Wisconsin (5-2 Big Ten, 14-6 overall) may have ended its two-game slide with a win over then-No. 12 Minnesota Saturday, but it won’t be easy for UW to turn that victory into a winning streak. The Badgers will travel to Columbus, Ohio, for a showdown with the No. 11 Buckeyes (5-2, 15-4) Tuesday at the Value City Arena.
The Badgers have played three consecutive games (1-2) without sophomore forward Frank Kaminsky, who left in the first half against Indiana with an eye injury and hasn’t played since. The Lisle, Ill., native could possibly be cleared to play Tuesday.
“We’ll find out tonight if they’ll let him run up and down with us a little bit,” head coach Bo Ryan said at his Monday press conference. “Then if he doesn’t have any problems or any issues, then maybe we can get him back in there.”
In Kaminsky’s absence, redshirt senior forward Jared Berggren has shot just 8-of-26 (31 percent) from the field and 2-of-9 (22 percent) from the free throw line. The redshirt senior’s 6.3 points-per-game average over the last three contests is just over half of his season average (12 ppg).
While it’s uncertain whether Berggren’s shooting woes are directly related to the thinner frontcourt, the Princeton, Minn., native said he’s confident his shots will start dropping sooner than later.
“It’s been a little frustrating,” Berggren said. “I’m just gonna keep looking for my shots and keep trying to be aggressive.”
According to Ryan, Berggren simply has to get some positive vibes going offensively to get out of his mini shooting slump.
“I think he’s a little tight right now,” Ryan said. “He needs to get a game here or a flourish of hitting some free throws, getting to the glass, getting a put-back or two, hitting a three because he’s a good pick-and-pop guy for a big man.”
Ohio State’s strength lies in its wing players and guards more than its frontcourt, but that’s not to say Wisconsin will have an easy time winning battles in the paint. Along with Berggren, redshirt senior forward Ryan Evans and senior forward Mike Bruesewitz figure to play a similar role guarding the opponent’s frontcourt players as they have all season.
However, one player to keep an eye on Tuesday is redshirt junior forward Zach Bohannon. He played eight minutes Saturday against Minnesota and, although Bohannon’s stat line wouldn’t wow anyone (0 points on 0-of-1 from the free-throw line, 1 rebound), Berggren said the Marion, Iowa, native gave Wisconsin a key contribution off the bench.
“That was big for us. I don’t think the stats show a ton of what he did, but he did some little things that were definitely big to help us be successful,” Berggren said. “Especially with Frank being out, it gave him a little more opportunity for minutes and he stepped up [Saturday].”
In regards to Ohio State’s backcourt, junior guard Aaron Craft could very well be OSU’s most important player. Buckeye junior forward Deshaun Thomas leads the team and the Big Ten in scoring (20 ppg), but Craft is the guy who gets that offense rolling.
Point guards have given UW some trouble the last couple games (Michigan State junior Keith Appling and Minnesota sophomore Andre Hollins), so containing Craft will be key for the Badgers Tuesday. Sophomore guard Traevon Jackson figures to draw much of that burden.
“He’s a general out there for that team,” Jackson said of Craft. “He gets all their other guys going.”
In addition to Jackson’s in-game responsibilities, the Westerville, Ohio, native—whose father, Jim, starred for the Buckeyes from 1989-’92—will play his first collegiate game in the state of Ohio. The Badgers topped the Buckeyes last season in Columbus, 63-60, but Jackson did not see the floor.
Jackson acknowledged it’s much different preparing to play at Ohio State as the Badgers’ starting point guard than it was as someone who wasn’t yet part of the regular rotation. However, any excitement the sophomore may have in returning home comes from UW’s chance to move up the conference standings.
“It’s just a big opportunity for us as a team to continue to get better,” he said “Hopefully we come out with the result we want.”
Ohio State isn’t the end of a tough stretch for the Badgers, either. Including the Buckeyes, UW will face four ranked teams in its next six games, with a matchup at Illinois—who has historically been tough to defeat at home—and a home bout against Iowa—who beat Wisconsin 70-66 earlier this season—sprinkled in between.
Tip is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday.
