UW's Bronson Koenig downplays three-point record
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Bronson Koenig wasn’t in the mood to celebrate his noteworthy individual accomplishment.
“Having a good game doesn’t really matter if we lose,” Koenig said after scoring 27 points in Wisconsin’s ugly 83-73 loss to Ohio State. “That’s just how I’ve always been.”
Koenig, who had hit just 8 of 36 three-point attempts (22.2%) in his previous six games, hit 5 of 9 attempts and 9 of 15 shots overall in the loss to the Buckeyes.
He left Value City Arena Thursday night with 237 three-pointers overall for UW, surpassing Ben Brust’s program mark of 235.
Koenig’s focus was on UW’s lackluster defense, the need for the seniors to re-exert their leadership to avoid such embarrassing performances and his health heading into the final three regular-season games.
“I’m feeling better,” he said, referring to the left-calf injury he suffered Jan. 24 against Penn State. “The Maryland game I did a good job of not forcing anything and letting the game come to (me)…
“I knew it was only a matter of time. I’m a great shooter, a proven shooter. Hopefully, I can carry this on.”
Senior Vitto Brown, who entered the night shooting 24.5% from three-point range in Big Ten play, hit 3 of 5 shots from beyond the arc.
“We finally get the ball going in – we’ve been scuffling for a month – and then we can’t get stops,” UW coach Greg Gard said, referring to Ohio State shooting 62.5% from three-point range and 50% overall. “Hopefully we got some things going (offensively).
“Vitto knocked down some shots, too. It was good to see a little bit of relief in his face.”
Koenig knows the feeling of relief that a shooter feels when he finally sees the ball go in.
“We’re both shooters so I know how hard it can be mentally to miss shots consistently,” he said, referring to Brown’s struggles. “Hopefully this game, like the same with me, will carry on.”
UW (22-6, 11-4 Big Ten) fell one game behind first-place Purdue (23-5, 12-3) with three games remaining.
Purdue plays Saturday at Michigan; UW plays Sunday at Michigan State. The Spartans, who have won nine their last nine meetings with UW in the Breslin Center, manhandled visiting Nebraska, 88-72, Thursday night.
No matter how many UW players get hot down the stretch, the offense won’t be enough to offset the defensive lethargy displayed against Ohio State.
“I didn’t think people were expecting that we were going to come in and win easily,” Koenig said, noting UW defeated the Buckeyes by 23 points earlier this season. “But maybe that’s what happened and I’ve got to take it upon myself as a leader to make sure we prepare better for every single opponent."
Jeff Potrykus can be reached at jpotrykus@journalsentinel.com or twitter.com/jaypo1961.