On Tuesday, the Wisconsin basketball team will host the Ohio State Buckeyes in a clash of two March Madness hopefuls. Wisconsin enters on a five-game winning streak, headlined by double-digit victories against Iowa, Rutgers, and Minnesota. Meanwhile, Ohio State lost two of their last three games, lowlighted by home losses to the Oregon Ducks and Michigan State Spartans. However, they have been a testy team away from Columbus, beating Minnesota on the road earlier this month and besting the top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats by 20 at Madison Square Garden circa late December.
With Wisconsin basketball eyeing their sixth consecutive victory, one prominent analytical website believes they will have no problem taking care of Ohio State at the Kohl Center. According to ShotQuality, the world’s largest NCAA player location data database predicts a near double-digit victory for the Badgers.
ShotQuality Expecting Big Offensive Showing From Wisconsin Basketball
According to ShotQuality:
We use computer vision and AI to deliver player location data, which drives basketball’s most predictive shot models.
Using ShotQuality’s matchup simulator, Wisconsin basketball will have a slight edge against the Ohio State Buckeyes regarding the current 6.5-point spread. ShotQuality expects a 77-68 victory for the Wisconsin Badgers, although the data-driven site has Wisconsin as an 11-5 team rather than a 13-3 power. Wisconsin, which sits in the 80th percentile or better in offensive shot-making and spacing, will face an OSU squad near the bottom in the inverse categories. The Badgers are also an elite team in free throw rate, three-point shooting, and pick-and-roll, which are significant shortcomings of the Buckeyes’ defense.
Conversely, Wisconsin basketball struggles in defensive shot-making and post-up defense, which are the strengths of Ohio State’s offense. However, Ohio State is primarily a half-court offense, which plays into the hands of Wisconsin and head coach Greg Gard.
Wisconsin Approaching March Madness
Per ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, Wisconsin basketball would be the fifth seed in the Midwest Region if the season ended today. They would face off against the Creighton Bluejays and Dayton Flyers in the First Four. Lunardi has 11 teams representing the Big Ten, tied with the SEC. Wisconsin made the March Madness tournament last season as a five-seed but fell to the James Madison Dukes 72-61.
Wisconsin Badgers:
- Wisconsin Badgers: Looking To Extend Winning Streak In BIG10 Conference Play Against the Ohio State Buckeyes
- Wisconsin Badgers Are on Impressive 5-Game Win Streak But Steven Crowl Remains Wary of Ohio State – ‘They’ve Got Good Guards, Athletic Bags’
- Harun Zrno, A Big 6’6 Wing from Bosnia, Impressed With Wisconsin Badgers Program, Calls Greg Gard Good Coach – ‘I Really Like Their Style of Play’
- Wisconsin Badgers Basketball: Steven Crowl Responds to Greg Gard Call Out With Efficient 18-5-3 Game; What Does the Coach Feel Now?
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