With 10 Big Ten games left in the regular season and a 1 1/2 game lead over the rest of the conference, the No. 5 Wisconsin men’s basketball team returns to action Tuesday against the Indiana Hoosiers .
After another win over the Iowa Hawkeyes Saturday, the Badgers will take on the Hoosiers Tuesday night at the Kohl Center for the first time this season. Tuesday’s game is the only time Wisconsin and Indiana will meet in the regular season.
Here’s what you need to know:
No. 5 Wisconsin (19-2, 7-1 Big Ten)
Big Ten: 7-1, 1st place by 1.5 games over Maryland, Ohio State, Indiana, Michigan State and Purdue
Last Game: Defeated Iowa in Iowa City, 74-63
Probable Starters: G – Bronson Koenig (6-4, 6.1 ppg), G – Josh Gasser (6-4, 7.4 ppg), F – Sam Dekker (6-9, 12.6 ppg), F – Nigel Hayes (6-8, 12.4 ppg), F – Frank Kaminsky (7-0, 17.6 ppg)
Key Reserves: F – Duje Dukan, F – Vitto Brown, F – Zak Showalter
Need to Know: After their lone conference loss of the season against Rutgers a few weeks back, the Badgers have rattled off four straight wins. With each win, they look more and more like the clear-cut favorite in the Big Ten. Three of those four wins have been won by more than 10 points and the last two wins, against Michigan and Iowa, have come on the road.
Against Iowa Saturday, Wisconsin held the hot-shooting Hawkeyes in the second half to pull out a 74-63 win. Frank Kaminsky led the Badgers in scoring (24) and rebounds (9), while three other players (Sam Dekker, Nigel Hayes and Josh Gasser) scored in double figures. It was Wisconsin’s second win against Iowa in 11 days and gave the Hawkeyes their third straight loss.
In Big Ten play, Wisconsin leads the conference in scoring (73.6 ppg), field goal percentage (.490), three-point percentage (.385) and assist-to-turnover margin (1.9). The Badgers also lead the nation in fewest turnovers per game (7.7) and fewest fouls per game (13.2). Wisconsin’s .486 overall field goal percentage this season ranks 18th in the country.
Since filling in as point guard for the injured Traevon Jackson the past five games, sophomore Bronson Koenig has totaled five career starts. Within those five games, Koenig is averaging 11.4 points per game and has only three turnovers in 177 minutes as a starter. On the season, Koenig’s 4.4 assist-to-turnover ratio is second in the nation.
Indiana (16-6, 6-3 Big Ten)
Big Ten: 6-3, Tied for 2nd place, half game behind Wisconsin
Last Game: Defeated Rutgers at home, 72-64
Probable Starters: G – Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell (6-0, 16.1 ppg), G – James Blackmon Jr. (6-4, 16.5 ppg), G – Nick Zeisloft (6-4, 5.9 ppg), F – Troy Williams (6-7, 13.0 ppg), F – Collin Hartman (6-7, 5.0 ppg)
Key Reserves: G – Robert Johnson, G – Stanford Robinson, F – Emmitt Holt
Need to Know: Indiana has lost two of its last three games and fell out of the AP Top 25 poll for the first time in three weeks Monday. The Hoosiers lost back-to-back games against Ohio State and Purdue before knocking off Rutgers Saturday. Indiana is ranked No. 25 in the Coaches Poll.
On Saturday, Indiana’s dynamic backcourt trio of Ferrell, Blackmon Jr. and Williams combined to score 48 of the Hoosiers’ 72 points. Blackmon Jr. had 20 points while Ferrell and Williams each chipped in 14 points. Indiana held off Rutgers in the second half by allowing only three Scarlet Knight field goals over the final seven minutes of the game. The Hoosier bench outscored Rutgers’ bench 26-0.
Indiana comes to the Kohl Center Tuesday with one of the best offenses in the country. The Hoosiers are averaging 80.3 points per game which is best in the Big Ten and 14th nationally while converting a conference-best 40.2 percent of their three-point shots. Despite their strengths on offense, Indiana ranks dead last in the Big Ten in scoring defense (72.0 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (44.7 percent).
Who – No. 5 Wisconsin (19-2, 7-1 Big Ten) vs. Indiana (16-6, 6-3 Big Ten)
When – Tuesday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m.
Where – Madison, Wisconsin; Kohl Center (17,279)
TV Broadcast – ESPN (Mike Tirico, Dan Dakich and Allison Williams)
