BadgerBlitz – Preview: No lost love between Badgers, Wolverines on Valentine’s Day

Wisconsin (14-10) vs. Michigan (14-11)

Sport: Tuesday, Feb. 14 contained in the Kohl Heart

Time: 8:00 P.M CT

Watch: ESPN2

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

Prediction: Michigan 65, Wisconsin 63

Comply with On-line: The Badgers’ Den

Twitter: @Badger_Blitz

Shut to precisely a 12 months in the past, Wisconsin basketball hosted Michigan on the Kohl Heart. Behind a 25-point displaying from Johnny Davis, the No.15 Badgers toppled the Wolverines, 77-63.

What’s extra memorable about that sport, nevertheless, is what occurred after the ultimate whistle. Michigan head coach Juwan Howard slapped Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft throughout the face within the handshake line, sparking a scuffle and stoking the flames of rivalry between the 2 applications. The groups have not met since, however that is to not say they’ve forgotten what transpired.

“Wisconsin, I imply they’re simply…they’re simply…they’re scumbags, that is what it’s,” Michigan heart Hunter Dickinson stated on Barstool Sports activities’ “RoundBall” podcast in early January.

It is definitely an fascinating remark coming from the workforce whose coach was suspended 5 video games and fined $40,000 for his blatantly unsportsmanlike actions. Dickinson’s comment went viral, and it is secure to say each applications have had this sport circled for a while now.

Wisconsin and Michigan have related information however are in a lot totally different conditions. Regardless of having a worse total document than the Badgers (loosing to Central Michigan will try this), the Wolverines are sitting at 8-6 within the convention and within the drivers seat to safe a event bid. At 6-8 within the Large Ten, Wisconsin desperately wants to gather convention wins as they attempt to sneak into the large dance.

The Badgers are coming off a heartbreaking time beyond regulation loss to Nebraska during which they blew a 17-point lead. Michigan is recent off a razor-thin, one-point loss to Indiana during which it failed to attain over the ultimate 5 minutes of motion.

Michigan’s offense runs by Dickinson, the 7-foot-1′ heart who averages 17.9 factors and eight.4 rebounds. Dickinson has been probably the greatest massive males within the convention since he earned a beginning job in December of his freshman 12 months. When these two groups met final 12 months, Dickinson was an issue for the Badgers, scoring 21 factors with nice effectivity whereas accumulating 5 rebounds.

A season in the past, Davis was the focus for Wisconsin. Now, Chucky Hepburn and Steven Crowl are the highest offensive choices for the Badgers, and the latter might be tasked with containing Dickinson in what needs to be a wildly entertaining matchup.

Whereas Dickinson has been a star on this league for some time, Crowl has come into his personal this season and largely achieved a superb job holding down the paint for Wisconsin. He nonetheless must be extra environment friendly ending on the rim, however the junior has developed properly for the Badgers. Each facilities boast elite footwork, overpowering measurement and an underrated capacity to shoot the three. Dickinson is taking pictures 40.5% this season from downtown, whereas Crowl’s 26.5% from deep is misleading — he is a significantly better shooter than that quantity signifies.

Jett Howard is Michigan’s second main scorer, and the son of head coach Juwan has had an outstanding freshman season. Howard is averaging 14.8 factors on 43/39/80 taking pictures splits. Howard has been getting some NBA draft consideration after only one 12 months, and it will be fascinating to see how the Badgers attempt to gradual him down.

Regardless of fielding a younger workforce, with two freshman and a sophomore within the beginning 5, Michigan performs with veteran poise. They hardly ever flip the ball over, and as a rule do the little issues proper. They’re top-50 within the nation in each steal and block proportion, in accordance with KenPom.

How Wisconsin elects to assault the Wolverines offensively might be fascinating. Of their loss to Nebraska, there was a transparent deal with attending to the paint early. Nevertheless, the final time Crowl needed to go up in opposition to an elite massive man in Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis, he solely mustered 5 factors. Crowl will assuredly be hungry to show he can compete with the highest facilities within the league come Tuesday.

There is no misplaced love between these two groups as they fittingly conflict on Valentines Day. Anticipate bodily play, a wholesome dose of trash speak, and probably the most awkward postgame handshake line of the season.