Wisconsin will look to improve after an inconsistent opening victory when it hosts Delaware in a non-conference matchup Friday in Madison, Wis.
The Badgers (1-0) turned back Denver 75-68 in their opener Monday, while the Blue Hens (1-0) recorded a 105-44 rout of Notre Dame of Maryland, an NCAA Division III school.
“We did not play to our standard and that’s how we want to play the game and the rhythm we need to get into,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said afterward. “But as I’ve told the team, a little game pressure sometimes is good, especially early, because we haven’t had really any. And you can’t simulate some of the stuff in practice.”
The Badgers have eight new players from the team that finished 24-11 last season, but was upset by No. 12 seed High Point, 83-82, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Eian Elmer, who transferred after helping Miami (Ohio) to a 31-0 regular-season record, scored 18 points in his Wisconsin debut.
Point guard Owen Foxwell, who played the last five seasons in the Australian National Basketball League, had 14 points and seven assists.
The Badgers were just 6 of 26 from 3-point range and 7 of 18 from the free-throw line, including 3 of 13 in the second half. Wisconsin led the Big Ten and was sixth nationally last season in free-throw percentage at 78.8%, and was first in the country in 2024-25 at 82.6%.
“It’s not like we will start practicing free throws,” Gard said. “We did that … same drills, same stuff that when we led the country in free throw shooting a year or two ago. So, just need to step up and make them.”
Wisconsin also received just 16 points combined from the six players off the bench.
Delaware, with five transfers in the starting lineup, took control against Notre Dame of Maryland with an early 24-0 run en route to a 55-16 halftime lead.
The Blue Hens shot 59.2%, including 46.4% from deep, making 13 of 28 beyond the arc.
Chuck Bailey III, a transfer from Nevada, had 22 points in 21 minutes, hitting 9 of 11 shots as Delaware had six players in double figures.
Steven Solano, a 7-foot transfer from St. Joseph’s, had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
“We’ve just got to keep trying to get better. That’s been my sales pitch to these guys. Keep buying in,” Delaware coach Martin Ingelsby told Delaware Online after the opener. “I think we made step forward from last week to where we are now.”
–Field Level Media
