Wisconsin will play its second in-state opponent in a row when they welcome UW-Green Bay to the Kohl Center on Thursday. Wisconsin and Green Bay didn’t play a season ago, as the Badgers have won the past eight meetings against the Phoenix.
In this Badgers Wire feature, we will look at the three keys or questions for Wisconsin as they prepare to play UW-Green Bay.
LAYUP: LIMITING GREEN BAY’S SECOND CHANCES
Wisconsin, over their first two games of the season, allowed their opponents to average 12 offensive rebounds a game. However, over Wisconsin’s last two games they have been able to reduce that number to an average of five a game.
Despite Wisconsin doing a better job of boxing out once a shot goes up, the Badgers will have a challenge against Green Bay. The Phoenix on the year are averaging 13.3 offensive rebounds a game and in the Phoenix loss to Purdue, they pulled down 12 offensive rebounds.
Wisconsin will need to be able to box out Manny Patterson, who leads the team with 10 offensive rebounds. Wisconsin’s ability to limit Patterson on the offensive glass and make sure he can’t help generate second chances will help limit a Green Bay offense that’s shooting 44 percent (96-for-218) from the field.
MID-RANGE: CAN WISCONSIN BRING THE SAME KIND OF DEFENSIVE PRESSURE?
Wisconsin’s defense was active throughout the game against Marquette as it allowed for the Badgers defense to create 15 turnovers. That activeness will need to continue considering Green Bay is averaging 17.7 turnovers per game.
With Green Bay turning the basketball over at such a high rate, Wisconsin’s defense should be able to flourish, coming from a unit that is forcing an average of 14.75 turnovers a game. The fewest turnovers Wisconsin has forced this year was 11 against Eastern Illinois.
The Phoenix, through three games, have allowed 24 steals as the opportunities for Wisconsin to come up with a steal will be there.
3-POINTER: WISCONSIN’S ABILITY TO GENERATE OPEN LOOKS
Wisconsin’s offense has been up and down through four games, as the Badgers are shooting 44 percent (96-for-218) from the field. The Phoenix, on the season, are allowing teams to shoot 45.8 percent (87-for-190) on the year.
The Phoenix allowed Purdue to shoot 50.8 percent from the field on 31-for-61 shooting from the field. One of the reasons why the Boilermakers were able to shoot a high percentage against the Phoenix was they registered 16 assists on their 31 made field goals.
Although Wisconsin’s shots haven’t fallen at times, the Badgers have done well at trying to create the best shot for them. Wisconsin, on the season, is averaging 11.3 assists per game while D’Mitrik Trice leads the team in assists with nine. But Wisconsin has received production in this area from a variety of people as four different players have led Wisconsin in assists in each game.
If Wisconsin can space the floor effectively and knock their shots down, it should allow for the Badgers to be able to get into a rhythm on offense and build an early lead over the Phoenix.