Game Notes: Wisconsin 73, Rhode Island 62

The No. 13 Wisconsin Badgers (4-1 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) jumped out to an early lead against the Rhode Island Rams (3-3 overall, 0-0 Atlantic 10) and while their lead dwindled to single digits in the second half, the outcome was never really in doubt. Here are some fun facts, quotes and highlights from the Wednesday matinee win.

• The Badgers extended their home winning streak to 12 games, the longest active home win streak in the Big Ten.
• Wisconsin is now 3-0 all time against Rhode Island.
• The Badgers held Rhode Island to just 16 points in the first half. The Rams entered the game averaging 36.4 ppg in first half this season. It should also be noted that Brad Davison had 17 points in the first half, one more than the entire Rams team total of 16.

• The 62 points that Rhode Island scored was also a season low for the Rams.
• Wisconsin turned the ball over just nine times. Dating back to last season, the Badgers have turned the ball over 11 or fewer times in 23 consecutive games.
• UW notched season highs with 26 made FTs and 36 attempted FTs.
• The Rams went 15-for-25 from the free throw line after entering the game averaging 30.4 FTAs per game (third in NCAA).
• Davison scored a season-high 23 points, going 3-for-5 from three-point range and a perfect 12-for-12 at the free throw line. This was the ninth 20-point game of his career.
• Davison is now 249-300 (.830) on free throws for his career, the fourth-highest mark in program history.
• Davison now has 1,100 career points, moving into 36th place on the school’s all-time scoring list, passing Tim Locum (1,077) and Ken Siebel (1,084). If he scores 16 points in his next game he’ll pass Marcus Landry (1,114) and Brian Butch (1,115) and move into 34th place.

• With his three blocks today, Nate Reuvers surpassed Ethan Happ to become the all-time blocks leader Wisconsin history with 157.
• Aleem Ford (11 points) and Micah Potter (13 points) each scored in double figures for the third time this season.

Post game quotes

Brad Davison

• On the fast start in the first half, “We got off to a good start defensively and that really fueled our offense.”
• On changing from how he played in the MU game, “I knew coming out tonight I wanted to be aggressive...hunting my shot early...create some opportunities early in the game.”
• On all the fouls UW has committed this season, “These are not unfixable errors. Whether it’s being in better position...a lot of them are dumb fouls, far away from the basket.”

Micah Potter

• On different game style URI presents, “Really high pressure defensively. They’re a good team, they’re going to do well in their league.”
• On how D’Mitrik Trice slowed down URI’s star point guard, “Fatts Russell is a great point guard. Definitely one of the tops in their league and maybe in the country. Meech did a great job with him because, yeah, he was a focal point of our scout.”
• Potter praised Davison’s shot making ability that helped to carry the team throughout.

Greg Gard

• On missing a number of shots right around the basket, “If we get it there we expect to finish.”
• Multiple thoughts on foul trouble, “The biggest things is that we’ve got guys into foul trouble and they have to sit a lot.” “Minimize and reduce the fouling and we’ll get into a better rhythm and a better flow.” “How can we eliminate some unnecessary fouls, that would be line item number one right now.”
• On Trice defending Russell, “He did a terrific job. I thought he was terrific today.” “I thought we had him frustrated too. We got him to take some tough shots.” “Trice set the tone.”
• On fouls 90 feet away from the basket and such, “Unnecessary is the word I’m going to choose to use. You can’t print any of the other words I might use.”
• On unnecessary fouls, mentions illegal screens and going for a rebound you have no chance of getting, “There’s a total separate category of things we can eradicate.”
• “We don’t know yet when Louisville will happen, or if it will happen.” Sounds like things are still very fluid and Gard thinks we’ll know more in 48 hours.