BadgerBlitz – Preview: Badgers close out regular season with Minnesota

Wisconsin (16-13) vs. Minnesota (8-20)

Sport: Sunday, March 5 inside Williams Area

Time: 6:30 P.M. CT

Watch: FS1

Pay attention: 1310 WIBA AM and 101.5 FM (Matt Lepay and Mike Lucas on the decision); stream on-line on iHeartRadio

Prediction: Wisconsin 74, Minnesota 66

Comply with On-line: The Badgers’ Den

Twitter: @Badger_Blitz

Betting Line: Wisconsin -6

Wisconsin will shut out their common season with a go to to Minneapolis on Sunday night to face the Golden Gophers. Minnesota is struggling mightily and is definitely the worst workforce within the Massive Ten this yr. With a 2-16 report in Massive Ten play, they’re sitting at useless final within the convention.

This would be the second assembly between Wisconsin and Minnesota this season. The primary got here again on Jan. 3, when the Badgers narrowly escaped the Gophers on the Kohl Heart. Minnesota had an opportunity till the very finish, when a Chucky Hepburn steal iced the sport within the closing seconds. That sport marked the top of Wisconsin’s honeymoon interval, so to talk — they have been 11-2, ranked no. 14 and undefeated within the Massive Ten on the time. Since then, the Badgers are 5-11.

Minnesota is coming off a large win for his or her program, eking previous Rutgers by one level to snap a 12-game loosing streak.

In line with Joe Lunardi’s bracketology, Wisconsin is at present one of many final 4 groups within the area of 68. Their two-point loss to the Massive Ten champion and No. 5 total workforce, unsurprisingly, did not damage them that a lot. Now, nonetheless, the Badgers completely have to beat Minnesota to achieve March Insanity. If they do not, something wanting operating the desk within the convention event would seemingly seal Wisconsin’s destiny.

In these groups’ first assembly, Wisconsin obtained a giant efficiency from Steven Crowl. The middle scored 17 factors on 8-of-13 from the sphere. Hepburn was additionally a distinction maker, logging 16 factors together with three triples.

There have been positives and negatives to remove from that sport. The Badgers shot 40 % from deep, and went 7-of-9 from the free throw line. In addition they obtained pummeled on the glass, knocking down 24 rebounds to Minnesota’s 40, and failed to achieve a lot separation on the scoreboard from an inferior workforce.

Minnesota’s freshman level guard Ta’Lon Cooper was their main scorer the primary time round with 16, adopted by the dependable ahead Dawson Garcia with 14. Jamison Battle had 14 factors however shot with poor effectivity, going 5-of-15 from the ground.

These three will probably be lead the cost for the Gophers as soon as once more offensively. Minnesota likes to reside within the paint, and Garcia and the ahead Battle take 30 and 27 % of their photographs, respectively.

Wisconsin’s bigs must present up Sunday. Wisconsin cannot get out-rebounded by 16 once more — that alone almost value them the primary sport. Certain, Jordan Davis knocking down eight boards is sweet to see, however when he alone has extra rebounds that Crowl and Tyler Wahl mixed, it is an issue. Minnesota is not an excellent exterior taking pictures workforce; they join on 31.9 % of their photographs from deep, in accordance with KenPom. The main focus defensively for the Badgers ought to be beneath the basket within the paint.

Whether or not or not Wisconsin makes the NCAA event, this sport is huge for this system. It is a assertion sport; that assertion being even in a down yr, the Badgers can go on the highway and deal with their enterprise in opposition to the worst workforce within the convention. Add in the truth that it is in opposition to rival Minnesota, and there is a number of pleasure on the road Sunday. Wisconsin must win, and fairly frankly they should win relatively handily to enhance their resume.