Transcription: Hoosiers stifle Badgers
By Phil Bloom, IDS Sports Editor
MADISON, Wisc, -I.U. basketball coach Bob Knight stated a few days ago he was a little concerned about how John Laskowski could play in pressure situations. He said Laskowski has not been in a situation recently where he had to come into a game in a critical situation.
The 6-foot-5 junior showed Monday night against Wisconsin that he had not lost any of his super sub talent as he scored 12 points and made numerous steals to spark the Hoosiers to an 81-63 Big Ten win over the Badgers.
‘’This is the first time Laz has played in two games where he has had to come into a critical situation,” Knight said “I thought he came in and played very well for us.”
Laskowski came in midway through the first half with the Hoosiers trailing 23-19. I.U. had run up a 15-8 lead before Wisconsin outscored I.U. 16-4 and taken a 23-19 lead with a little more than eight minutes to go in the first half.
Laskowski warmed up in the closing seconds of the first half when he ripped the ball from the hands of an unsuspecting Jerry Hughes.
Bob Wilkerson capitalized on the play and scored on a short jump shot to knot the game at 33 apiece with 33 seconds remaining in the half.
After Laskowski fouled the Badger’s Lamont Weaver, Weaver missed his free throw. The Hoosiers grabbed the rebound and moved downcourt.
Wilkerson took another shot with only a few seconds remaining but his shot was blocked. Laskowski grabbed the loose ball and tossed it in at the buzzer from about 35 feet away to put the Hoosiers on top 35-33 at halftime.
The Hoosiers were led in scoring by Quinn Buckner’s game high 17 points and Steve Green’s 16 points. Scott May added 12 before leaving the game with 15 and a half minutes to go when he drew his fourth personal foul.
With under 12 minutes to go the game began to look like a replay of the I.U.-Notre Dame game (Dec. 11) in Assembly Hall when unhappy I.U. fans began throwing debris on the court. The Wisconsin fans became displeased with the officiating at Monday night’s game and began throwing objects onto the floor.
Knight was called for two technical with eleven minutes remaining and I.U. on top 50-45.
“I didn’t see the call,” Knight said. “But I did see Laskowski get knocked down and the referee was pointing to him and calling a foul.
“I had just jumped up to see if he was all right. It states in the god damned rule book that when the clock is stopped a coach can yell at his players or encourage them. I had made a comment early in the first half and one of the officials told me that was the end. When I saw Laskowski laying on the floor I jumped up to see if he was all right and they called a technical foul on me. I hadn’t even said a word.”
In the ensuing argument Knight was called for another technical but it proved to be of no damage as Wisconsin’s Gary Anderson missed both free throws and seconds later missed a five-foot shot in front of the basket.
I.U. then took over and capitalized on Wisconsin turnovers and missed shots to build a 62049 lead with 7:05 remaining.
The victory lifted I.U.’s Big Ten record to 7-1 and 15-3 overall while Wisconsin dropped to 4-4 in conference play and 12-6 overall. I.U. is second in the conference behind Michigan, 8-1.
I.U., 81: Green 7 2-5 16, May 6 0-0 12, Benson 3 0-0 6, Buckner 8 1-2 17, Ahlfeld 1 0-0 2, Laskowski 5 2-2 12, Crews 0 0-0 0, Albernethy 3 4-4 10, Wilkerson 3 0-0 6. Totals: 36 9-13.
WISCONSIN 63: Kerry Hughes 3 1-1 7, Koehler 5 6-9 16, Kim Hughes 5 0-0 10, Anderson 5 0-2 10. McCoy 2 0-0 4, Weaver 4 1-3 9, Piacenza 3 1-2 7. Totals: 27 9-17.
