After nearly two weeks off, the Wisconsin Badgers return to action on Friday night in a home tilt against the Iowa Hawkeyes (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten). The Badgers (10-3, 0-2 Big Ten), are hoping to kickstart an offense that has struggled at times this season, while also trying to build their case for an at-large bid in this spring’s NCAA Tournament.
Iowa Hawkeye’s High-Scoring Offense
The Hawkeyes come into Madison averaging 89.7 points per game, the highest average in the Big Ten and second-highest nationally. Four players on the Hawkeye roster are currently making 50.0% or more of their shot attempts while also playing over 20 minutes per game, and 13 of the Hawkeye’s 14 squad members are hitting shots at a rate over 45.0%.
On their current three-game winning streak, they’ve topped the 100-point mark twice, once against the New Orleans Privateers on December 15 and then again against the New Hampshire Wildcats on December 30. Between their two games hitting the century mark, the Hawkeyes took down the Big 12’s Utah Utes 95-88 in a contest that saw the Hawkeyes overcome a double-digit deficit in the second half.
Sophomore forward Owen Freeman currently leads the team in scoring and rebounds, averaging 17.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game on 66.1% shooting from the floor and 40% from three-point range. Senior forward Payton Sandfort notches in another 16.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while sophomore guard Brock Harding paces the team in assists with 5.8 per game.
Wisconsin Badgers Back In Action
The Wisconsin Badgers, in their first game since a 76-53 win against Detroit Mercy (5-9) on December 22, come into the bulk of Big Ten play well-rested. Prior to the nearly two-week break, Wisconsin lost their two opening conference games, on the road to Illinois 86-80 and at home to Michigan 67-64, leaving them in an 0-2 hole to start Big Ten play.
Poor shooting has been a hallmark of the Badgers’ early Big Ten struggles. Across to conference games, Wisconsin has converted only 39.4% of their shot attempts and only 28.6% of their three-pointers. The Badgers will need to start hitting shots at a higher clip if they hope to have success within the conference this year. Iowa has allowed opponents to hit 45.1% of their shots from the floor, the worst mark in the Big Ten, but have clamped down on the three-point line, allowing opponents to convert only 26.9% of their three-point attempts.
Wisconsin’s leading scorer, sixth-year senior John Tonje, will be a focal point of the Badgers’ offense heading into Big Ten play. In his first season in Madison following appearances with the Missouri Tigers and Colorado State Rams, Tonje is averaging 19.2 points per game and has reached double figures in twelve of the team’s thirteen games thus far this season. The Badgers have three other players averaging double-digit points per game this season.
Tonje and the Badgers tip off against the Hawkeyes at 7:00 p.m. EST/6:00 p.m. CST on Friday, January 3. Television coverage will be provided by FS1.
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