The Wisconsin Badgers (9-8) travel to play the Northwestern Wildcats (14-3) in what should be a low-scoring game. Action begins at 7:00 pm ET on Tuesday, Jan. 12 and can be seen on BTN.
The Wildcats enter this game hoping for similar success after dismantling Minnesota 77-52 on Saturday. Aaron Falzon was the game’s leading scorer with 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting. The Badgers, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their close 63-60 loss against Maryland on Saturday. Wisconsin lost despite the best efforts of Ethan Happ, who recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Half-court execution will be of utmost importance when two of the nation’s slowest-paced teams square off. Northwestern ranks 317th in possessions per game (66.0), while Wisconsin is 341st (64.7).
Notes
In its last game, Northwestern won by a margin of 25 points. Wisconsin is 3-0 in games decided by a margin of 18 points or more. Northwestern has a 7-0 record in blowouts.
Ranked 22nd, the Northwestern Wildcats have an offensive rating of 116.9. The Wisconsin Badgers rank 101st with a defensive rating of just 98.0.
The Northwestern Wildcats average 66.0 possessions and 1.169 points per possession in games this season. The Wisconsin Badgers average fewer possessions with 64.7, as well as fewer points per possession with 1.062.
The Wisconsin Badgers average an effective field goal percentage of 47.1% this season. The Northwestern Wildcats have split their games this season (3-3) when opponents have an eFG% of 47.1% or greater.
On average, the Northwestern Wildcats attempt 25.0 three point field goals per game and the Wisconsin Badgers attempt 17.0. In games where they attempt at least 20 threes, Northwestern has a formidable 13-3 record, while Wisconsin is 2-3.
The Northwestern Wildcats rank seventh with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.73, while the Wisconsin Badgers rank outside the top 100 (203rd) with an A/TO of 1.00.
Northwestern, the 92nd-ranked team in rebounding, register an average of 38.8 rebounds per game. Wisconsin does worse, ranked 114th with 38.2.
Wisconsin makes an average of 5.5 steals per game. Northwestern has a solid 5-3 record when it allows at least 5 steals.
