Wisconsin and Indiana only played once a season ago a double overtime thriller, which the Hoosiers won 75-73. Wisconsin and Indiana will play each other twice this year as the Badgers will look to protect their home court when the two teams tip off the early portion of the Big Ten schedule on Saturday afternoon.
In this Badgers Wire feature, we will look at the three keys or questions for Wisconsin as they prepare to play Indiana.
LAYUP: CAN WISCONSIN GENERATE SECOND CHANCES ON OFFENSE?
Although Wisconsin’s offense has struggled to find the bottom of the net over there last three games the Badgers have given themselves an opportunity of shooting themselves out of the funk by attacking the offensive glass.
Wisconsin over their last three games has collected a combined 34 offensive rebounds. Despite the Badgers giving themselves a chance of generating points they haven’t converted as over the last three games the Badgers are averaging 5.3 second-chance points a game.
That won’t cut it and in order for Wisconsin to have a chance of snapping their current losing streak, the Badgers are going to need to find a way of cashing in on their second chances.
Indiana has done well of limiting second chances as they’re allowing just 7.6 offensive rebounds a contest. Making it important that the Badgers find ways of attacking the offensive glass once a shot goes up.
With Indiana averaging 85.6 points per game, the Badgers will need to be able to consistently convert on the second chances they generate if they want to make sure the Hoosiers can’t build a lead.
MID-RANGE: BOUNCING BACK OFFENSIVELY
Wisconsin over their last three games has shot a combined 56-for-159 (35.2 percent) from the field. Lucky for the Badgers they will return to friendlier confines, which is the Kohl Center.
Considering over four home games the Badgers are shooting a combined 106-for-228 (46.4 percent) from the field. Not to mention the Badgers in two of their last three games played at home shot at least 51 percent from the field.
Can Wisconsin finally get on track shooting the basketball at home against Indiana?
It will be a challenge as the Badgers go up against a Hoosier defense that’s allowing their opponents to shoot 39.4 percent from the field on an average of 54.8 field goal attempts a game.
Shots will eventually start to fall for Wisconsin but it will begin with the Badgers to continue to generate quality looks on the offensive end. D’Mitrik Trice has led Wisconsin in assists in four games and has registered a team leading 26 assists.
Trice will be counted on to make the right decisions with the basketball as the Hoosiers are forcing an average of 15.8 turnovers a game. If Wisconsin struggles to take care of the basketball against the Hoosiers it will be a struggle for the Badgers offense to get into a rhythm.
3-POINTER: DISRUPTING INDIANA’S BALANCE ON OFFENSE
Indiana has plenty of scorers as they have four players averaging double figures as Devonte Green leads the way as he’s averaging 15.8 points per game. Green in Indiana’s latest game scored 30 points in the win over Florida State.
Trayce Jackson-Davis is averaging 15.5 points per game, Justin Smith 14.3 points per game, and Aljami Durham at 12.6 points a contest.
With Green coming off a season high 30 points where he went 10-for-15 from the field and 5-for-7 from three the Badgers can’t afford to allow him to generate a rhythm on offense like he did against the Seminoles.
In particular, Wisconsin’s defense will need to do well in hedging screens and making sure that Green doesn’t get many open looks from three. Green has attempted 50 field goals this season and 27 of them have come from 3-point range as he’s making 51.9 percent (14-for-27) of his three’s.
While Green has done his damage mostly from three Nate Reuvers will need to slow down Jackson-Davis in the post. Jackson-Davis has been consistent around the rim as he’s shooting 65.6 percent (40-for-61) from the field. He also leads the team in offensive rebounds with 27 as Reuvers will need to do a good job of boxing Jackson-Davis out to make sure he doesn’t come up with the rebound.
Considering, with Indiana shooting 51.8 percent (233-for-450) from the field as a team and with how poorly Wisconsin’s offense has played the last three games the Badgers can’t afford to give the Hoosiers to many second chances.