The Wisconsin Badgers have made it to the NIT semifinals. While most fans did not expect this team to be there, the Badgers have a shot at winning a postseason tournament. They will take on North Texas Basketball, who hold a 27-9 record out of the C-USA. Tip time is 6 PM on ESPN tomorrow night. Here is a preview of tomorrow’s semifinal.
Guard Play Will Be the Difference in the NIT Semifinals
Guard play will be huge for the Badgers tomorrow night in the NIT Semifinals. The Mean Green duo of Tylor Perry and Kai Huntsberry average almost 30 points a game. North Texas, as a team, averages just under 65 points a game. There’s no doubt Perry and Huntsberry are asked to do a lot, and they will be asked to do the same tomorrow for North Texas Basketball.
I feel comfortable with the duo of Chucky Hepburn and Max Klesmit on the defensive side. Both are above-average-to-elite defenders and have shown it against some of the best guards in the Big Ten. Expect this to be an ugly slug-fest on both sides. The good news? Both teams like that style.
Feed The Post vs. Texas Basketball
When looking at North Texas, the post sticks out to me. The Mean Green won’t have a rotation player taller than 6’9. The last time this happened, Wisconsin took on Bradley in the first round of the NIT. Steven Crowl erupted for a career-high 36 points and did it comfortably.
This could also benefit Tyler Wahl too. Look for him to get what he wants at the rim, as I would imagine North Texas Basketball will do what they can to contain Crowl. I think both players have the ability to have a monster NIT semifinal despite a really good Mean Green defense that only allows 55 points a game.
NIT Semifinal Prediction: Wisconsin vs. North Texas Basketball
I can almost guarantee this will be a low-scoring NIT semifinal. North Texas is the slowest offensive team in the country, according to KenPom. On average, the Mean Green take 21 seconds off the shot clock on each offensive possession. If it stays this way tomorrow, expect limited possessions and turnovers to be a huge factor.
This is a similar style Wisconsin runs, and I think both teams will be comfortable with it. Neither team will panic but, at the same time, be aggressive defensively. North Texas Basketball has also held Florida Atlantic, who is in the NCAA Tournament Final Four, to 50 points and 66 points. They also only allowed 63 points to Saint Mary’s.
While the defensive side was there against Florida Atlantic and Saint Mary’s, the Mean Green lost all three of those games. Because of this, I think North Texas will have trouble scoring against the Wisconsin defense in the NIT semifinal. I don’t think the Badgers will go crazy scoring, but I think they will get buckets late in this game. Wisconsin has a big advantage in the paint, which will be the difference in the end. I predict the Badgers to advance to the NIT Championship.
Wisconsin Badgers 65 – North Texas Basketball 60
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