Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Big Ten Tournament vs. Wisconsin
Wildcats Dropped By Badgers, 51-41
3/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 9, 2000
Box Score | Postgame Audio
By NANCY ARMOUR
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO- The Wisconsin Badgers make no apologies for their game. It may be ugly, but it works.
Mark Vershaw scored 17 points and had five assists Thursday as Wisconsin beat Northwestern 51-41 in the lowest-scoring game ever at the Big Ten tournament. The 92 points tops - and that's using the term loosely - the 98 scored last year in Northwestern's 54-44 victory over Penn State.
"That's the way most of our games are characterized: ugly," Vershaw said. "If you're a fan of offense, you're not going to like watching our games."
For anyone complaining, though, it'll have to wait. The sixth-seeded Badgers (17-12) are headed for Friday's quarterfinals against third-seeded Purdue.
"I was just thankful we were able to hold on because it wasn't one of our sharpest performances," Wisconsin coach Dick Bennett said.
Part of Wisconsin's problems might have been due to the absence of guard Mike Kelley, who left the game with a bruised thigh with 4:18 left in the first half. Kelley, who became Wisconsin's season steals leader (70) before he left, should be available Friday, Bennett said.
Strong defense has always been a trademark of Bennett's teams, and these Badgers are no different. They lead the Big Ten and are fourth in the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 56 points a game, and they've now held nine opponents to less than 50 points.
They kept Northwestern (5-25), which plays all freshmen and sophomores and was the first team to go winless in the Big Ten since the 1991 Wildcats, to just 30 percent shooting. Northwestern missed seven of its first 10 shots, went 6 1/2 minutes without a field goal in the first half and had only 19 points at halftime.
The Wildcats had 11 turnovers - and just 15 field goals. Aaron Jennings and Ben Johnson were the only two Wildcats in double figures.
Frustration got the better of Northwestern coach Kevin O'Neill in the first half. O'Neill picked up a technical with 7:59 left in the first half for arguing a call.
Wisconsin wasn't exactly an offensive powerhouse, either. Vershaw was the only player in double figures, though Andy Kowske and Ray Boone each had nine, and the Badgers shot only 43 percent from the field.
"We stopped them pretty well," O'Neill said. "If we had shot the ball a little better, we would've been OK. We defended exceptionally well."
But Wisconsin managed to get offense when it needed it. After leading 27-19 at the half, Vershaw hit a 3-pointer and then converted a three-point play a minute later to put Wisconsin ahead 35-24 with 15:27 left in the game.
Northwestern struggled to stay within 10 the rest of the way.
Ugly as it might have been, the victory might have helped Wisconsin seal a spot in the NCAA tournament. Bennett was confident the Badgers would make the NCAA field after they upset Indiana in the season finale.
Now he's all but certain.
"I was worried tonight," Bennett said. "This would not have gone well if we'd lost."
