When you think of a matchup between No. 8 Wisconsin (8-0) and Virginia (7-1), the word “slow” might jump immediately to your mind. But “low scoring?” With the way the Badgers are scoring this year, maybe not.
That will be the question as the Badgers fly to Charlottesville, Va., to take on the Cavaliers in a battle between two teams constantly ranking near the bottom of Division I basketball in pace of play.
This Big Ten/ACC matchup mirrors last year’s, a game Virginia won 60-54 at the Kohl Center thanks to strong play from now-senior guard Joe Harris (22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists), who was named to the 2013-’14 Wooden Award watch list.
The similarly slow pace of Virginia is no coincidence, as head coach Tony Bennett is a former Wisconsin assistant coach and the son of now-head coach Bo Ryan’s predecessor, Dick Bennett.
His sister Kathi and uncle Jack have also coached basketball at the collegiate level.
“He’s done a great job in that he understands the value of the basketball. He understands the defensive end. He was a very good player himself,” Ryan said. “He obviously has the coaching background with his dad and his sister, his uncle. So basketball’s obviously a huge part of his upbringing.”
The Badgers will look help the Big Ten continue their past success against the ACC in the two conferences’ annual matchup. The Big Ten has not lost since 2008, tying last year and winning every other year, though Wisconsin is 6-8 in its past Big Ten/ACC games.
The annual tradition has brought national attention and a regular highlight of Wisconsin’s schedule.
“The one good thing is you know every year either you’ve got a home or away game from a power conference, from a very good conference, and you know it’s going to be a very good team,” Ryan said. “That always helps in scheduling and the promotion of the games. It started before we had the Big Ten Network. So the contract that we have has been lucrative, helps pay a lot of bills. A lot of exposure for both conferences.”
Ryan also views the trip to Charlottesville as the Badgers’ first true road game, despite a previous visit to Wisconsin-Green Bay.
“It’s a true road game. At Green Bay, there were a lot of red jerseys,” Ryan said. “There was a lot of red coloring up at Green Bay. So it isn’t like what’s going to happen. I don’t think we’re going to see a lot of red in Charlottesville. “
A Wisconsin victory would also mark a significant milestone for Ryan: his 300th victory.
“I can go back and think of 50, 100, 150, and think of games and think of the players and the plays that they made, how tough they were, and all those types of memories, and what they’re doing now, what a lot of the players are doing now that added to that total of 299 to this point,” Ryan said. “You think about the first time. You think about halfway in between. You think about all the things that have transpired. So I’m a pretty lucky guy.”
