Indiana basketball coach Tom Crean began Wednesday’s news conference with a joke.

“The first time we played (Wisconsin), we had two guys (guards Verdell Jones III and Devan Dumes) who had the flu,” Crean said. “We played like everybody had the flu.”

The 83-55 road loss Feb. 13 left Crean feeling ill. IU faces the No. 19 Badgers again today at 9 p.m.

Wisconsin (20-7, 10-5 Big Ten) has won the last five in the series and 11 of the last 14 against the Hoosiers (9-17, 3-11). Slowing down the Badgers, Crean believes, starts with doing a better job against Jason Bohannon. The guard made seven three-pointers and scored 30 points on Feb. 13.

“We have to do a great job of identifying their energy source, who I think is Bohannon,” Crean said. “They are tough and physical. We have to be up on guys and not allow that cushion.”

“… They want you to help Bohannon gets a lot of threes off of his man’s help, which means you have to be able to guard the dribble.”

Wisconsin gets an added piece in Jon Leuer. The forward was out with a wrist injury he suffered Jan. 9 against Purdue. He returned Feb. 18 at Minnesota after missing nine games. Leuer was the team’s leading scorer (15.4 points per game) before the injury.

“I don’t think they are much different (with Leuer),” Crean said. “They can shoot when he’s out, they can shoot when he’s in. They know exactly what they want and they wait until they get it.”

Crean said the Hoosiers have to do a better job making adjustments from the first to second showdown.

“A lot of that is toughness, toughness and maturity. We have a long way to go there. There are signs of it coming,” Crean said. “… I’d be lying to say that I’m not disappointed with our evolvement of leadership.

“They have to understand that there isn’t one guy on the offensive end or defensive end that can do one thing to carry us. It better be together. The same thing goes for our preparation. When you make adjustments and get ready for a team a second time, you have to have it.”

lpope@jg.net