Third-ranked Badgers battle Broncos

Nov 22, 2014 - 4:03 PM Madison, WI (SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of 3-0 teams will put their perfect seasons to the test on Saturday night, as the third-ranked Wisconsin Badgers welcome the Boise State Broncos to the Kohl Center for non-conference action.

Boise State opened the season with the LMU Classic and collected a pair of wins on back-to-back nights over San Diego (81-75) and the hosts Loyola Marymount (77-69). The Broncos then played their home opener on Tuesday night and needed double overtime to take care of Montana, 72-67.

Wisconsin has done nothing to disprove its No. 3 ranking early in the campaign with blowout victories over Northern Kentucky (62-31), Chattanooga (89-45) and Green Bay (84-60). This matchups marks the final game of the Badgers' season- opening four-game homestand, and they have won 16 straight non-conference regular-season games at the Kohl Center.

The Broncos and the Badgers have never before faced off in men's basketball.

The Broncos led for a total of 24 seconds during regulation in their contest with Montana but managed to tie the game and force the first overtime on a pair of Anthony Drmic free throws with 1:06 to play. After Drmic forced another period with a game-tying 3-pointer with 22 seconds left in the first overtime, they finally put the game away by scoring the final five points in the second extra session. Drmic led the way with a game-high 29 points on 9- of-17 from the field and 7-of-8 at the free-throw line. Nick Duncan (15 points) was the only other player in double figures for a team that shot only 33.3 percent from the field.

On the season, Boise State is actually getting outshot by its opponents from the field, 43.1 percent to 41.9 percent, but it still boasts a +6.3 scoring margin thanks to a +4.0 turnover margin and eight 3-pointers per outing. Drmic is the catalyst, scoring 20.0 ppg on 50 percent shooting while also leading the team in rebounding (5.3 rpg). Mikey Thompson (12.0 ppg) and Duncan (10.0 ppg) are also off to impressive starts.

The Badgers only grew stronger as their latest game went along, as their nine- point halftime lead eventually grew to as many as 27 down the stretch. They shined on both ends of the floor, shooting 51.9 percent from the field while holding Green Bay to a lowly 35.4 percent shooting, and they also outscored their opponent from the free-throw line, 24-12. Nigel Hayes (25 points, 11 rebounds) and Frank Kaminsky (20 points, 15 rebounds) both had huge games in the frontcourt with double-doubles. Kaminsky also blocked seven shots. Sam Dekker chipped in 19 points to the winning effort.

Wisconsin has been nothing short of dominant this season, shooting 51.6 percent from the field for 78.3 ppg while holding opponents to only 31.6 percent shooting and 45.3 ppg. Dekker leads the way with 17.3 ppg. Kaminsky, the Preseason Big 10 Player of the year, averages 17.0 ppg and 12.0 rpg, while Hayes puts up 15.3 ppg and 11.3 rpg. All three leading scorers shoot at least 55 percent from the floor.