Wisconsin picked up a key win against Michigan State on Saturday as they were able to redeem themselves from earlier in the season when Wisconsin played the Spartans. The Badgers will look to build off of their win against Michigan State as they get set to play Minnesota on the road against a Gopher team that has lost three of their last four games.
In this Badgers Wire feature, we will look at the three keys or questions for Wisconsin as they prepare to play Minnesota on Wednesday.
LAYUP: CAPITALIZING ON MINNESOTA’S TURNOVERS
Wisconsin over their last seven games has done well of creating turnovers as in six of those seven games the Badgers have forced their opponent into at least 10 turnovers.
In that stretch, Wisconsin’s offense has been able to cash in their opponents mistakes into an average of 10.5 points per game. Against Michigan State, the Badgers defense was able to turn the Spartans 12 turnovers into 14 points, which is the most points off of an opponents turnovers since Wisconsin scored 16 in Wisconsin’s win against Ohio State.
In order for Wisconsin to have success against Minnesota on Wednesday, the Badgers will need to continue to find a way of creating double digit turnovers against the Gophers in order to disrupt the Gophers offense.
Minnesota over conference play is averaging 10.9 turnovers a contest compared to Wisconsin’s defense forcing their Big Ten foes into an average of 11.1 miscues a game.
If Wisconsin sticks to their defensive assignments they should be able to find a way of creating those extra offensive possessions for themselves. Consistently cashing in Minnesota’s mistakes will be critical in helping Wisconsin control the game.
MID-RANGE: WISCONSIN’S DEFENSIVE SUCCESS AGAINST MINNESOTA’S 3-POINT ATTEMPTS
Minnesota over conference play is shooting 27.1 percent from three, which ranks last over conference play. Despite the low percentage by Minnesota there, 255 3-point attempts over Big Ten play is the second most behind Nebraska (293).
Even though the Gophers have struggled to consistently find the bottom of the net on their 3-point attempts the Badgers will still need to be prepared to defend the shot consistently.
Considering 39.6 percent (255-of-643) of their field goal attempts over conference play have come from distance.
Wisconsin will need to be aware of where Gabe Kalscheur is on the floor as his 152 3-point attempts leads the team. But he’s only making 32.9 percent (50-for-152) of his 3-point attempts.
Similar to the game against the Spartans Wisconsin’s defense can’t afford to allow Minnesota to attempt their 3-point shots in rhythm. When a three does go up it will be up to Wisconsin’s frontcourt defense of being able to effectively box out Daniel Oturu and making sure the Gophers can’t consistently generate second chances on offense.
3-POINTER: CAN WISCONSIN STOP DANIEL OTURU?
Over Big Ten play Oturu has been impressive as the 21 points he’s averaging ranks second and the 10.8 rebounds rank first over conference play.
In Wisconsin’s loss to Iowa last week the Badgers struggled to contain Luka Garza as he finished with 21 points and 18 rebounds as Garza’s 26.5 points per game leads the conference and his 10.5 rebounds rank second behind Oturu.
If Wisconsin wants to register its first road victory since its game against Penn State the Badgers can’t afford to have Oturu have as effective of a game as Garza did.
In order to try and limit Oturu it will begin with the play of Nate Reuvers. Reuvers did well of contesting shots against Michigan State without fouling on Monday. Reuvers who finished with two of Wisconsin’s four blocks against the Spartans won’t be able to block everything but he still can do enough on the defensive side to make Oturu alter his shot.
If Reuvers can be strong on the defensive end it will take one of Minnesota’s more consistent offensive players out of the game as Marcus Carr (17 points per game) is the only other player for Minnesota to average double figures over Big Ten play.
As good as Oturu is on the offensive end he can provide the same kind of impact on the defensive side of the floor too. Oturu’s 2.1 blocks a game ranks third over conference play making it important that Wisconsin finds a way to try and neutralize his effectiveness.