After a short stint at home in front of the Grateful Red, the Badgers make their first road trip of the young season as they travel to the desert for a dual with the Running Rebels of UNLV Saturday night.
Wisconsin is 2-0 to start the season for the ninth consecutive year and averaging 92.0 points per game—good enough for second in the Big Ten. Despite UW's large margin of victory in games against Prairie View A&M and North Dakota, Badgers assistant coach Gary Close says they expect a tougher challenge from a well-coached UNLV squad.
""They've got a lot of weapons, they're deep, they're terrific attacking off the dribble, they've got some three point shooters,"" Close said. ""We've got a real tough test, defensively no question.""
UNLV has also been able to score fairly easily so far this season, averaging 88.5 ppg and also hold the current NCAA record for consecutive-games with at least one three-point basket made. The Badger's are the first ranked team the Running Rebels will face this season as UNLV was 4-3 against ranked teams last year, while compiling a 3-1 mark against ranked opponents at home.
The Badgers' confidence level has definitely risen after posting great scoring outputs during the past two games and having the luxury to find playing time for some younger players. But the team will get a great boost this weekend when junior Rob Wilson returns to the rotation after injuring his hamstring.
Wilson will add even more depth to an already guard-friendly rotation, and the team will benefit from his presence in the line-up this weekend against a highly talented UNLV team.
""Its great because we actually have a guy who's used to playing that [guard] position … so I think rotation-wise it will help a lot,"" sophomore Mike Bruesewitz said.
Put in a position to adjust the lineup with Wilson out, head coach Bo Ryan used his bench a little more the first two games. Freshman guard Josh Gasser took advantage of Wilson's presence and, in the process, scored the second-most points for a UW freshman in a debut since 1993.
Gasser also became the first freshman since Alando Tucker to start a game for UW, and said he was very humbled by the opportunities he has been given thus far.
""My confidence level is probably as high as its ever been, but I still have to go out there and play hard and everything,"" Gasser said. ""I've just been trying to get on the floor as much as I can and help out the team as much as possible.""
Gasser's presence will definitely bring some another dimension to the Badgers offensively, but the freshman admits he is anxious to get on the road for his first game away from home.
""It'll definitely be different,"" Gasser said. ""I'm kind of excited to see what its like playing in front of a different crowd but it'll be fun.""
