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The Badger Herald

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The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

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Men’s basketball need to know: Wisconsin vs. Iowa

Mens+basketball+need+to+know%3A+Wisconsin+vs.+Iowa
Hayley Cleghorn

No. 5 Wisconsin (18-2, 6-1 Big Ten)

Big Ten: 6-1, 1st place by half a game over Maryland

Last game: Defeated Michigan in OT, 69-64

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Probable Starters: G – Bronson Koenig (6-4, 6.0 ppg), G – Josh Gasser (6-4, 7.3 ppg), F – Sam Dekker (6-9, 12.7 ppg), F – Nigel Hayes (6-8, 12.4 ppg), F – Frank Kaminsky (7-0, 17.2 ppg)

Key Reserves: F – Duje Dukan, F – Vitto Brown, G – Zak Showalter

Need to know: In their last game, the Badgers faced a tough road test against an injury-plagued and struggling Michigan. After the Wolverines came back to force the game into overtime, Frank Kaminksy decided to take over, scoring eight of his 22 points in the extra period and helping the Badgers hold on for a victory. Kaminsky also had a game-high nine rebounds, falling one short of his ninth double-double on the season. Dekker, Koenig and Hayes also all scored in double figures in the matchup, and Koenig had a team-high four assists.

Wisconsin is 3-0 since Traevon Jackson went down with a foot injury in the loss against Rutgers, and while the Badgers would like to have him back sooner rather than later, the injury has pushed a few players into a larger role. In his three games as the starting point guard, Bronson Koenig has been averaging 37 minutes, 12.3 points and 2.3 assists per game. He is also shooting 52 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from three. Off the bench, Zak Showalter is beginning to see more minutes than he ever has in his tenure at UW. Since the injury, Showalter is averaging 12.3 minutes per game after averaging only seven per game prior to the injury. While he won’t fill up the stat sheet, Showalter has shown he has the ability to be scrappy and make the important hustle plays that won’t always show up on the box score.

Sam Dekker is starting to look like the player fans expected in the preseason. After a lingering ankle injury caused some mid-season struggles, the junior is starting to play at a consistently high level. Dekker has scored in double figures in 10 of his last 11 games and is averaging 14.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game over that period.
In its last matchup against Iowa, Wisconsin dominated the Hawkeyes at the Kohl Center from start to finish and won 82-50. Dekker led the way in the blowout—recording 17 points and eight rebounds—and was followed by Kaminsky, who ended the game with 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. As a team, Wisconsin only had one turnover the entire game.

Iowa (13-7, 4-3 Big Ten)

Big Ten : 4-3, in a four-way tie for 5th place with Michigan State, Nebraska and Purdue

Last game: Lost to Purdue, 67-63

Probable Starters: G – Peter Jok (6.2 ppg), G – Mike Gesell (7.3 ppg), F – Aaron White (15.1 ppg), F – Jarrod Uthoff (11.5 ppg), C – Adam Woodbury (6.8 ppg)

Key Reserves: G – Joe Oglesby, G – Anthony Clemmons, F – Dominque Uhl, C- Gabriel Olaseni

Need to know: After a strong start to their season, which included road wins over then-No. 12 North Carolina and then-No. 20 Ohio State, the Hawkeyes have taken a step back. Iowa has lost their last two Big Ten games — an unexpected blowout defeat at the hands of the Badgers and on the road at Purdue — after starting conference play 4-1. The Hawkeyes will look at their second chance against Wisconsin as an opportunity to get back on track.

Unfortunately for Iowa, they may have to try to get back on track without the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, Aaron White. White reportedly suffered a nerve injury in the shoulder in Iowa’s loss to Purdue. As of now, the severity of the injury is unknown. If White is unable to play, the Hawkeyes will be losing a player who is averaging 15.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 52.4 percent from the field.

A storyline that is sure to carry over from the last matchup between these two teams centers on Iowa center Adam Woodbury. During the game, Woodbury appeared to poke both Hayes and Kaminsky in the eye while guarding them. Both Woodbury and Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery spoke out on the issue and denied it was intentional. ESPN’s Dan Dakich, who called the Tuesday night game, thought otherwise and demanded Woodbury face some sort of suspension. Dakich will be calling this weekend’s game and is receiving extra security as a result of the conflict, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Who – No. 5 Wisconsin (18-2, 6-1 Big Ten) at Iowa (13-7, 4-3 Big Ten)

When – Saturday, Jan. 31, 11 a.m.

Where – Iowa City, Iowa; Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500)

TV Broadcast – ESPN (Bob Wischusen, Dan Dakich)

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