What a difference one game and a wienerschnitzel will make.
After playing minimal time in the men's basketball overtime loss to Maryland, the Badgers slammed the Detroit Titans Saturday, 68-42 thanks in large part to sophomore Andreas Helmigk, who started at center.
\There's a huge difference in the last three games,"" senior guard Freddie Owens said. ""We're finally starting to click on the same page as far as timing goes.""
After playing only seven minutes in the previous game and having only one point and one rebound, Helmigk went 5 for 6 with 12 points and four rebounds, solidifying the Austrian's position on the team's lineup.
But, about that wienerschnitzel? Could a package from mom be just what was needed to get a spark out of Helmigk?
""He's a happy guy right now,"" Head Coach Bo Ryan said. ""A wienerschnitzel and a 'W.' You get those two things in a couple days and that's pretty good.""
There was plenty good about the Badgers' performance. In particular, a red-hot first half shooting of 60 percent from the field led to a 10-point advantage going into the second half and helped UW lead by as much as 34 at one point.
Eleven players saw action due to the large margin between the two teams, providing 16 points off the bench. Junior forward Zach Morley made his presence known under the glass with seven rebounds and 10 points. Four players ended the game with double figure point totals; junior guard Devin Harris and Owens led UW scorers with 13 points.
""We really emphasized that in practice, making sure guys are moving at all times and really running the offense the way it should be run,"" Harris said.
Detroit committed 14 costly turnovers that led to 20 Wisconsin points, while the Badger offense limited themselves to eight turnovers, almost two less than their season average of 9.8, which Ryan attributed to the presence of Harris on both sides of the courts.
""[Harris] thinks like the head coach now when it comes to turnovers,"" Ryan said. ""He had one deflected and you talk about a street fight going after that loose ball because he knew if they got that loose ball it's a turnover.\
