MADISON, WIS. ? Wisconsin and Wisconsin-Milwaukee run a similar version of the same offense.
The seventh-ranked Badgers showed Wednesday night how big a difference the right personnel can make.
Alando Tucker scored 20 points to lead three Badgers in double figures, and Wisconsin beat Milwaukee, 68-49.
Whereas the Badgers start five upperclassmen who know coach Bo Ryan’s swing offense inside and out, Milwaukee graduated nine of its 13 scholarship players from last season’s team that went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Milwaukee coach Rob Jeter, who played under Ryan at Wisconsin-Platteville and worked as his assistant coach for 10 years, said the difference between the teams came down to experience.
“The two teams really mirrored themselves, doing the same things, getting the ball pretty much in the same areas. It’s just a few different bodies in the uniforms,” Jeter said.
That particularly applied to Tucker, who led the Badgers (10-1) over No. 20 Marquette Saturday – their first road win over a ranked team since 2002. Wisconsin entertains No. 2 Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Milwaukee (2-10) trailed by 15 points at halftime and never seriously threatened the rest of the game.
No. 24 Air Force 70, Norfolk State 47
Air Force Academy, Colo. – Jacob Burtschi scored 14 points, and Dan Nwaelele had 12 as Air Force celebrated its return to the Top 25.
The Falcons (11-1) moved into the poll Monday. The only other time Air Force made the rankings was in the poll of March 9, 2004. They were gone the next week after losing to Colorado State in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West tournament.
The Falcons have won seven straight since losing to Duke in the CBE Classic semifinals.