Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Welcome No. 3/4 Wisconsin to Welsh-Ryan Saturday
1/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2007
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Jan. 13, 2007 -- 1:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern (10-6, 0-3) vs. No. 3/4 Wisconsin (16-1, 2-0)
Welsh-Ryan Arena (8,117)
Evanston, Ill.
Radio -- WGN 720 AM (Dave Eanet and Bob Hildebrand) & WNUR 89.3 FM
Television -- ESPN Plus Regional (Wayne Larrivee & Mike Kelley) -- WCIU in Chicago
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Under head coach Bill Carmody, the Wildcats have defeated at least one ranked opponent at home in each of the last six seasons. They will look to extend that streak Saturday afternoon when the Wildcats welcome No. 3/4 Wisconsin (16-1, 2-0 Big Ten) to Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Wildcats have won three of the last four at Welsh-Ryan against the Badgers, including last year's 62-51 win.
NU is coming off a road loss at Michigan State Wednesday night where Vince Scott led the 'Cats with 11 points. Wisconsin comes in riding a 12-game win streak. In their last game the Badgers posted a 72-69 win over No. 5 Ohio State on Tuesday night in Madison. Alando Tucker leads the team and is second in the Big Ten in scoring with a 20.0 ppg average.
A Northwestern Win Would ...
Home Cookin'
In the last five-plus years the Wildcats have recorded a 59-24 (.710) overall record at Welsh-Ryan Arena, including a 22-19 (.536) mark in Big
Ten play. The Wildcats have reached double figures in home wins in four of the past five years -- including a school-record 12 in 2004-05 -- which was a first for the program. This year the Wildcats are 8-2 at home.
'Cats Lead NCAA in Assist/FG Ratio
Northwestern leads all Division I teams in assist to field goal ratio, as of the latest statistical release Jan. 11. The Wildcats have assisted on 254-of-344 (.738) makes, more than 70 percent of their baskets. In the win over Northwestern State on New Year's Eve, the Wildcats assisted on 27-of-34 field goals, the most assists in the Carmody era.
About The Badgers
The Badgers are 16-1 for the first time since 1915-16, when UW captured the Helms Foundation National Championship with a 20-1 mark. Wisconsin also has won 12 games in a row this year, which is the Badgers' longest winning streak since the 1940-41 season. UW's only defeat this season was to Missouri State at the South Padre Island Invitational in November.
Alando Tucker is one of the most exciting players in the country. He is second in the Big Ten in scoring with 20.0 ppg, just trailing Iowa's Adam Haluska's 20.2 ppg.
Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in scoring margin, outscoring the opposition by more than 18 points per game. They are second behind Ohio State with 76.6 points per game this season.
Bo Ryan, the winningest active coach in Division I with at least 20 years of head coaching experience, is in his sixth year in Madison. His impact was immediate in leading the Badgers to a share of its first Big Ten regular-season championship since 1947 and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. He has taken the Badgers to the Big Dance all five seasons and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight two years ago. Prior to arriving in Madison he served as the head coach at UW-Milwaukee for two seasons and 15 years as the head man at UW-Platteville.
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