
RALEIGH, N.C. — The members of the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program didn’t have any great insight into why 3-pointer after 3-pointer after 3-pointer clanked off the rims last week during their trip to New York.
The Badgers took some time off for Thanksgiving, analyzed the two ugly defeats in the Legends Classic once they resumed practice and declared that they’d learn from the experience rather than dwell on it.
Junior guard Brad Davison even offered a prediction of sorts earlier this week prior to UW leaving Madison for another road trip.
“I fully expect our team to be confident,” Davison said, “and I’m looking forward to a lot of shots going in the next few games.”
The cold streak didn’t end Wednesday night at PNC Arena, where the Badgers dropped a 69-54 decision to North Carolina State in a Big Ten/ACC Challenge game.
The defeat dropped UW to 0-4 this season away from home. The Badgers (4-4) will head into the start of Big Ten play this weekend on a three-game losing skid.
Since looking great during a 77-61 home win over Marquette on Nov. 17, UW has struggled mightily to put the ball in the basket. It doesn’t look anything like the team that connected 15 times from 3-point range while beating the Golden Eagles that day.
“I feel like we were playing really well, together,” UW junior forward Aleem Ford said. “That game — what was it, six guys in double figures? — and I feel like everyone was contributing offensively and making that extra pass and just really playing together and meshing off each other. Once one guy starts going, another guy started feeling it. And right now, I feel like it’s the complete opposite. Just not having that same confidence.”
After going a combined 9 of 53 from 3-point range in losses to Richmond and New Mexico last week, UW went just 5 of 23 from beyond the arc against North Carolina State. Add it up and the Badgers have shot 18.4 percent from long distance during their losing streak.
It didn’t help matters Wednesday that UW, which came into the game shooting 81.1 percent from the free throw line, went 7 of 15 against the Wolfpack.
Ford led the Badgers with 13 points, while Kobe King and Nate Reuvers added 11 apiece.
“It puts so much pressure on your defense,” UW coach Greg Gard said. “You almost have to play perfectly when you have a hard time scoring. Obviously, right now we’re in a rut that we’ve got to try to find a way to bust out of.”
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