There is nothing about the composition of the 2020 Indiana Hoosiers basketball roster which makes them a great challenge for the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday. The Hoosiers are a decent team and nothing more. Removed from the safety of Assembly Hall, they do not figure to mount a serious threat in March. They might win one game in the Round of 64, and that should be that. As a 10 or 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament, they would likely run into a buzzsaw in the Round of 32 should they get there. A 2 seed such as Louisville or a 3 seed such as Duke should eat them up.
Wisconsin — probably a 5 seed right now in bracketology, possibly with a chance to become a 4 seed — should not feel threatened by the Hoosiers themselves. The situation in which Wisconsin is playing Indiana is the real challenge for the Badgers on Saturday in Bloomington. This is what makes the game such an interesting — and good — test for Greg Gard’s team.
Wisconsin played Oregon in San Jose last March in the NCAA Tournament. That was not a friendly crowd for UW, and the Ducks roared past the Badgers. Wisconsin has played most of its recent games at home. In fact, only one of the Badgers’ past five contests has been a road game. UW has played one road game since February 15 at Nebraska — Michigan on Feb. 27. Wisconsin will be playing the Hoosiers on Senior Day in Assembly Hall. IU will be supremely motivated to play well and develop momentum heading into the Big Dance.
So many aspects of this game are set up for Wisconsin to fail… which, after the cushy home-centric stretch of the past few weeks, is EXACTLY what this team needs to confront before the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. Unfriendly crowds and motivated, reasonably good opposition are what Wisconsin must defeat repeatedly to get to the Sweet 16 and maybe beyond. UW handled that challenge against Michigan. Let’s see UW handle it again.
Keep in mind, though, that whereas Wisconsin was merely playing for NCAA Tournament seeding against Michigan, this game against Indiana was for something much bigger: the Big Ten championship. There is real pressure attached to this game, more than the Michigan contest. If Wisconsin handles this moment, it is an even better sign that the Badgers are ready for tournament play.