Injured Gordon, Hoosiers head to Wisconsin

Some Hoosier fans thought on Saturday that things couldn’t get any worse than losing a home game against an unranked team that was playing without one of its starters. \nWell, things did get worse. \nAccording to a report on the Indianapolis Star’s Web site Wednesday morning, IU’s star freshman Eric Gordon injured his wrist during practice earlier this week. \nGordon’s father, Eric Gordon Sr., told the newspaper that his son injured his left, non-shooting wrist when he fell after going up for a rebound in practice.\nGordon Sr. did not elaborate on the injury, but said his son would be able to play on Thursday against Wisconsin, though Gordon will likely wear protective padding over the wrist. \nCalls from the Indiana Daily Student to Gordon Sr. were not answered and messages were not returned. \nJ.D. Campbell, IU’s director of athletic media relations, said all players, including Gordon, were at practice Wednesday and expected to play against the No. 13 Badgers. \nGordon averages 21.7 points per game and 32.8 minutes per game. He missed one game this year against Kentucky with a bruised backside. IU didn’t miss Gordon much in its 70-51 romp over Kentucky.\nBut the No. 11 Hoosiers could use Gordon’s help in Madison, Wis., if they want to hold onto sole possession of first place in the Big Ten. \nIU (17-2) is a perfect 6-0 in the conference, while Wisconsin (16-3) dropped its first conference game Saturday at Purdue and fell to 6-1 in the Big Ten. A loss Thursday would put the Hoosiers in a four-way tie for first place.\nThe Hoosiers and Badgers tip off at 9 p.m. today in Wisconsin. The game will be televised on ESPN.\nBoth teams are looking for redemption from disappointing losses to unranked teams over the weekend, though the Hoosiers’ was a bit more palatable because Connecticut is not a conference foe. \nIU’s 68-63 loss was its first in the last 30 games at Assembly Hall, and the Hoosiers shot just 37.1 percent from the field. \nIU coach Kelvin Sampson said during a teleconference with reporters Monday that his team has a chance to redeem itself with a solid performance against the Badgers. \n“We have a chance to right a lot of wrongs and play a lot better this Thursday,” Sampson said. “We’re going to need to.”\nIt certainly won’t be easy. \nThough this isn’t the same second-ranked Wisconsin team the Hoosiers knocked off last year in Assembly Hall, Wisconsin has surprised many this season. The Badgers’ star forward Alando Tucker and guard Kammron Taylor graduated last year, and many thought it would be hard for coach Bo Ryan’s squad to bounce back. \nBut Wisconsin’s quick start, impressive win at now-No. 10 Texas and IU’s 0-6 record in Madison over its past six games give IU many reasons to fear the Badgers. \n“I think their greatest strength is they don’t contribute to their demise,” Sampson said. “They don’t beat themselves. The right people take the shots. They’re balanced inside and out.”\nTrevon Hughes (14.3 points per game) and Brian Butch (13.2 points per game) lead Wisconsin in scoring. Sampson is particularly concerned about Butch, Wisconsin’s 6-foot-11 senior.\n“Brian Butch presents a problem because you have to guard him on the block and behind the 3-point line,” Sampson said.