Wisconsin will be looking for home-court advantage to get back on track when the Badgers host Central Michigan in a nonconference game Monday night in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin (7-4) lost 76-66 in overtime to Villanova in a nonconference game Friday in Milwaukee. The Badgers trailed by 15 early in the second half but rallied in the final minute to force overtime.
Central Michigan (4-8) lost 74-73 at Northern Illinois on a tip-in at the buzzer in its Mid-American Conference opener Saturday after leading by 17 at the half.
The Badgers are 6-0 at home but 1-3 at neutral sites and 0-1 on the road. They were routed 90-60 at Nebraska on Dec. 10 in their Big Ten opener prior to facing Villanova.
Wisconsin had a season low for points in a half against Villanova, trailing 35-22 at the break. The Badgers had one offensive rebound, no free-throw attempts and committed eight turnovers that Villanova converted into 10 points.
After clawing their way back in the second half, the Badgers allowed 11 points on Villanova’s first five possessions in overtime.
“I thought the second half showed who we can be, who we need to be,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. “It’s what we’ve been asking for in terms of commitment on the defensive end.”
Nolan Winter had a career-high 23 points and 11 rebounds against Villanova, including the short jumper with 31 seconds left that tied it 56-all and forced overtime. Nick Boyd added 19 points and John Blackwell 14.
“The second 20 minutes, I think we played a lot better as a team and we came together and we fought,” Winter said afterward. “But it needs to be a full 40. I know this team’s full of winners and we’re going to bounce back.”
Wisconsin averages 83.4 points, allowing 75.5. Boyd averages 20.1 points, Blackwell 19.1 and Winter 13.7, along with a team-leading 9.5 rebounds per game.
Central Michigan led 73-66 against Northern Illinois with just under two minutes left but failed to score the rest of the way.
Nathan Claerbaut and Nick Mullen each had 18 points and seven rebounds for the Chippewas.
Claerbaut averages 13.3 points and 7.1 boards and Tamario Adley adds 10.0 points. The Chippewas, who have lost four of their last five, average 73.4 points and give up 77.1.
“If there’s anything that we’re sure of, it’s going to test their resolve,” Central Michigan coach Andy Bronkema said in a postgame radio interview about facing Wisconsin. “It’s a team on the road that nobody’s going to give us a real chance at. They’re uber-talented. So, are we going to think that, or are we going to battle?”
–Field Level Media
