After rebounding for a nice 91-79 win over Indiana on Friday, Wisconsin basketball hits the road tomorrow night. The Badgers will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers. They are 12-6 overall and 3-4 in conference play. The Golden Gophers have lost their last three games, all by double digits.
Can Wisconsin basketball get another winning streak going and get a road win at The Barn? Tip time is 6 PM on BTN. Here is a preview of tomorrow night’s game.
Can Wisconsin Basketball Get Back to a Fast Start on Defense in the First Half?
Over the last two road games, the Badgers have been very slow on defense. Ohio State jumped out to a quick start and took an eight point lead early in that game. Last Tuesday, Penn State jumped out to a 12-2 lead and had anywhere from an eight to ten point lead most of the first half.
While I like how the offense has been consistent over the last two plus months, Wisconsin basketball is in a funk on defense. I know the Indiana game was out of hand early in the second half, but to let the Hoosiers score 79 points is tough to see. The defensive side is clearly frustrating Greg Gard.
I want to see the Badgers get after it on defense right away tomorrow night. They learned after the Penn State game how they are playing defense right now is not sustainable.
Free Throws and the Paint
Minnesota is third in the Big Ten in field goal percentage. They only shoot 34% from three. This means they are shooting well inside the three. With players like Dawson Garcia, Joshua Ola-Joseph, and Pharrel Payne, this is a team, like Indiana, will want to get the ball to the post. Players like Tyler Wahl, Steven Crowl, Carter Gilmore, and Nolan Winter will have to stay away from foul trouble.
On the other hand, Wisconsin basketball is first in the Big Ten in free throw shooting. Minnesota is 12th. Free throw shooting is key if you want to win on the road. This seems like a game where free throws could be a deciding factor.
Prediction
The Barn is one of the coolest venues to play at in the Big Ten, The elevated court is iconic and a rare court to play on unless you are in the final four in an NFL stadium.
Minnesota is doing better than most would have thought at this point. I wasn’t sure if they would win 12 games all season, but Ben Johnson has his team believing. They will give the Badgers everything they want.
Out of Minnesota three conference wins, two are by three points or less. The other win was out-scoring Nebraska by 26 in the second half after trailing by 15 at half. All four conference losses have been by at least nine points. Three of the four losses are by double digits. There’s a reason despite the 12-6 record Minnesota is ranked 93rd in the KenPom rankings.
Wisconsin basketball fans normally travel to Minneapolis well and I expect that to be the case tomorrow. The post game of Minnesota worries me a little bit, but this seems like a game if the Badgers take care of business, they will get out with a win.
Of course, I also said the same think last week before the Penn State loss. If there is defensive lapses like the Penn State game, I think this becomes a 40 minute game. It going to be important Max Klesmit stays on the court as does Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl.
I like some of the pieces on this Minnesota team. It seems like they are a year or two away. I think this veteran Wisconsin basketball team learned from the Penn State loss. I doubt we see back to back poor defensive efforts from a Greg Gard team. Give me the Badgers tomorrow night.
Wisconsin 75 Minnesota 68
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