by UW VISITS MINNESOTA LOOKING FOR OUTRIGHT TITLE
Having already earned a share of the 2015 Big Ten Championship, the Badgers travel to Minnesota needing one win for the league’s outright title. Wisconsin has won seven of the last nine meetings with Minnesota, but has dropped its last two in Minneapolis.
| Game 30 | #6 Wisconsin at Minnesota |
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| Date | Thursday, March 5 | 6 p.m. (CT) |
| Location | Minneapolis, Minn. | Williams Arena |
| Watch |
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| Radio |
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| Live Coverage |
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| Game Notes |
Wisconsin |Minnesota |
NOTES TO KNOW
1 BIG TEN CHAMPS: UW has clinched at least a share of the 18th Big Ten regular season championship in school history and the fourth title under Bo Ryan (also 2002, 2003 and 2008). The Badgers need just one win to claim the 2015 outright title.
2 HISTORIC START: At 26-3, UW has equaled its best start in program history (26-3 in 2006-07). The Badgers’ 14-2 mark in the Big Ten matches their best-ever start.
3 CALL TO THE HALL: Bo Ryan has been named one of 12 finalists for the Naismith Hall of Fame. The Class of 2015 inductees will be announced on April 6.
4 SPECIAL K-AMINSKY: Kaminsky is putting together a national player of the year type season and has elevated his game during conference play, averaging 19.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg while shooting 56.3%. Overall, he leads the B1G with 10 double-doubles.
5 DEKKER MAKING ALL-B1G PUSH: With a career-high 22 points last week at Penn State, junior Sam Dekker is making a push for first team All-Big Ten. He is averaging 13.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg while shooting 52.1% during league play.
6 POINT TAKEN: In 12 games since taking over as starting PG, Bronson Koenig (Ho-Chunk Nation)has averaged 11.3 ppg, shooting 26-for-60 (.433) on 3FGs. On the season, his 3.3 A/TO ratio is eighth in the NCAA (min. 50 assists).
7 NATION’S BEST OFFENSE: According to Ken Pomeroy’s efficiency rankings, the Badgers are the nation’s No. 1 offense, averaging 122.1 points per 100 possessions. UW leads the Big Ten shooting 47.3% during conference play.
8 HAYES’ EXPANDED GAME: The 2014 B1G Sixth Man of the Year, Nigel Hayes is now a starter and averaging 12.1 ppg and 6.3 rpg this season. He is shooting 52.0% on the season and 40.0% (12-30) on 3FGs during B1G play.
9 “CAPTAIN AMERICA”: Senior Josh Gasser scored his 1,000th career point vs. Minnesota (2/21) and joined Michael Finley as the only Badgers to post 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 250 assists in their career.
10 UW DOESN’T BEAT ITSELF: UW leads the nation in fewest fouls (12.6 avg.), fewest turnovers (7.5 TOs avg.) and fewest opposing FTAs per game (11.5). The Badgers also rank eighth in the NCAA in scoring D (55.8 ppg).
11 AT HOME ON THE ROAD: Wisconsin is 27-7 (.974) away from home over the last two seasons (11-2 this season), owning the second-most road/neutral wins and third-best win percentage away from home among major conference teams.
ALL-TIME VS. MINNESOTA
Wisconsin and Minnesota will be playing for the 197th time on Thursday, making the Gophers the most played opponent in UW history. Minnesota leads the all-time series 102-95, including a 69-31 edge in games played in Minneapolis.
• Bo Ryan owns a 19-6 (.760) record against Minnesota overall, including a 6-5 record at Williams Arena.
• The Badgers have won three in a row against the Gophers and seven of the last nine meetings.
• Earlier this season, Wisconsin claimed a 63-53 win over Minnesota on Feb. 21 in Madison. Frank Kaminsky led UW with 21 points, while Bronson Koenig scored a career-high 17 points. The Gophers were 0-for-1 from the FT line in the game.
• Wisconsin has two players on the roster from Minnesota, junior Jordan Smith (Orono) and freshman Riley Dearring (Minnetonka).
POINT TAKEN: KOENIG STEPS UP
When Traevon Jackson went down with a foot injury at Rutgers (1/11), Bronson Koenig took over the starting point guard role for the Badgers. The sophomore has flourished in his new role.
• In 12 games as the Badgers’ starting point guard, Koenig is averaging 11.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He has gone 26-for-60 (43.3%) from 3-point range over the last 12 games. Koenig has turned the ball over just 12 times in 436 minutes as the starting PG (one every 36.3 min).
• On the season, Koenig has 66 assists to just 20 turnovers. His 3.3 assist-to-turnover ratio is eighth in the nation among the NCAA Div. I players with at least 50 assists.
