The Wisconsin Badgers return to action in three days against the Milwaukee Panthers who are eager to finally prove themselves this season.
Wisconsin will be fresh heading into the clash as the Badgers will have eight days of rest in-between contests. Last time out, Wisconsin secured the 88-61 win over Central Michigan in exciting fashion as the team appeared to return to old form. Milwaukee will prove to be another challenge for the Badgers as consistency across multiple games has been another issue for the team.
Milwaukee is heading into the game boasting a 6-6 record, but not before playing at home against Purdue Fort Wayne the night before. The Panthers are 1-2 this season when playing a game on two days or less of rest and additionally are 1-5 this season away from home.
The Panthers are not the strongest team on paper, but the strengths of the team could prove to be a good test against the mental toughness of the Badgers’ defense.
Wisconsin Badgers’ Defense Must Stop Outside Shooting Threats Against Milwaukee Panthers
Milwaukee has not been able to put everything together consistently on the court this season. However, the Panthers do still have a roster that is capable of making the Badgers uncomfortable and pulling within striking distance.
The Panthers are shooting 32.6% from beyond the arc this season while averaging just over 25 three-point attempts per game. Milwaukee can be an aggressive team when shooting from three-point range with guards Amar Augillard and Josh Dixon being the main long-range threats. Augillard leads the team in three-point shots made (27), attempted (77), and is tied for the most field goals attempted (123).
Augillard is not afraid to let shots fly, but the guard has seen inconsistent playing time this season with his minutes dropping as of late. The Badgers will see less and less of Augillard during the game if the guard is not able to make an impact on offense. Dixon has taken over the majority of minutes for the Panthers as of late with back-to-back 20-point performances against South Dakota State and Cleveland State.
Top scorer Seth Hubbard suffered a season-ending injury following a win over Robert Morris which has forced the Panthers to adapt. Dixon has stepped up in a major way for the team, but the guard has not been succeeding on his own.
Forward Danilo Jovanovich has emerged this season as a threat inside the paint after previously playing sparingly off the bench last season. The Badgers’ forward Nolan Winter will have his hands full when playing against Jovanovich, who was once a Miami Hurricanes’ signee.
The forward plays his best when closest to the basket and his instincts in the paint often lead to additional rebounds and buckets. However, Jovanovich is just a portion of the offense and will need assistance to defeat the Badgers. The forward has a career-high of 21 points which likely will not be a strong enough performance to take down Wisconsin.
For the Wisconsin Badgers’ defense, stopping the outside threats in Dixon and Augillard will need to be a priority. When the Panthers are unable to establish themselves from three-point range the offense tends to push too hard in an attempt to shoot out of the hole. The Badgers have struggled with outside shooters this season and the Panthers’ offense could prove to be a valuable test for Wisconsin.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter (X) @JarrettGuerrera, and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on all things Wisconsin sports, click here
