Wednesday, December 8
Madison, Wis.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
at
Wisconsin
Time for a Change – IU Seeks to End Wisconsin Streak
12/8/2021 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The challenge is out there, written in the basketball history of the Indiana-Wisconsin series, and Anthony Leal knows it.
All the Hoosiers do.
The sophomore guard is talking about Badger senior guard Brad Davison, in so many ways the heart of his team, and as Leal does, a big-picture truth emerges.
"He's a great leader and plays as hard as he can every play," Leal says. "That's invaluable."
Leal, a former Indiana Mr. Basketball for Bloomington South High School, appreciates that style because it's one he calls his own.
"Not many are willing to sacrifice their bodies and go as hard as he can," Leal says. "I respect that. We'll try to match his intensity and hopefully get a win."
He pauses. History comes into focus. IU has lost 18 straight games in Madison. Its last victory there came in 1998, which was before Leal was born.
"It's been a long time since we won there," he says.
IU once dominated Wisconsin wherever the teams met under coach Bob Knight, but that changed as the 21st Century approached. Coaches Mike Davis, Kelvin Sampson, Tom Crean and Archie Miller couldn't consistently beat the Badgers. Indiana has beaten them just six times since 2001.
The Hoosiers (7-1) have a chance to change it back Wednesday night.
Coach Mike Woodson, who was 7-3 as a Cream 'n Crimson player against Wisconsin, has a plan. While the specifics will show during the game, Leal offers Indiana keys to victory.
"Stay disciplined; stay true to our scout," he says. "Have confidence in the fact we prepared well and should know what to expect and what to execute.
"As long as we execute our game plan and keep playing as hard as we can on defense, we'll be in it no matter what."
Wisconsin (7-1) boasts a five-game winning streak and rankings of No. 22 and No. 17 in the national polls.
The Badgers won the recent Maui Invitational by beating Houston and St. Mary's in the final two games.
Wisconsin is led by Johnny Davis, who averages 20.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. He shoots 40.7 percent from three-point range.
"He's very hot lately," Leal says. "He's scoring well. He's doing everything well."
Guarding him, Leal adds, means "Staying focused and having passion and taking pride in whoever has that matchup. Making it hard on him. If he shoots 15 shots, he's going to score some points, but make every shot hard. Make every point challenging. He's definitely a special player and we're going to focus on trying to slow him down."
The same is true for Davison, who averages 15.9 points and 4.4 rebounds. His 20 three-pointers lead the team.
Davison won Big Ten player-of-the-week honors after averaging 23.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in wins over Georgia Tech and Marquette.
IU will counter with strong defense. Under Woodson, the Hoosiers lead the Big Ten in defensive field goal percentage (35.3 percent), rank second in blocked shots (6.3) and fourth in three-point field goal defense (25.2 percent).
Much of that defensive success has come at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. In their only road game, the Hoosiers gave up 112 points in a double overtime loss at Syracuse.
Thriving on the road, Leal says, starts with mindset.
"We try to bring the same energy no matter where we're at. Warm up with the same passion whether you're home or away. That and try to get shots up in our pre-game shoot-around at the away gym. Stay locked in and bring our own energy."
Offensively, IU ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring (80.4 points) and second in field goal percentage (49.6). In the last five games, the Hoosiers average 82.8 points while shooting 51.0 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from three-point range.
Guard Parker Stewart leads the Big Ten in three-point shooting percentage, at 47.7 percent.
Forward Trayce Jackson-Davis continues to set an All-America standard. He ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring (21.0 points), fifth in rebounding (8.6), first in blocked shots (3.5) and second in shooting (64.4 percent).
He ranks 42nd in school history in career scoring, with 1,117 points (tied ex-Hoosier standout Victor Oladipo).
Jackson-Davis is playing his best ball under Woodson, and he's not alone. The locker room, Leal adds, reflects that.
"It is a great atmosphere. Chemistry is really good. We all do love and support each other, which is awesome."
Woodson has left a big impression on Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg, who, like Woodson, coached and played in the NBA before joining the college ranks. The Hoosiers beat the Cornhuskers last Saturday/
"Especially Mike with everything that he's accomplished as a player here, as a player in the league, as a coach in the league," Hoiberg said. "He's phenomenal. He does a great job. His team takes on his personality. They're tough, and he deserves a lot of credit for the start they've had."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The challenge is out there, written in the basketball history of the Indiana-Wisconsin series, and Anthony Leal knows it.
All the Hoosiers do.
The sophomore guard is talking about Badger senior guard Brad Davison, in so many ways the heart of his team, and as Leal does, a big-picture truth emerges.
"He's a great leader and plays as hard as he can every play," Leal says. "That's invaluable."
Leal, a former Indiana Mr. Basketball for Bloomington South High School, appreciates that style because it's one he calls his own.
"Not many are willing to sacrifice their bodies and go as hard as he can," Leal says. "I respect that. We'll try to match his intensity and hopefully get a win."
He pauses. History comes into focus. IU has lost 18 straight games in Madison. Its last victory there came in 1998, which was before Leal was born.
"It's been a long time since we won there," he says.
IU once dominated Wisconsin wherever the teams met under coach Bob Knight, but that changed as the 21st Century approached. Coaches Mike Davis, Kelvin Sampson, Tom Crean and Archie Miller couldn't consistently beat the Badgers. Indiana has beaten them just six times since 2001.
The Hoosiers (7-1) have a chance to change it back Wednesday night.
Coach Mike Woodson, who was 7-3 as a Cream 'n Crimson player against Wisconsin, has a plan. While the specifics will show during the game, Leal offers Indiana keys to victory.
"Stay disciplined; stay true to our scout," he says. "Have confidence in the fact we prepared well and should know what to expect and what to execute.
"As long as we execute our game plan and keep playing as hard as we can on defense, we'll be in it no matter what."
Wisconsin (7-1) boasts a five-game winning streak and rankings of No. 22 and No. 17 in the national polls.
The Badgers won the recent Maui Invitational by beating Houston and St. Mary's in the final two games.
Wisconsin is led by Johnny Davis, who averages 20.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. He shoots 40.7 percent from three-point range.
"He's very hot lately," Leal says. "He's scoring well. He's doing everything well."
Guarding him, Leal adds, means "Staying focused and having passion and taking pride in whoever has that matchup. Making it hard on him. If he shoots 15 shots, he's going to score some points, but make every shot hard. Make every point challenging. He's definitely a special player and we're going to focus on trying to slow him down."
The same is true for Davison, who averages 15.9 points and 4.4 rebounds. His 20 three-pointers lead the team.
Davison won Big Ten player-of-the-week honors after averaging 23.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in wins over Georgia Tech and Marquette.
IU will counter with strong defense. Under Woodson, the Hoosiers lead the Big Ten in defensive field goal percentage (35.3 percent), rank second in blocked shots (6.3) and fourth in three-point field goal defense (25.2 percent).
Much of that defensive success has come at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. In their only road game, the Hoosiers gave up 112 points in a double overtime loss at Syracuse.
Thriving on the road, Leal says, starts with mindset.
"We try to bring the same energy no matter where we're at. Warm up with the same passion whether you're home or away. That and try to get shots up in our pre-game shoot-around at the away gym. Stay locked in and bring our own energy."
Offensively, IU ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring (80.4 points) and second in field goal percentage (49.6). In the last five games, the Hoosiers average 82.8 points while shooting 51.0 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from three-point range.
Guard Parker Stewart leads the Big Ten in three-point shooting percentage, at 47.7 percent.
Forward Trayce Jackson-Davis continues to set an All-America standard. He ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring (21.0 points), fifth in rebounding (8.6), first in blocked shots (3.5) and second in shooting (64.4 percent).
He ranks 42nd in school history in career scoring, with 1,117 points (tied ex-Hoosier standout Victor Oladipo).
Jackson-Davis is playing his best ball under Woodson, and he's not alone. The locker room, Leal adds, reflects that.
"It is a great atmosphere. Chemistry is really good. We all do love and support each other, which is awesome."
Woodson has left a big impression on Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg, who, like Woodson, coached and played in the NBA before joining the college ranks. The Hoosiers beat the Cornhuskers last Saturday/
"Especially Mike with everything that he's accomplished as a player here, as a player in the league, as a coach in the league," Hoiberg said. "He's phenomenal. He does a great job. His team takes on his personality. They're tough, and he deserves a lot of credit for the start they've had."
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