Marquette has beaten Wisconsin over the last two meetings and three of the last four games. The Badgers certainly will have a challenge on Sunday against Marquette as the Golden Eagles are coming off of a 10-point victory against Purdue to improve their record to 2-0.
In this Badgers Wire feature, we will look at the three keys or questions for Wisconsin as they prepare to play in-state rival, Marquette.
LAYUP: WISCONSIN’S SUCCESS IN THE PAINT
Marquette through two games is allowing their opponents to average 28 points around the rim compared to Wisconsin averaging 29.3 points in the paint.
Nate Reuvers will play an important role in making sure that Wisconsin is able to generate high percentage shots around the rim against a Marquette team that’s averaging eight blocks a game.
In particular, Reuvers will have a challenge against Theo John as he leads the team with nine blocks as eight of them came in Marquette’s season opening win over Loyola Maryland.
If Wisconsin is going to challenge John and generate points in the paint Reuvers can’t get into foul trouble like he did against McNeese State. If he does it will take one of Wisconsin’s more consistent scorers off the floor as he’s averaging 15.3 points. Reuvers ability to have success around the rim and ability to stretch the floor could lead to balanced scoring against Marquette.
MID-RANGE: CAN WISCONSIN CONTINUE ITS MOMENTUM FROM 3?
Wisconsin certainly caught fire from three in the second half against McNeese State as they shot 7-for-15 (46.6 percent), which is the Badgers best shooting half from three.
The question is does the performance from three in the second half against the Cowboys continue against Marquette or will it revert back to what Wisconsin has shown this season?
Wisconsin is shooting a lowly 27.7 percent (18-for-65) from three and if Wisconsin’s offense is going to have success against Marquette they’ll need to turn in a better performance from the perimeter.
Problem is in two games Marquette has done well of contesting the 3-point shot as the Golden Eagles have held their opponents to shoot 25 percent or less from three on an average 21 3-point attempts a game.
If Wisconsin is going to continue where they left off from three against Marquette it will be up to Aleem Ford, D’Mitrik Trice, Brevin Pritzl, and Brad Davison. All four have attempted at least 10 three’s through three games.
Davison leads the team shooting 40 percent (4-for-10) from three as he went 3-for-4 from three against McNeese State. Making it important that when Wisconsin is able to create an open look from three the Badgers knock them down as there won’t be many opportunities where Wisconsin will get a good look from 3-point range.
3-POINTER: TRYING TO CONTAIN MARKUS HOWARD
Howard is one of the more natural scorers in college basketball as through two games he’s averaging 28 points per game while shooting 53.1 percent (17-for-32) from the field and 58.8 percent (10-for-17) from three.
Howard in three career games against the Badgers is averaging 24 points a contest and is shooting 37.2 percent (22-for-59) from the field. Howard is going to get his shots up against Wisconsin’s defense its a matter of making sure they aren’t opportunities where he can catch and shoot.
Although Howard scored 27 points against Wisconsin a season ago he did attempt 29 shots from the field. It will be a team effort to try and slow Howard down as the Badgers will need to effectively communicate to fight through screens to make sure Howard can’t exploit a mismatch against a Wisconsin defender.
If Wisconsin’s defense can make sure they don’t allow Howard to completely take over the game and frustrate him they’ll force somebody else to try and beat the Badgers.
That person could be Koby McEwen as he’s the only other player for Marquette to average double figures at 17 points a game.
In addition, Howard has been able to set his teammates up as his five assists are tied for the second best mark on the team but he also leads the team with six turnovers. Creating frustration for Howard will be difficult but if Wisconsin’s defense can knock him off his offensive game a little bit that could go a long way in how the game is decided.