The No.2-seeded Xavier Musketeers (28-5) play the No.7-seeded Wisconsin Badgers (21-12) in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Scottrade Center. The game begins at 8:40 pm ET on Sunday, Mar. 20 and can be seen on TNT.
The Musketeers enter this game hoping for similar success after blowing out Weber State 71-53 in the First Round. With 18 points and 15 rebounds, James Farr recorded his sixth double-double of the season. The Badgers, meanwhile, are coming off a 47-43 win against Pittsburgh in the First Round. Ethan Happ was the game’s top scorer, accounting for 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting.
This showdown pits one of the nation’s top offenses against one of its elite defenses, as Xavier currently ranks 35th in the nation in offensive efficiency and Wisconsin is 12th in defensive efficiency. Also, the Badgers commit the 14th-fewest errors in the nation (TO% of 17.1%), while the gambling defense of the Musketeers causes the eighth-most (opponents’ TO% of 19.6%).
The Musketeers have gone 28-5 Straight Up (SU) and 20-13 Against The Spread (ATS). Xavier has been steady from the free throw line, shooting a stellar .732. Xavier has an edge in the rebounding department for this game, where it racks up an average of 41.1 rebounds per game. Xavier’s defense can be considered one of the best in the country. The Musketeers allow a .415 opponent field-goal percentage, one of the lowest shooting rates in the country.
On the other side, the Badgers have 21-12 SU and 17-16 ATS records. Teams seem to consistently miss shots against the Badgers, who are the 17th-best team in the nation in terms of opponent field goal percentage allowed at .428.
This game marks the first time Xavier and Wisconsin have played one another in recent seasons.
Predictions: SU Winner – Xavier, ATS Winner – Xavier
Notes
Ranked 12th, the Wisconsin Badgers have one of the top defenses in the country, giving up just 100.0 points per 100 possessions. The Xavier Musketeers rank 35th in offense, scoring 113.4 points in the same number of possessions.
The Xavier Musketeers average 71.4 possessions and 1.134 points per possession in games this season. The Wisconsin Badgers average fewer possessions with 63.4, as well as fewer points per possession with 1.076.
Wisconsin has an average effective field goal percentage of 48.6%. Xavier is a winning 10-4 when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage.
Xavier attempts an average of 20.0 three pointers per game and Wisconsin attempts 18.0. In games where they have 20 or more three point attempts, the Xavier Musketeers have a tremendous 18-4 record while the Wisconsin Badgers have an 8-7 record.
Xavier ranks 56th in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.28. Wisconsin is ranked lower at 174th with an A/TO of 1.06.
Xavier ranks 32nd in offensive rebounding. Wisconsin ranks 302nd in defensive rebounding.
On average, Xavier makes 7.2 steals per game. Wisconsin has a superb 8-2 record when it gives up at least 7 steals.
