Game Day Essentials: Game #34 vs Wisconsin

Wisconsin Info

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

Mascot: Bucky Badger
Last time out: Beat Ohio St.

Conference Record: 14-6
Typical Rotation Depth: 7+
Line: Wisconsin by 8

Tempo: SLOW

Player to watch: Ethan Happ

The Wisconsin big man is one of their all time greats and leads the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists. Happ is a true center who can score with either hand but doesn't shoot much or well from outside the paint.  He's a known poor FT shooter and currently is shooting at a career worst 46.8% for the year.

KenPom Helps to break down the lineup

The starting lineup for Wisconsin contains two guys who haven't made a 3 this year. 

• Trice is one of the better 3pt shooters in the conference but has really struggled inside the arc
• Davison is known for his annoying effort to draw charges. Like many of the Wisconsin guards he's hitting 3s at an annoying rate. He's often the guy who takes the tough shot during an expiring shot clock
• Reuvers is the Wisconsin big man of the future.  He's a threat inside and out and is Wisconsin's best shot blocker
• Iverson is known as a freak athlete who can guard multiple positions and is one of the few Badgers who can drive and draw contact.  However is an extremely poor outside shooter and his 60% FT shooting couples with Happ to drag down the team's numbers
• 6'4" 200# Kobe King is Iverson's backup is a better scorer but doesn't bring the same things as Iverson in rebounding or defending
• 6'3" guard Brevin Pritzl is the backup to Trice/Davison who is a 3pt specialist who isn't nearly as good of an option
• 6'8" 220# Akeem Ford is a stretch 4 with turnover issues
• 6'8" 250# Charles Thomas is a thumper 9th man who might see the court for a minute or 2. Hit a 3pter vs Nebraska this year

The Skinny:

We're still here and while Wisconsin plays a certain style they don't change for anyone and certainly prepared for Nebraska there is no doubt they probably spent more time prior to yesterday preparing for Maryland.  No doubt Nebraska had a quick prep lined up for Wisconsin before they left Lincoln. 

Wisconsin plays at a slow pace but they make you work on the defensive end with Happ receiving the ball and then either posting up or passing out. Unlike our last two opponents Wisconsin doesn't have turnover issues so the Huskers won't generate a lot of easy transition buckets. Wisconsin has been pretty good at defending without fouling in their no-pressure defense. Defensively the Badgers put it up to you to outshoot their good but not elite offense.

Other than Happ no one really draws contact on this team so it's probable that we will have enough players to finish the game though once again Tanner will be under pressure to defend without fouling (fouled out in 15 minutes last time vs Wisconsin).  Nebraska should have at least the initial advantage of having played two full games at the United Center while the Wisconsin shooters may need to adjust to the court. Isaiah Roby seemed very comfortable last time vs Wisconsin so let us hope that was because of the matchup.

Both Rutgers and Maryland played in a manner that made you question their resolve.  Wisconsin seems like the sort of team built on resolve. Can Nebraska do it again?

Prediction: Wisconsin 64 - Nebraska 57