Indiana Basketball vs Wisconsin: Know your opponent, preview, and prediction

The Indiana basketball team is looking to pick up a big win on Senior night as they host the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday to wrap up the regular season.

The Hoosiers are looking to get some revenge and at the same time pick up their second straight win when they host the Badgers on Saturday. When these two teams met way back on December 7th, Wisconsin jumped out to a huge first-half lead and never looked back in beating the Hoosiers by 20.

When they played the first time the Badgers were struggling and it looked like a bad loss for the Hoosiers. But now Wisconsin is tied for first and the loss hasn’t hurt Indiana’s chances of making the tournament. Picking up the win at home against the red-hot Badgers, though, would pretty much guarantee Indiana a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Beating Wisconsin, even at home, will be no easy task as they are one of the hottest teams in the country right now winning their last seven games. They have road wins over Michigan, Penn State, and Ohio State on their resume already and have been shooting lights out as of late.

The Badgers are averaging nearly 10 three-pointers a game during their winning streak and are shooting 35% for the year as a team. Nate Reuvers and D’Mitrik Trice have been great for Wisconsin but Micah Potter has been a force lately and has seen his playing time greatly increase. He is shooting 45% from deep and will be a key guy for the Hoosiers to pay attention to if they want to win the game.

Wisconsin is not a big team and generally doesn’t score a ton of points as they are very deliberate with their offense. They look for open shots and move without the ball very well to get open threes and they have been knocking them down.

The Hoosiers will have to pressure the three-point line and make the Badgers try to beat them inside the arc. Indiana must also use their size advantage to work it down low and get Trayce Jackson-Davis and Joey Brunk involved early and often. De’Ron Davis is another guy who could use his size to his advantage and get some easy buckets.

This game will come down to whether or not the Hoosiers can keep the Badgers from getting hot from deep. Wisconsin is playing extremely well and comes in very confident. They are looking for a share of the regular-season Big Ten title and will be highly motivated.

The Hoosiers, while probably still in the tournament after their win against Minnesota, should also be ready to go as they try to earn a split with the Badgers and lock up a tournament berth. Get a win against Wisconsin and a Purdue loss to Rutgers and the Hoosiers will avoid having to play the first day of the Big Ten tournament. It is a big game for both and should be a fun one at Assembly Hall.

Key Storylines

Indiana

Can the Hoosiers get a big senior night win? Will they be able to keep the Badgers from getting hot from deep? Will the Hoosiers be able to use their size advantage to dominate inside? Will Indiana be able to finally have a full game where the offense is running smoothly? Can the Hoosiers avoid turnovers that have plagued them in their losses?

Wisconsin

Will the Badgers be able to keep up their hot shooting? Can Wisconsin win yet another big road game? Will the Badgers be able to clinch at least share of the Big Ten regular-season title? Will Brad Davison behave or will he live up to his reputation? Can the Badgers stop Trayce Jackson-Davis down low?

Key Players

Indiana

Trayce Jackson-Davis (13.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg), Justin Smith (10.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Devonte Green (10.6 ppg, 36.2% 3pt), Al Durham (9.7 ppg, 37.1% 3pt)

Wisconsin

Nate Reuvers (12.9 ppg, 32.6 3pt%), D’Mitrik Trice (10.0 ppg, 38.4 3pt%), Micah Potter (9.9 ppg, 45.8% 3pt), Brad Davison  (9.8 ppg, 34.9% 3pt)

Prediction: Indiana 74, Wisconsin 73