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Indiana Basketball vs. Wisconsin: Game info, preview, and prediction

By Trevor Gersmehl

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 10: The Wisconsin Badgers mascot dances on the floor during the Badgers and Indiana Hoosiers game during the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Verizon Center on March 10, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 10: The Wisconsin Badgers mascot dances on the floor during the Badgers and Indiana Hoosiers game during the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Verizon Center on March 10, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Indiana basketball takes on Wisconsin at Assembly Hall Tuesday, the 26th, after coming off two heartbreaking losses versus Purdue and Iowa.

Wisconsin is led by elite Senior big man Ethan Happ, a Wooden Award candidate averaging 17.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. Guards D’Mitrik Trice and Brad Davidson contribute heavily to Wisconsin’s success as well, averaging 12.5 and 11.3 points per game respectively. Happ, however, is their driving force on offense and coach Greg Gard will run the offense through him as much as possible.

This is the only matchup between the Hoosiers and the Badgers this season, so each team will have to look at film in order to determine the best way to play each other.

Wisconsin’s slow pace on offense results in a low point total, but high efficiency. Wisconsin has the second best field goal percentage in the Big Ten, and the third best three point percentage. Happ’s skill in the post draws help on defense, and his passing ability is such that he can find backdoor cutters and open shooters with ease.

Keys to the game

  • Containing Ethan Happ. Illinois did a great job of this last Monday, when they held Happ to only six points and three rebounds in 27 minutes. Indiana will look to the film to try and emulate their success.
  • Close out strong on shooters. Wisconsin will knock down open threes if they are presented with the opportunity, so chasing them off the line is key. Indiana shouldn’t fear letting up open drives due to overplaying shooters– Wisconsin has some of the worst marks in free throw attempts and free throw percentage in all of college basketball.
  • Continue the energy and effort from the last two games. Indiana has played their guts out the last two games and unfortunately haven’t been rewarded with a win. However, if they play offense the same way they did in the second half against Iowa and keep the same kind energy on defense, it will only be a matter of time before they get a win.
  • Go at Happ on offense. Getting Happ in foul trouble would be a huge advantage for IU. It would be worth going to Juwan Morgan in the post and setting up some Romeo Langford drives to the rim to see if Happ takes the bait. They are nowhere near the same team without him.

Next. What NBA Scouts are saying about Indiana's roster. dark

While I wouldn’t be surprised if Indiana won this game, on paper Wisconsin is strong in the areas Indiana is weak. They shoot the three well, they guard well, and they are extremely disciplined.

It is also easy to see the Hoosiers coming out with less effort after losing two straight heart breakers. Believe it or not, the season is still alive, albeit on life support. Indiana would have to win out the rest of the season and then make a good push in the Big Ten Tournament, or they’d have to win the Big Ten Tournament. Both situations seem unlikely at this point, but with the talent on the roster, you never know.

Regardless, if they lose to Wisconsin, then they can kiss their chances of an at-large bid goodbye.

What you need to know

What? Indiana 13-14 (4-12) vs. Wisconsin 18-8 (10-5)
When? Tuesday, February 26, 9:00pm ET
Where? Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall – Bloomington, IN
TV? ESPN
Radio? Indiana Radio Network, Sirius XM 135
All-Time Series? Indiana leads series 81-39
Prediction? Wisconsin 61, Indiana 54

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