After having a week off following a win against Maryland last Tuesday, Wisconsin basketball returns to action tomorrow. The Badgers will travel to Indiana to take on the Hoosiers (14-13, 6-10). Wisconsin won the first meeting in Madison 91-79 on January 19. Indiana is on a four game losing streak and looks to be out of the NCAA Tournament. Can Wisconsin basketball get a good road win for the resume? Tip time is 6 PM on Peacock. Here is a a preview of tomorrow’s game.
Can Wisconsin Basketball Take Away Indiana’s Post Play?
The Indiana offense starts and ends with the post play. The Hoosiers have three talented post players in 7’0 Kel’el Ware, 6’9 Malik Reneau, and 6’8 Mackenzie Mgkabo.
Ware is a very skilled big man and did not play in the first meeting. Reneau had a great game with 28 points, but had to take 21 shots to get it. He was the only player Wisconsin basketball struggled to defend.
I would be concerned with this if I were Greg Gard. It is not Steven Crowl’s strong suit to be a true post defender. He has typically struggled to defend Big Ten post players throughout his career. Ware could make life tough on him.
Reneau might be the best of the three. I think Tyler Wahl can defend him one-on-one, but Wahl does tend to get into foul trouble. Look for extended minutes for Nolan Winter, Markus Ilver, and Carter Gilmore. The Badgers can’t afford Crowl or Wahl to sit long periods of time.
A Game the Wisconsin Basketball Guards Need to Dominate
The reason Wisconsin basketball won the first meeting was the guard play. The guards combined for 67 points. The Badgers have a big advantage at point guard and shooting guard.
I would like to see Max Klesmit and Connor Essegian get going in this game. Klesmit is a huge part of where this offense goes. Essegian be the sharpshooter off the bench that wins you games in March. With only a few weeks left until the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament, it’s time for for these two to get back to their old selves.
Prediction
Assembly Hall is never an easy place to play regardless of Indiana’s record. I also don’t think this is a time where you question if they have mailed it in. There’s NBA talent on this roster, but it could also be the beginning of the end for Mike Woodson.
Wisconsin basketball is going to have to be disruptive at the rim on defense. They are not a good shot blocking team and I expect Ware and Reneau to make a living down low. If the posts players are not able to generate pressure, this could easily be a a back and forth game. That would be advantage Indiana.
If I’m the Badgers, I’m not messing around from the tip. With a four game losing streak and a loss to Penn State, Indiana’s tournament hopes are on life support and would all but end with a loss tomorrow.
I think a road win, while it wouldn’t move the Badgers seed line most likely, would give this team some momentum with a huge home game Saturday against Illinois.
Rust can always be a thing after a week off, but there’s no doubt Wisconsin will be more fresh and have more legs in this game. If The Badgers are clean and crisp early, I don’t see an upset here.
I think this is a back and forth game, but it’s hard not to notice the clear advantage in guard play for Wisconsin basketball. I think that is the difference in the last eight minutes of this one. Give me the Badgers in a tough road win.
Wisconsin 75 Indiana 70
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