After losing their share of the Big Ten lead with a 65-57 loss to Illinois, the No. 10 UW men’s basketball team (17-5, 8-3) will travel to Michigan to take on the Wolverines (14-8, 5-6) Sunday.
With five conference games remaining, the Badgers are in a tight race for the top spot in the Big Ten. Less than one game separates the top three teams in the conference, as the Badgers and Illini share second place, trailing Michigan State (14-9, 9-3) by half a game.
In the search for a third-consecutive Big Ten title, each conference game takes on added significance down the stretch. However, UW head coach Bo Ryan will not change his coaching style to prepare for the key games ahead.
“You just keep preparing in practice as you did back in early January as you do in mid- to late February,” Ryan said. “That doesn’t change, not our preparation and not our approach.”
In the last meeting between Wisconsin and Michigan, the Badgers won 74-63 at the Kohl Center behind a strong performance by forward Mike Wilkinson, who posted 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Wisconsin has won six of its last eight games, but the Badgers have historically struggled in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines hold a 51-15 record against the Badgers at home and lead the all-time series 84-54. In its last trip to the Crisler Arena, Wisconsin fell 66-65 in a heartbreaker in 2003.
Michigan enters Sunday’s showdown brimming with confidence after thrashing Penn State 76-53. Forward Lester Abram scored a team-high 16 points as the Wolverines earned a decisive victory.
Abram, who leads Michigan in scoring with an average of 12.9 points per game, has been on a tear recently, averaging 14.7 points in the past three games.
Abram is one of three Wolverines averaging double figures in scoring. Forward Bernard Robinson Jr., who led Michigan in scoring for the most of the season, averages 12.7 points per game and leads the Wolverines with 6.1 rebounds per contest. Guard Daniel Horton, who leads Michigan with 3.3 assists per contest, averages 12.0 points per game.
Michigan’s balanced attack will need a disciplined performance against Wisconsin, which holds the top-ranked defense in the Big Ten. The Badgers’ stifling defense has frustrated opponents this season, allowing just 56.9 points per game.
The Wolverines feature an aggressive defense unit that leads the Big Ten in steals (8.23 per game) and blocked shots (5.09). Michigan’s pressure defense will test the discipline of Ryan’s trademark swing offense, which relies on a patient, controlled attack.
With guard Devin Harris leading the way, Wisconsin has taken care of the ball more consistently than any team in the Big Ten to lead the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.37).
Harris, who ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring (19.0 points per game) and second in assists (4.86 per game), has scored more than 15 points in each of the Badgers’ last seven games.
Wisconsin will need another strong performance from the standout guard as it looks to regain a share of the Big Ten lead with a win in Ann Arbor.
