Perhaps the most fascinating element of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge is the contrast between the two conferences. ACC fans laud the conference for its high-scoring and up-tempo offensive contests, while the Big Ten prides itself on its defensive toughness and its fundamental emphasis.
Therefore, heading into last night's game, it was assumed if Wisconsin was to knock off Duke it would be because the Badgers shut down the Blue Devils' offense while slowing down the pace of the game to control the tempo, catering the contest to Wisconsin's strengths. But the Badgers came out of the gate shooting early and often, and it was their success on offense that keyed a Wisconsin victory in a game that felt more like an ACC contest than one of the Big Ten.
Wisconsin followers know the success of the program under Bo Ryan has come on the basis of the swing offense, a deliberate approach featuring lengthy possessions that typically include extensive ball movement before field goal attempts.
Yet Wednesday night the Badgers took many of their shots early in the shot clock, and were never afraid to fire away from long distance. A team that struggled earlier in the season finding its knack from behind the arc hit 40 percent of its 3-point shots.
Leading up to the game, players discussed the challenge of scoring on Duke's aggressive man-to-man defensive approach, but Wisconsin repeatedly created open looks without much trouble.
The tone of the game was set by Wisconsin in the opening moments as the Badgers raced out to a 12-5 lead less than three minutes after tip-off.
Wisconsin forced a quick turnover, then senior guard Trevon Hughes connected on a long 2-point field goal. The Badgers followed with a 3-pointer from junior forward Tim Jarmusz, a layup by senior guard Jason Bohannon, another 3 from junior forward Jon Leuer and finally another Bohannon lay-in to cap off a 5-for-5 start from the field for the Badgers.
""If the second half was like the first half we'd have gotten blown out of here,"" Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. Krzyzewski added he believed the early run by Wisconsin gave the Badgers a confidence they would never relinquish.
The Badgers maintained their fast-paced offensive style in the second half, and only toned down the tempo when they began protecting their lead late in the game.
Wisconsin finished with a solid 44 percent field goal percentage, and produced their second-highest point total of the young season.
Hughes led Badger scorers with 26 points after shooting 9-for-17 shooting from the field, including 4-for-7 from behind the arc. Two of those 3-pointers came from particularly long range, with one giving Wisconsin a six-point lead in the first half, and the other extending the margin to seven points in the second half.
What made the Badgers' offensive output at the hands of Duke further impressive was the fact that the Blue Devils entered this game on the heels of an extraordinary defensive performance against No. 12 Connecticut, in which Duke held the Huskies to 36 percent shooting.
The Badgers' defense did not play poorly by any means, but for a team that regularly wins games with point totals in the 60's and 50's, the Badgers can thank their offense for this win over Duke.
""Their offense was better than our defense,"" Krzyzewski said.
