Arkansas
Arkansas State vs. Wisconsin Prediction, Preview, and Odds – 11-6-2023
The Arkansas Red Wolves visit Madison, Wisconsin on Monday for the opening game of their college basketball season when playing against the Wisconsin Badgers. Last season Arkansas State was 13-20 overall and 4-14 in Sun Belt Conference action, while Wisconsin finished its 2022-23 season 20-15 overall and 9-11 in Big Ten action.
Arkansas State has nowhere to go but up
Arkansas State was victorious and only four of its 18 Sun Belt Conference games last season. The Red Wolves have a new head coach in Bryan Hodgson. Three starters return from last season led by guards Caleb Fields and Avery Felts. Two incoming transfers will play key roles for Arkansas State. Dyondre Dominguez, a junior forward, joins the Red Wolves from UMass and Derrian Ford, a sophomore guard, arrives from Arkansas.
Others expected to contribute this season include Terrance Ford Jr, who is a sophomore guard and the third starter returning from last season. Malcolm Farrington a junior guard and Julian Lual a junior forward both will see action off the bench. Arkansas State is not expected to finish any higher than 9th or 10th in the Sun Belt this season.
Wisconsin has plenty of talent returning
Last season Wisconsin suffered through a below average year at 20-15 overall and 9-11 in the Big Ten. However, Wisconsin lost only one player from its roster last season. Jordan Davis, who scored an average of only 5.1 points per game did not return but four players that scored in double figures are back including leading scorer Chucky Hepburn who averaged 12.2 points per game.
Joining Hepburn are Steven Crowl, Connor Essegian and Tyler Wahl, who averaged between 11.3 points and 12.1 points per game last season. Five other players that saw action last season also returned. Wisconsin added five new freshmen and one transfer, AJ Storr who joined the Badgers from St John’s. Wisconsin has nearly its entire roster back and brought in talented freshmen.
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The Wisconsin Badgers averaged 65.3 points per game last season and lost only one player that scored an average of only 5.1 points per game. Four players have returned that average between 11.3 points and 12.2 points per game. The leading rebounder Steven Crowl is back and several reserves off the bench are also back. Wisconsin added five talented freshmen and transfer AJ Storr from St. John’s. Arkansas State is not expected to finish any higher than 9th in the Sun Belt Conference and only has three starters back from last season with only two of the three big contributors at both ends of the court. The only question that remains is whether or not Wisconsin is able to cover a large double digit spread and the answer is yes as they will be at home and have much more experience not only at this level but with playing with one another as they returned nine of 10 top players from a season ago.
Prediction: Wisconsin Badgers
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Wisconsin is not known for scoring, as the Badgers averaged only 65.3 points per game which was 321st in the nation last year. However, the Badgers are known for defense as they allowed an average of only 63.6 points per game last season, which was 29th in the nation and 5th best in the Big Ten. Nine of the 10 players that saw plenty of action last season for Wisconsin return and the defense will be as good if not better than a season ago.
Prediction: UNDER