Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: Sports

Forward Marcus Landry has always found a way to bother Northwestern in his three years playing for Wisconsin.

The forward scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds in the team's first meeting this season and is averaging nine points and five rebounds per game in five career matchups with the Wildcats. He also tussled with former NU center Vince Scott in last year's game at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Landry again made his presence known to NU on Saturday.

The goggle-wearing junior scored eight of his 12 points in one minute to help the No. 10 Badgers expand their slim eight-point halftime lead into a comfortable 16-point margin.

NU could not cut into Wisconsin's second-half lead and finished its worst conference season since 2000, losing its final home game of the season 65-52.

"My guys have arms like me, which is not good," coach Bill Carmody said. "Their guys are big strong guys, and we weren't able to keep them off the backboard and off the block. They were getting very good position and they overpowered us, I thought."

Badgers forward Brian Butch made the big difference in the game, recording a double-double with 20 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. The Cats had no answer for his inside play and suffered because of it. Wisconsin (26-4, 16-2 Big Ten) held a 38-21 advantage on the boards and scored 14 second-chance points.

Carmody said Wisconsin is a very physical team and Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said his team's tough defense has been his team's calling card all season. The Badgers attacked the Cats where they have struggled all year - on the inside - and the Cats were unable to respond and stop the onslaught.

NU (8-21, 1-17) started the half trailing by nine points, but only got as close as seven - scoring the first points of the second half.

The Cats made no other serious runs at the Badgers' lead, failing to cut the deficit below 10 points after Landry's run pushed the lead from eight points to 16 at the 14-minute mark.

Continued...

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