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Evanston, IL
4:00
BTN
Northwestern
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Record: 10-6 (3-2)
KenPom Rank: 86
Wisconsin Badgers
Record: 11-5 (3-2)
KenPom Rank: 38
Never (ever) underestimate Greg Gard and the Badgers. Every year they lose their top scorer and every year they continue to compete at the top of the Big Ten. Minnesota is riding a 9-game losing streak to the Badgers and they haven’t won since before the pandemic.
Can we get a win over our rival?
KEYS TO A GOPHER WIN
Defend the Three – Wisconsin shoots a LOT of threes. And when they make their threes, they are tough to beat. In their loss to Nebraska they were 7/32 from three. In their loss to Purdue they were 4/25. But they did just beat #2 Michigan, where they shot 15/33. The good news is that they aren’t exactly shooting a high percentage for the season, ranking 195th nationally. Getting some good pressure on shooters will be helpful.
Continue to move the ball – It is no secret that this team moves the ball with a purpose that leads to easy baskets and a ton of assists. I don’t need to see the Gophers eating up the shot clock on every possession, but moving the ball and getting some gimme baskets really can break a defense.
Bring your hard hat – This game is going to be a battle, as most of our games are going to be. The Gophers have been playing with great toughness in their Big Ten games. And perhaps most importantly, they are resilient. They keep executing the way they are supposed to whether they are down 8 or up 12. Both the Iowa and USC games feld like they weren’t going to be able to crack the seven point defecit, but they kept battling and found their way back into the game.
PREDICTION
This one is really going to come down to perimeter defense. Nick Boyd and John Blackwell take a ton of shots for the Badgers. Can we hold them to under their 37 points per game combined average?
And then it is about mental and physical toughness.
But I don’t think it’ll be enough. This team is better than their record indicates, but I’m not willing to predict an upset over Wisconsin. That first win in several years is coming, but not tonight.
Minnesota – 71
Wisconsin – 77
