After having over a week of in between games, Wisconsin basketball returns to action tomorrow night. The Badgers will take on Chicago State in their final non-conference game of the regular season. Chicago State enters this game at 7-9 including a four game winning streak. Can they end the non-conference portion of the schedule on a high note before entering the thick of the season? Tip time is 7 PM on BTN Here is a preview of tomorrow’s game.
Wisconsin Basketball Should Dominate the Post Again
The Cougars won’t put a player out on the court taller than 6’7 tomorrow night. This means Steven Crowl and Tyler Wahl will have anywhere from 2-5 inches in a height advantage. When these two have a big advantage in the paint, Wisconsin basketball has focused on them and they have have had great games.
It will be important players like Crowl, Wahl, Carter Gilmore, and Nolan Winter stay out of foul trouble. As long as they do that, I think there will be a lot of success in the paint. This is a game the posts need to dominate before conference play resumes. They will need it every night in the Big Ten.
A Team Not to Overlook
Wisconsin basketball is not a team that usually overlooks an opponent, but the Cougars went into Evanston on December 13 and beat Northwestern 75-73. Northwestern is a team that is seen by many as a top five team in the Big Ten. Despite the Cougars playing 16 games already including last night, they will come into the Kohl Center confident and thinking they should win this game.
How did Chicago State beat Northwestern? They shot well from the free throw line and they forced 14 Wildcats turnovers. That is almost unheard of from a Chris Collins led team. The Cougars controlled the pace and tempo of that game even though they committed 14 turnovers themselves. They will want to make this game ugly. The Badgers just need to play their style and make Chicago State defend.
Prediction
Despite ESPN giving Wisconsin basketball a 98% chance to win tomorrow, this will be a very confident Cougar team coming into town. They have good guards led by Wesley Cardet Jr, who made life tough on Northwestern. This will be a good challenge for Chucky Hepburn and Max Klesmit.
This seems like a good team to come into Madison in between finals being done, Christmas, and the start of the Big Ten season. The Cougars have already been overlooked and they made Northwestern pay. While that game was a few weeks ago, I’m sure the Badgers saw that.
Wisconsin plays slow, clean, and wants to involve their bigs. Chicago State essentially does the opposite. They want to make this game a track meet and they want to take the Badgers out of what they like to do. I don’t see the Cougars stopping Wisconsin consistently in the paint.
The Cougars only average 66 points a game and they turn the ball over 14 times a game. They also shoot less than 30 percent from three. While I like some of their guards, I don’t know how the Cougars score the basketball if Wisconsin even plays average defense.
Wisconsin basketball can’t sleepwalk in this game. This is a team that will beat you if they see it. I think offensively, the Northwestern game was a fluke. I don’t see the Badgers falling in this game. After a one point win last night, Chicago State won’t be coming into this game with fresh legs.
Wisconsin 83 Chicago State 64
Follow me on Twitter @DylanBuboltz and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here! Also, check out our merch store for some amazing WSH merchandise!
