Michigan has been one of the better teams in the month of February as they have posted a 6-1 record this month. In the month of February, Michigan has beaten Rutgers twice and they gave the Scarlet Knights their first home loss of the season, they beat then No. 16 Michigan State at home, and also beat a Purdue team on the road too. The lone loss by the Wolverines came to Ohio State as they lost to the Buckeyes by three points at home. Michigan will look to add one more win in the month of February when they take on Wisconsin in the only matchup between the two schools during the Big Ten regular season.
In this Badgers Wire feature, we will look at the three keys or questions for Wisconsin as they prepare to play Michigan on Thursday.
LAYUP: WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
Wisconsin and Michigan are two teams in the Big Ten that simply don’t turn the basketball over as they are averaging 9.3 and 9.4 turnovers a game respectively.
On the flip side, Wisconsin’s defense and Michigan’s defense is forcing an average of 10.6 and 10.3 turnovers a game respectively.
With both teams having success in terms of protecting the basketball and creating turnovers the game could come down to the team who is able to commit the fewest turnovers and, which team is able to capitalize on their opponents mistakes.
The Badgers over their four game winning streak is averaging 12 points off of their opponents mistakes and over that stretch have forced their opponents into an average of 10.75 turnovers a game.
If Wisconsin is going to force Michigan into turnovers the Badgers will need to bring their A-game defensively as like Wisconsin the Wolverines won’t beat themselves.
What the Badgers do with Michigan’s turnovers could play an important role in whether or not the Badgers can keep within striking distance of the Wolverines.