Wisconsin opens Big Ten play against a Maryland team that beat its first seven opponents by double digits
MADISON – Wisconsin and Maryland have traveled dramatically different paths through the first eight games of the season.
Those paths cross at 8 p.m. Tuesday night at the Kohl Center.
The Terrapins (8-0, 1-0 Big Ten) won their first seven games of the season by double digits, an average of 21.9 points per game, and then opened league play with a 71-66 home victory over No. 17 Illinois. As a result, they moved up nine spots Monday to No. 13 in the USA Today poll.
“Illinois could win a championship,” said Maryland coach Kevin Willard, who spent the previous 12 seasons at Seton Hall. “That’s how good they are....
“These guys kept fighting and fighting and found a way to win.”
UW (6-2, 0-0) has had to scratch and claw in each of its past five games. The Badgers have gone 3-2 in those games, beating Dayton, USC and Marquette by a combined nine points and losing by a point in overtime to Kansas and by three points to Wake Forest.
“It’s great,” senior forward Tyler Wahl said of the five-game stretch. “We’ve got a young team. And we’re kind of just getting thrown in the fire....
"It will be good just to be battle-tested going into March. Hopefully, we can get some bigger leads going into the Big Ten season.”
Greg Gard’s team isn’t at full-strength heading into the league opener.
Point guard Chucky Hepburn missed about 13 minutes in the second half of UW’s 80-77 overtime victory at Marquette after suffering an apparent groin injury. He returned with 6 minutes 56 seconds left in regulation and played the rest of the way, finishing with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and zero turnovers in 26 minutes.
More:Nickel: Chucky Hepburn gave it all on the floor, and that's exactly what Wisconsin needed
Reserve guard Jahcobi Neath, who underwent surgery on his left knee in the offseason, has missed the last five games because of what UW officials describe as a lower-body injury.
However, the Badgers appear to be improving and have been able to get contributions from up and down the lineup.
Reserve guard Kamari McGee, who transferred to UW from UW-Green Bay, entered the Marquette game with a total of 19:53 played in four games. He did not play against USC or Wake Forest but contributed five points and two rebounds in a season-high 10 minutes against Marquette.
“He practiced really well on Thursday,” Gard said, “maybe the best practice he has had since he has been with us. He has stayed very positive.
“I knew he transferred to play but jumping up to this level and being part of a winning culture and a winning team, there is an adjustment period. And he is still learning what we do and our procedures both offensively and defensively.
“He’s gotten better but he has kept a really positive attitude and was waiting for his chance. We’ve always said: Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready. And he has stayed ready while trying to improve and he definitely answered the call today.”
Jordan Davis, in the overtime against Marquette, had a turnover and a was so far off on a corner three-pointer that the ball hit the top of the backboard. Yet on the next possession, Davis hit a three-pointer from the right wing to give UW a 75-72 lead with 2:12 left.
“That was big because after he hit the backboard I was ready to take him out and put Connor back in,” Gard said referring to freshman Connor Essegian. “But he answered. That is good for Jordan. Jordan needed that. Jordan is still growing as a player. He is still figuring out who he is as a player. So for him to come back and have the fortitude to take it again and knock that one down, that was big.”
Guard Max Klesmit played his best all-around game at UW; Essegian supplied points and play-making ability off the bench; Steven Crowl was the main distributor with a college-best seven assists; Wahl did everything well but protect the ball; and Carter Gilmore contributed three assists, three rebounds and a steal.
The Badgers shot just 30.6% from three-point range last season but have hit a combined 24 of 55 in the last two games (43.6%) to raise their overall mark to 37.4%.
Hepburn (47.5%), Essegian (50.0%) Klesmit (40.0%) and reserve guard Isaac Lindsey (33.3%) are capable three-point shooters, though Maryland is limiting foes to just 26.0% three-point shoot shooting and 39.2% shooting overall.
The Terrapins showed the ability to make winning plays down the stretch against Illinois on Saturday. UW did the same vs. Marquette, its fifth consecutive game decided by five points or fewer.
“I’m proud of you guys,” Gard said in the team’s locker room after the victory over Marquette. “That’s a gutty effort. When things didn’t look good in the second half and they were battling back, … That’s how good you can be if you just stick to it and stick to us.…
“You got your first road test. Got your first roadkill. Now we take a big step because we jump into league play."
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Badgers set for Big Ten opener vs. Maryland Terrapins
