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No. 3 Wisconsin rolls thanks to balanced offensive effort

Frank Kaminsky, Todd Johnson

Frank Kaminsky (AP Photo)

AP

While there’s no denying the fact that Wisconsin 7-footer Frank Kaminsky enjoyed a breakout junior season in 2013-14, averaging 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, he posted just two double-doubles the entire year. Sunday afternoon Kaminsky tallied his second double-double in as many games this season, accounting for 15 points, ten rebounds and four assists in the second-ranked Badgers’ 89-45 win over Chattanooga.

Kaminsky was part of a balanced offensive attack led by four players scoring in double figures, with the senior being joined by Sam Dekker (18 points), Traevon Jackson (16) and Nigel Hayes (15, 13 rebounds). Josh Gasser was the lone starter to not reach double figures, scoring nine points in the win.

Wisconsin can hurt teams in a variety of ways offensively, and that was evident against the Mocs. The Badgers shot 53.3% from the field and made eight of their eighteen three-point attempts, and they also assisted on 20 of their 32 made field goals.

Also of note in the win was the play of sophomore forward Vitto Brown. With senior Duje Dukan serving the final game of his NCAA-mandated suspension Brown took advantage of the additional minutes, accounting for six points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes of action. Obviously Dukan will absorb some of those minutes when he returns to the rotation, but Brown’s play in Wisconsin’s two victories (seven points, four rebounds in 14 minutes Friday night) is a positive sign for the Badgers moving forward.

With Dukan and guard Bronson Koenig both returning from last year’s Final Four team Bo Ryan has seven experienced players he can call upon this season. If Brown can be the eighth, that can only help Wisconsin in the long run.

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