Currently: - Game info: 2:05 pm EST Sat Nov 30, 2002
Nothing would feel better for Wisconsin-Green Bay than to open its new arena with a victory over rival Wisconsin.
The 25th-ranked Badgers, who have never lost to the Phoenix, will try to prevent that from happening Saturday afternoon in the first regular season game at the Resch Center.
After opening the season with easy wins over Eastern Washington and Northern Illinois, Wisconsin (3-0) received a scare from Wisconsin-Milwaukee last Saturday before prevailing for an 83-72 victory.
Sophomore guard Devin Harris led five players in double figures with 19 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds for the Badgers, who are 3-0 for the first time since the 1996-97 season.
“I thought for 35 minutes that was pretty decent basketball,” Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said. “That’s the thing about basketball. If you play well consistently, then if you do have those streaks, they don’t hurt you as much.”
The Badgers have won their last 13 games against in-state rivals Marquette, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Wisconsin-Green Bay. They are 8-0 all-time against the Phoenix, including a win in the only meeting at Green Bay.
Ryan has to be pleased with his team’s offense, which is averaging 82.6 points through three games. This is the first time Wisconsin has scored 80 points or more in its first three contests since the 1991-92 season.
Leading that potent offense is senior guard Kirk Penny, who is averaging 19.7 points and 6.0 rebounds. Junior Freddie Owens is next at 16.3 points while Harris adds 14.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Wisconsin is also doing an effective job of protecting the ball, committing just 9.3 turnovers per game while forcing opponents into more than double that figure (18.7).
Wisconsin-Green Bay (1-2) returns home after losing two of three games at the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The Phoenix gave first-year coach Tod Kowalczyk his first victory last Saturday, 68-48 over Centenary, before falling to Jacksonville State 75-66 on Sunday.
Senior center Greg Babcock had 25 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort.
Babcock has been the leading offensive threat for Green Bay this season, averaging team highs of 16.3 points and 8.0 rebounds. Matt Rohde is the only other player scoring in double figures with 11.7 points per game.