University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Travel to Madison to Take On Bucky
1/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game No. 16 • Big Ten Game 2
MINNESOTA (7-8, 1-0 Big Ten)
vs.
Wisconsin #4/4 (14-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
January 6, 2007 • 3:30 p.m.
Kohl Center • Madison, Wis.
Television: KSTC Ch. 45 - Craig Coshun, PBP; Mike Kelley, analyst
Radio: Gopher Radio Network - Mike Grimm, PBP; Kevin Lynch, analyst
STORYLINES
• Minnesota has not defeated a ranked team on the road when unranked since Jan. 19, 1985 when the Gophers defeated #19 Michigan State in East Lansing, 81-75.
• Minnesota leads the all-time series 97-84. Wisconsin leads in Madison, 55-32. Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan is 8-1 against the Gophers.
• Wisconsin won both of last year’s meetings; 64-62 at Williams Arena on Jan. 10 and, 80-74, in Madison on Feb. 26.
• Wisconsin assistant Howard Moore was an assistant to Minnesota head coach Jim Molinari at Bradley for three seasons.
• The Badgers start three seniors (Tucker, Chappell, Taylor) and two juniors (Flowers and Butch). The Gophers do not have a senior on the roster.
MATCHUP
The Gophers, winners of two straight for the second time this season, face their first road Big Ten test of the season against the fourth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in Madison. Wisconsin is off to a 14-1 start, its best in forever (1928-29), and have won 10 straight games. Its only blemish this season is a neutral site loss at the South Padre Invitational to Missouri State.
SCOUTING the Badgers
Alando Tucker is a senior. That’s about the only positive in a Big Ten scouting report on Wisconsin this season. The Badgers are a deep, experienced and talented group led by the All-American candidate Tucker. And they’re even better at home. Under Bo Ryan, Wisconsin is 38-2 in Big Ten games at the Kohl Center. Tucker is ridiculous and getting more absurd by the game. He averages 20.6 points per game (leads the conference overall), has scored 20-plus points nine games this season, has scored in double figures in 22 straight games and 37 of his last 38. Tucker is shooting .511 from the field (114-of-223) and has improved his three-point shot (14-of-42/.333) and free throw shooting (67-of-99/.677).
