The Wisconsin Badgers head to the Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday for a matchup against the Penn State Nittany Lions that looks lopsided on paper but has been dangerous in years past.
While Penn State sits
near the bottom of the Big Ten, Bucky has struggled against subpar Nittany Lions teams in the recent past. If Greg Gard’s squad wants to avoid the trap, they need to stick to a specific blueprint and play with the same grit that has defined their season so far.
Here are our three keys to a Badgers victory over Penn State on Thursday.
Nick Boyd and John Blackwell Must Maintain Elite Play
With the departure of John Tonje, the scoring burden has shifted heavily to the backcourt. Nick Boyd and John Blackwell have responded by playing like one of the best duos in the conference.
Boyd has been a revelation since transferring, providing a steady hand at the point and a veteran composure that keeps the offense on track. Meanwhile, Blackwell continues to be the engine. His ability to slash to the rim and draw fouls puts immense pressure on a Penn State defense that often lacks the discipline to stay vertical.
If these two continue their elite level of play, they will simply overwhelm the Nittany Lions’ perimeter defense.
Nolan Winter Needs to Rule the Glass
The biggest mismatch of the night is in the paint. Nolan Winter is currently averaging more than double the rebounds of Penn State’s leading rebounder.
That is a staggering stat that Winter needs to exploit from the opening tip. To win comfortably, Winter must be big on the glass. By eliminating second-chance opportunities for Penn State and securing defensive boards, he can jumpstart the Badgers’ transition game.
If Winter dominates the boards as the numbers suggest he should, Wisconsin will control the tempo and keep Penn State from ever finding a rhythm.
Stay Out of Foul Trouble
In an intensive Big Ten environment, the “state championship” mindset means playing with grit but also with composure. The Badgers’ bench is currently thin, and Wisconsin cannot afford to have its stars watching from the sidelines.
We have seen what happens when the rotation gets disrupted by whistles; the offense stalls and the defense loses its edge. Staying out of foul trouble is mandatory.
Wisconsin needs its best players out there in the final minutes to ensure they handle the uncomfortable moments of a road game and close out the win.
