Associated
Press
(I
either got this from the Minneapolis Star Tribune or the St. Paul Pioneer Press…I
can’t recall)
Sunday,
December 23, 2001
Penney says the best thing about his career game was that Dwyane Wade had a courtside seat to witness the performance.
Penney took advantage of Wade’s foul trouble to score a career-high 33 points in Wisconsin’s 86-73 upset of previously unbeaten and 14th-ranked Marquette in men’s college basketball Saturday.
“I certainly caught a little rhythm out there, and it was enjoyable to find that rhythm,” Penney said. “I’m thanking Wade got in early foul trouble.”
Wade, the Golden Eagles’ leader in scoring, rebounds, steals, and assists, played just six minutes in the first half, when he had three fouls, and hardly guarded Penney after he returned.
“It’s hard for me to guard Penney with three fouls,” Wade said. “He’s an aggressive player. He’s changed form last year.”
No longer does Penney roam beyond the arc and fire up three-pointers. With 20 pounds of added muscle, he can drive to the hoop and draw fouls. He was 13 of 17 from the field, including 5 of 6 from three-point range.
“Yeah, mate! It’s nice to get close to the basket and be able to use this extra strength and get position and work from there,” said Penney, a native of New Zealand. “It’s added an extra dimension to my game.”
Wade’s well-rounded game wasn’t on display enough for the Golden Eagles to reach 11-0 for the first time in 29 seasons.
Wade scored 21 of his 23 points in the second half, when the Golden Eagles cut a 20-point deficit to 61-60 before fading. He also finished with four fouls, three of them charges that could have gone either way.
“If they called them, they were” the right calls, said Wade, who was 8 of 11 from the field and made all six of his free throws.
“That man can play,” Badger coach Bo Ryan said. “How many minutes did he play? Twenty-five? I’m sure glad it wasn’t 40.”
