Badgers' Koenig to miss Michigan game, freshman Trice to start

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If the Wisconsin Badgers are to bounce back from a loss at home to Northwestern, they'll be doing it without senior point guard Bronson Koenig.

Head coach Greg Gard announced that Koenig won't play Thursday night at Michigan (16-9, 6-6 Big Ten) due to a leg injury.

Koenig missed the last two practices but has been clearly struggling on the court with a calf injury he suffered against Penn State on Jan. 24. Koenig is averaging 13.4 points on the season, but in the five games since being injured is averaging just 8.8 points on 25.5 percent shooting.

Freshman D'Mitrik Trice will make his first start for Wisconsin (21-4, 10-2) in Koenig's place. Trice is averaging 5.5 points and 17.2 minutes per game and shooting 42.6 percent, but 46.2 percent from 3. Trice had 11 points and six rebounds in 23 minutes in Sunday's loss to the Wildcats.

"He's ready for this moment," Gard said.

Gard did not say how long Koenig would be out. The Badgers next host Maryland at noon on Sunday.