Wisconsin News and Sports
The Wisconsin Badger men’s basketball team is practicing daily, getting ready
Mike Bruesewitz
for the start of the 2012-13 college basketball season. One member of the team that isn’t working with the team is senior forward Mike Bruesewitz.
Bruesewitz is still recovering from a seven-inch long gash on his shin, as a result of a fall he took during player workouts recently. Bruesewitz said he was pretty scared at the time.
AUDIO: Mike Bruesewitz’ reaction to his leg injury :17 [Read more…]
In 11 seasons under Wisconsin men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan, the Badgers
Josh Gasser
have never finished worse than 4th in the Big Ten.
This year, a panel of 24 Big Ten media members picked the Badgers to finish 5th. Indiana was selected 1st, followed by Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State.
The Badgers have plenty of experience back in the front court with the return of senior forwards Jared Berggren, Mike Bruesewitz and Ryan Evans. But they do have to replace veteran point guard Jordan Taylor, who led the team in scoring with an average of 14.8 ppg.
AUDIO: Bo Ryan not asking guys to be Jordan Taylor :21
Josh Gasser and red shirt freshman George Marshall are expected to assume most of the point guard duties for the Badgers this season.
The Badgers will face UW-Oshkosh in a Nov. 7 exhibition and then open the regular season Nov. 11 against Southeastern Louisiana at the Kohl Center.
Wisconsin men’s basketball senior forward Mike Bruesewitz sustained a
Mike Bruesewitz
laceration to his lower right leg at practice on Tuesday. Bruesewitz underwent successful surgery Tuesday evening.
Bruesewitz injured his leg after awkwardly coming in contact with the back half of the basket standard, while diving out-of-bounds. Bruesewitz is expected to miss four to six weeks of action.
Bruesewitz has appeared in 98 career games with 49 starts, averaging 5.6 points and 5.1 rebounds last season.
This has not been a great shooting season for the Wisconsin Badgers, but Bo Ryan’s team didn’t let the past affect the way they played
Ryan Evans
their opening round NCAA Tournament game.
The Badgers hit shots from all over the floor and opened a 10-point halftime lead. They were never threatened in the second half and cruised to a 73-49 win over the Grizzlies.
Ryan Evans scored 14 of his team high 18 points in the first half. About the only thing Evans did wrong was commit 5 turnovers.
AUDIO: Ryan Evans on his 18 point night :16
Jordan Taylor hit 6 of 10 from the field and 3 of 5 from beyond the arc to add 17 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and no turnovers in 36 minutes. Taylor also helped hold Montana’s Will Cherry to 9 points, 7 below his average.
In the end, the Badgers as a team hit 52% from 3-point range (10 of 19).
Even Mike Bruesewitz, who was 0 for his last 14 from beyond the arc over an 8-game stretch, hit 2 of 3 in the win yesterday.
AUDIO: Bo Ryan says it’s good to see the lid come off for Bruesewitz :18
Center Jared Berggren scored only 5 points, but blocked 7 shots.
The Badgers are now 10-1 in NCAA tournament openers under Bo Ryan, winning their 25th game of the season.
The Badgers will face Vanderbilt in second round action on Saturday from Albuquerque, New Mexico.