Game Day Essentials: Game #25 at Wisconsin

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Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-8) at Wisconsin Badgers (10-12)

Photo via Kent Pavelka's Twitter

Date: Monday Jan 29th, 2018

Time: 8:00 pm CST
Arena: Kohl Center

 

BROADCAST INFO
Television: BTN
  Play-by-play: Brian Anderson 
  Analysis: Stephen Bardo
Internet Video: BTN2Go and Fox Sports Go
Radio: Husker Sports Network, including 590 AM (Omaha), 1400 AM (Lincoln) and 880 AM (Lexington)
  Play-by-play: Kent Pavelka 
  Analysis: Jake Muhleisen

Online Radio: Available online at Huskers.com, on the Huskers App and on TuneIn Radio and the TuneIn Radio App

 

Wisconsin Info

Head Coach: Greg Gard
Location: Madison, WI
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Badgers

Mascot: Bucky Badger
Last time out: Lost to Michigan St
Typical Rotation Depth: 6+
Line: Wisconsin by 4

Tempo: SLOW

Defense: Man

Style: Low assist % / Low 3pa%

Four Factors
Effective FG%:	53.3 84	51.3 199	50.8
Turnover %:	17.6 93	18.1 225	19.1
Off. Reb. %:	29.3 172	24.4 23	29.1
FTA/FGA:	33.7 179	27.8 56	33.9

Wisconsin protects the defensive glass, doesn't foul a ton, and doesn't turn the ball over a ton. They also are shooting well inside the arc. Like Nebraska they're good at taking away 3pt shots but like last year's Nebraska's team a lot of those takes go in. You can keep them off the offensive boards.

 

Most Frequent Lineups over the last 5 games

 

Nebraska

PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Pct
1	5 Glynn Watson 6-0  173  Jr	13 Anton Gill 6-3  195  Sr	24 James Palmer 6-6  210  Jr	15 Isaiah Roby 6-8  225  So	14 Isaac Copeland 6-9  221  Jr	28.6

 

Wisconsin

PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Pct
1	34 Brad Davison 6-3  205  Fr	1 Brevin Pritzl 6-3  197  So	21 Khalil Iverson 6-5  210  Jr	35 Nate Reuvers 6-10  215  Fr	22 Ethan Happ 6-10  235  Jr	22.0

 

This is pretty much the same lineup for Wisconsin but since our last meeting with the Buckeyes the LINEUP OF DEATH has become the standard.

 

Players to watch: Ethan Happ

It's all about Jr Center Ethan Happ who leads the team in points, rebounds, offensive rebounds, assists, and missed FTs. Happ dominates the shots and touches in the offense and can not only score efficiently in the paint but also find teammates when double teams come.  Happ can be forced into turnovers and remains a roughly 50% FT shooter.

 

Scouting Wisconsin SubTopic

 

Last Time out

Nebraska built up an 11 point lead in the 2nd half and a 7 point lead with a minute to go. Nebraska had one of those OMG HOW DO I CLOSE THIS GAME endings to make the final 63-59. Happ and Davison led the scoring for Wisconsin while 18 from Palmer and Jordy's best game to that date paced the Huskers.  Wisconsin went on to lose all of their road games + winning one at home. Nebraska had Jordy go AWOL but the addition of Roby to the starting lineup and James Palmer assertion as a dominating offensive force have propelled the Huskers towards post season buzz.

 

The Skinny

 

Wisconsin on the road looks a bit like you'd expect a team missing two starters and playing a bunch of underclassmen might look: B-A-D.  At home it's a different story where the 3s tend to fall and the calls tend to go your way.  As this team is basically Ethan Happ, more Ethan Happ, Brad Davison with a bad shoulder, and gumption it's also a team that is killed by elite offenses.  If you're in a game in the 50s-60s with Wisconsin at their place? You're probably going to lose.  If you're up 22-9 in the first 10 minutes? They're not coming back.  Nebraska sure looked like an elite shooting team against Iowa at home though it was after looking like hot garbage vs Rutger's length.  This Husker offense is somewhere in between much like the Buckeye defense is somewhere in between Iowa and Rutgers.

 

Once again you'll see a double teams on Happ. Do the Badger make Nebraska pay this time from 3? What role players step up from either team for big games? Unless Jordy is in foul trouble expect the Huskers to stick with their 8 man rotation.  This is a game that Wisconsin probably will win.  However, unlike the Badgers, Nebraska has been playing well on the road, especially on defense.

 

Prediction: Nebraska 63 - Wisconsin 60

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