Both these games will be played on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

Chucky Hepburn against Providence
Chucky Hepburn (23) at Providence

4. RECAPPING THE WEEK

Wisconsin is coming off a tough loss at Providence in the team's first road game of the season. The Badgers fell, 72-59, against the Friars in the Gavitt Tipoff Games.

It was another strong game for AJ Storr, who led the team with 22 points. John Blackwell contributed 11 points and five rebounds. Chucky Hepburn added eight points, while Tyler Wahl scored six points. 

Wisconsin shot a perfect 12-for-12 at the free throw line.

AJ Storr during a game vs. Tennessee

5. SOMETHING IN STORR

Sophomore transfer AJ Storr has already begun to showcase his offensive skillset with Wisconsin. A BIG EAST All-Freshman honoree last year with St. John's, the 6-foot-7 guard has hit the ground running in Madison.

Storr scored 15 points in his Wisconsin debut vs. Arkansas State, the most by a non-freshman in his UW debut since at least 2000. Storr followed that up with a team-high 17 points vs. No. 9 Tennessee. Last time out, he scored a season-high 22 points at Providence.

Storr is the first Badger to score in double figures in each of his first two games since Devin Harris in the 2001-02 season.

Loading...

SCHEDULE

{{ moment(game.date).format('MMM D, YYYY') }} {{ game.time ? 'at ' + game.time : '' }}
{{ game.sport.title }} {{ game.location_indicator === 'A' ? 'at' : 'vs' }}
{{ game.opponent.title }}