The conference schedule has finally arrived for Wisconsin basketball. The Badgers will host the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Kohl Center tomorrow night. Wisconsin enters this game 1-0 in the conference and 9-3 overall. Iowa is 0-2 in the Big Ten and 8-5 overall. Tip time is 6 PM on BTN. Here is a preview of tomorrow night’s game.
Can Wisconsin Basketball Slow Iowa’s Fast Tempo?
Whenever you play Iowa, you know they will score a ton of points and they play about as fast as any team in the country. Wisconsin has to get back on defense especially after a made basket. The faster this game is played, the more it favors the Hawkeyes.
Iowa is not a good defensive team at all. In their six games against power five teams (Creighton, Oklahoma, Seton Hall, Purdue, Iowa State, and Michigan), Iowa gave up an average of 85 points a game. While they want to make this a fast pace game, I think Wisconsin basketball has a good chance to score a ton of points.
Knocking Off the Rust
Rust can be a real thing in basketball. The Badgers have not played since December 22 and will be playing only their second game is almost three weeks.
I don’t think this a game Wisconsin can afford to have a cold stretch. Iowa is too good on the offensive side to play catch up. It will be important the Badges play well on the defensive side as that could end up their best offense.
Prediction
Iowa has the offense to play with any team in the country. There’s no doubt it’s been a down year for Fran McCaffrey and the Hawkeyes, but this team can score point in bunches. They can also be dangerous from three.
I also like Valpo transfer Ben Krikke. He’s provided a good post presence to go along with a good offensive game. Krikke currently leads Iowa averaging 17 points a game.
Iowa will play at least 10 players and have five players that average at least nine points a game. However, I think Wisconsin basketball has the better post players and they have the chance to expose that.
As long as the Badgers take care of the ball and play their style, I don’t see much of an issue with Iowa tomorrow night. Defensively, they have to close out at the three point line and get back on transition defense.
This has the chance to be a track meet and a high scoring game, but I like the Badgers defense in this contest. I think it’s close for awhile, but Wisconsin basketball pulls away in the last 10 minutes.
Wisconsin 78 Iowa 67
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!
