Down but not out: Leuer to miss 4-6 weeks

The early prognosis is not great, but it could be a lot worse for Jon Leuer and the Badgers.

The junior forward will miss four to six weeks after fracturing his left wrist in Saturday's 73-66 win over Purdue, according to a source close to the team.

The team announced the injury Monday morning and said in a statement that Leuer would be out "indefinitely". He is scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday.

If Leuer were to return in four weeks, he would miss seven games and likely return Feb. 9 against Illinois at home. If he missed six weeks, he would be out for 11 games and not return until UW's trip to Indiana Feb. 25.

Either way, Wisconsin will have to adjust without its second-leading scorer in the midst of a very competitive Big Ten title race. The likely candidate to replace Leuer in the starting lineup is redshirt freshman Ryan Evans, while freshmen Mike Bruesewitz and Jared Berggren will also be called upon to fill minutes.

"They're not thinking anything about the unfortunate occurrence," Ryan said of his players Monday. "They're just thinking about how they can get better and how they're going to fit in and what they can learn about the next team we are going to play."

When asked who would replace Leuer in the starting lineup, Ryan said: "I don't know yet. We haven't even had a chance to get with our guys for practice."

Badgers move up in polls

Despite splitting its two games last week against Michigan State and Purdue, Wisconsin moved up four spots in both major polls Monday.

The Badgers are now ranked No. 13 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll.

Controversial call still a hot topic

Ryan had a luncheon with boosters Monday and said many of them were still looking for clarification on the technical foul called on Rob Wilson late in the first half.

Ryan attempted to get the media's opinion on the call at today's press conference and then asked if anyone had a better baseline replay of the incident.

"No other baseline view, huh? How about from the other baseline in?," Ryan questioned. "Wait a minute, I talk about the refs, you don't. Might want to take a look at it. You'd have to take a look at it and say what you think."

A dagger for Larrivee

Ryan also had a few shots ready for Wayne Larrivee and Shon Morris, who called Saturday's win for the Big Ten Network.

He wasn't particularly happy with a no-call in the second half when Leuer went up for dunk on a baseline drive.

"The guy grabbed his wrist and his hand. Pulled it straight back. 'Oh what a clean block,' Ryan said, imitating the Big Ten Network's broadcasters. "See, I'm living in a different world. I know it. Hey, but people miss calls, I guess. But to see it in slow motion and say, 'Oh what a clean block.' I got to talk to the announcers on that one. Who did we have? Shon and, oh that's right. Wayne. I'll have to talk to those two guys. They must not have been looking."

Of course, Ryan made those comments in good fun.