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To be successful
in the Big Ten Conference, winning on the road is imperative.
Wisconsin hasn't had much experience in that regard this season.
The 19th-ranked Badgers look for their fifth straight win when they face Ohio at Gund Arena in the first of two straight road games.
Wisconsin (7-1) has played six of its eight games at home, including the last four. The Badgers' only loss this season came at then-No. 24 Maryland on Dec. 2.
Afer facing Ohio
in Cleveland, Wisconsin plays at Alabama on Tuesday before opening a three-game
homestand Jan. 3 against Charleston in its final contest before the start of
Big Ten Conference play.
The Badgers completed a four-game homestand Saturday with a 63-59 victory over
then-No. 22 Marquette, as sophomore Alando Tucker scored 12 of his 17 points
in the second half.
It was the first start of the season for Tucker, who played a reserve role in his first two games after returning from a broken foot.
``I still have a lot of improvement,'' Tucker said. ``The more I practice, the more I'll develop and the more I'll get my feel when I'm playing with the rest of the guys.''
Point guard Devin Harris added 15 points, five assists and four rebounds to help the Badgers overcome poor shooting and a slow start to win their 19th straight home game. Wisconsin shot just 39 percent (20-of-51) from the field and 1-of-12 from behind the 3-point line.
Harris is one of four Badgers scoring in double figures, as he leads the team with averages of 16.5 points and 5.9 assists per game.
After leading the Big Ten and finishing sixth in the nation in scoring defense last season -- allowing 59.3 points per game -- Wisconsin has been even better in 2003-04. The Badgers are ninth in the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 55.6 points per game.
Ohio (3-6) has a chance to win back-to-back games for the first time this season after recording a 63-52 victory at Navy on Saturday. Jaivon Harris scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half and also had seven rebounds to lead the Bobcats.
Generating offense against one of the nation's best defenses figures to be difficult for Ohio, averaging just 60.5 points per game and shooting 39.5 percent (174-of-440) from the field this season.
Harris, at 12.0 points per game, is the only Ohio player scoring in double figures.
Wisconsin is 8-2 all-time against Ohio, including six straight wins. The Bobcats' last victory over the Badgers came on Dec. 15, 1970.