Tag: Preview

Saints free agent preview: LB Willie Gay Jr, stay or go?

Previewing free agency for the New Orleans Saints: Should they retain linebacker Willie Gay Jr., or let him walk in the 2025 offseason?

The New Orleans Saints are nearing the offseason as the Super Bowl is the only playoff game left to be played and a head coach search reaching its end. With that behind them they will have the chance to work on signing free agents where possible, fixing the cap even further, and trying to retain some of their key contributors. With 19 unrestricted free agents this offseason, they have some decisions to make on who to keep and who to let walk this year, especially if they want to start pursuing other players instead.

We have the chance to talk about one such pending free agent: linebacker Willie Gay Jr. He was a 2024 offseason signing the Saints brought in on a one-year deal to compete with Pete Werner for the starting linebacker spot next to Demario Davis. Ultimately Werner won out and took many of the snaps available.

With that in mind, here is how Gay’s career has gone so far, and some of the pertinent information regarding his season:

Career Stats

Overall Gay has been a strong producer on defense for a few years, with 2022 likely being his best season of the bunch. In that season he had 88 total tackles (51 solo, 37 assisted), a pick-six on a 47 yard return, 8 pass deflections, 9 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. 2023 he saw decreases in most categories which led to the Kansas City Chiefs letting him walk in free agency, and the Saints picking him up.

In his four seasons with the Chiefs he had 47 starts (in 57 games played), with 233 total tackles, 4 interceptions for 85 yards and 1 touchdown, 19 pass deflections, 17 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, and 5 sacks.

Snap Counts

Here is Gay’s defensive snap count for each season of his career, only including games he played in:

  • 2020: 25% (267)
  • 2021: 57% (437)
  • 2022: 69% (608)
  • 2023: 62% (624)
  • 2024: 27% (277)

2024 season review

As you can see, there was a significant drop-off from his Chiefs days to his Saints days in terms of snaps on defense, and that is largely because the Saints did not really use a third linebacker often the last few seasons. This led to a less than productive season for Gay who had 28 tackles, 3 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble with 2 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss. Overall he just did not get the utilization some thought he may, and that is largely because Pete Werner took the second linebacker role for his own and produced there.

Stay or go?

Overall it is hard to envision a role for Gay with Demario Davis and Pete Werner on the roster. While it would be nice to have him as a depth third option for more than one season, it is hard to ask that of a 27-year-old entering the prime of his athletic career who will want more playing time. Keeping him around would be a great option no doubt, but the Saints need to make up as much cap space as they can, and Gay may be better suited elsewhere where he can see more playing time. It makes sense to let him walk and find a greater opportunity for himself.

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Saints free agent preview: FB Adam Prentice, stay or go?

Previewing free agency for the New Orleans Saints: Should they retain fullback Adam Prentice, or let him walk in the 2025 offseason?

The New Orleans Saints are in somewhat of an intriguing position this offseason, with their head coach and offensive coordinator positions in flux they have some work to do coaching wise. But on top of that, they also have quite a few free agents to discuss and figure out whether or not they want to retain them or let them walk.

One of those free agents is fullback Adam Prentice, who has played in 48 games with the Saints since 2021. While his rushing value is not particularly high, his blocking value is something worth noting for the Saints and their new coaching staff.

With that said, here is his career in a nutshell so far, and some key statistics of his:

Career Stats

Prentice has never much been used in the run game, only having 9 rush attempts for 26 yards (2.9 yards per rush) and 6 first downs. He also has 8 receptions on 13 targets for 37 yards (4.6 yards per reception) and 2 first downs. He also has two offensive fumbles in that span, though none came in 2024.

He does get quite a bit of playing time with the special teams room, having 16 tackles in his career, 10 of which being solo and 6 being assisted. When it comes to pass blocking, he has had 67 opportunities in pass blocking, and has only allowed 1 sack and 1 pressure, good for a 98.5% blocking efficiency rate. This translates to run blocking as well, as he often lines up staggered to one side and covers the gaps for the running back. Overall he provides good value in this category, and this is why he has been on the team for four seasons.

Snap Counts

Here are the offensive and special teams snap counts for each season of Prentice’s career, only including games he played in:

2021: Offense 24% (106), Special teams 49% (94)

2022: Offense 18% (120), Special teams 46% (126)

2023: Offense 15% (125), Special teams 39% (137)

2024: Offense 25% (272), Special teams 48% (218)

2024 season review

2024 was one of the better years of Prentice’s career to this point, getting substantial snap counts both on offense and special teams, playing in all 17 games and even starting seven of them (more than the other 3 seasons of his career combined for starts). While he did not have any receptions on four attempts, and did not have any rush attempts, it was a very strong blocking season for him, with only 1 sack and 1 pressure allowed on 29 pass blocking opportunities (96.6% block efficiency rate). Additionally he had no penalties during the season, which is a positive for someone on special teams and in the blocking game.

Stay or go?

To be completely honest the fullback position is one that is either utilized a ton or not at all, and that depends on the head coach. While the Saints head coach position is not resolved as of the writing of this article, having a quality blocker is a good thing one way or another. Prentice has experience with this offense, has produced at a good level in the blocking game, and likely has a few good years of doing so ahead of him. While he is not a huge needle moving signing, keeping him around on a one- or two-year deal to do his job effectively is a good idea for New Orleans.

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Saints free agent preview: DE Payton Turner, stay or go?

Previewing free agency for the New Orleans Saints: Should they retain defensive end Payton Turner, or let him walk in the 2025 offseason?

The New Orleans Saints have some decisions to make this offseason, with a litany of free agents hitting the market (both their own and others), they will have to use their money sparingly to try and accrue new talent. Deciding who stays and who goes is a difficult process, as players like Trey Hendrickson get away sometimes due to cap space.

One of the players set to become a free agent this offseason is defensive end Payton Turner, who had his fifth-year option declined by the Saints last offseason. The 2021 first round pick has unfortunately not lived up to his potential, and that makes the decision regarding his contract easier than some others.

With that said, here is his career summary so far:

Career Stats

Payton Turner has had an exceptionally slow start to his career to date, as in four seasons he has only played in 31 games, starting none, and accrued 50 total tackles (30 solo, 20 assisted), 39 pressures, 11 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. These stats are something you would expect in one season from a first round pick, not over their entire rookie contract.

Statistically he has struggled and that heavily coincides with his lack of time played and injuries accrued. Even when he does play, he seems a step or two slow due to the accrued injuries over four seasons.

Snap Counts

Here are the snap counts for the games Turner played in his four seasons:

  • 2021 – 41% (143)
  • 2022 – 32% (171)
  • 2023 – 20% (25)
  • 2024 – 31% (335)

2024 season review

2024 was not much of a revelation for Turner, as despite being able to play in 16 games, he was unable to accrue any meaningful statistics over the course of the year. His 4 pass deflections were one of the very few stats he showed up for, as his height allowed him to make plays on passes off the edge rather often. Other than that though, it was not particularly a good season, and in what is a contract year, it was likely not enough to earn another with the Saints.

Stay or go?

As is clear by the analysis of his stats, health, or eye test, Turner just has not shown enough to prove he is worth another contract. As much as he looked like a solid player coming out of his draft class, he ultimately has struggled immensely with injuries which is truly unfortunate, as you hate to see any injuries to younger up and coming players.

As much as I would like to validate a one year deal, the defensive end room needs a bit of an overhaul, and new talent needs to find its way into that group. Turner would also likely benefit from new scenery and new coaching, so it is in the best interest of both teams to go there separate ways and find what they need.

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Saints free agent preview: LG Lucas Patrick, stay or go?

Previewing free agency for the New Orleans Saints: Should they retain left guard Lucas Patrick, or let him walk in the 2025 offseason?

The New Orleans Saints are going to have to make some decisions this offseason, with plenty of quality or depth free agents in this class, they will need to choose who to keep and who to let walk. While this is not as high-leverage of an offseason as some others for them, there are definitely some decent pieces they need to consider in their plans for the future.

One of the players they will need to make a decision on is Lucas Patrick, who started 10 games at left guard this season while battling several injuries. While he may not have been perfect, he performed well in the circumstances he was given.

With that said, here is his career in a nutshell so far:

Career Stats

Patrick has been able to start 64 of his 107 career games through eight seasons in the NFL. He is one of the most disciplined lineman in the NFL as well, with only 18 total penalties in his entire career, and despite having 7 in 2023 with the Chicago Bears, he never had more than 4 in any other season.

In his eight seasons he has only given up 9 sacks, 119 pressures, and 18 QB hits, good for a career 97.5% pass blocking rate.

Snap Counts

Here are the offensive snap counts for the games Patrick played in over the course of each season:

  • 2017 – 29% (227)
  • 2018 – 29% (278)
  • 2019 – 15% (137)
  • 2020 – 90% (939)
  • 2021 – 82% (911)
  • 2022 – 65% (269)
  • 2023 – 88% (958)
  • 2024 – 79% (563)

2024 season review

When it comes down to it, 2024 was actually a pretty exceptional season for Patrick. In his 563 snaps, he had 0 sacks allowed, 10 pressures allowed, and only 3 total penalties. This strong performance was good for a 98.4% pass block success rate. Additionally, 7 of his pressures allowed came from only 2 games, one of which was after his injury (Week 16 against Green Bay Packers) so he should at least get somewhat of a pass for that.

Overall, it was a quality season for Patrick who was coming off one of his worst seasons.

Stay or go?

Lucas Patrick is a player the Saints should make an effort to keep around, as at minimum veteran depth. He feels like he would fit into the role of what James Hurst did when he was with the Saints, a spot starter who can fill the void at a few positions, and hold the spot for a rookie as they develop. While not a long term option, he no doubt had a solid season, and if the Saints can get him on a one- or two-year deal on similar value to his past contract per year, they should no doubt accept that.

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Comparing Wisconsin basketball’s NCAA NET Ranking, resume with its upcoming opponent’s

Wisconsin is set for a season-defining road trip on Wednesday

Wisconsin basketball (16-4, 6-3 Big Ten) hits the road on Wednesday for a massive showdown against Maryland (16-5, 6-4 Big Ten).

The Badgers sit at No. 17 in both the AP and USA TODAY Coaches Poll after a recent 1-1 week. They are also up to No. 15 in KenPom and No. 22 in ESPN’s BPI. By all metrics, Wisconsin has emerged as a legitimate contender to both win the Big Ten and make a deep run in March.

Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Jan. 27): Wisconsin holds serve

Maryland does not enter Wednesday’s game with an AP ranking. That is somewhat of a surprise, given the team’s current form. The Terrapins have won five of their last six, including a 21-point road win at Illinois and a road win at Indiana. That stretch elevated the team to No. 20 in both KenPom and the BPI.

On paper, the Terrapins are Wisconsin’s toughest opponent since its December road trip to Illinois. That makes Wednesday’s matchup a potential resume-defining result as the Badgers look to elevate further into Big Ten contention. The same can be said for a Maryland team that still needs defining victories despite its recent surge.

Each team’s NCAA NET Ranking and resume displays the importance of Wednesday’s result:

Wisconsin NET Resume: No. 18 overall (No. 4 Big Ten). 4-4 vs. Quad 1, 5-0 vs. Quad 2, 2-0 vs. Quad 3 and 5-0 vs. Quad 4

Maryland NET Resume: No. 19 overall (No. 5 Big Ten). 3-4 vs. Quad 1, 3-1 vs. Quad 2, 2-0 vs. Quad 3 and 8-0 vs. Quad 4

Wednesday’s matchup is a clear Quad 1 game for both teams. The winner will rise closer to the top tier that Purdue (NET No. 9) and Illinois (NET No. 10) currently occupy. The victor will almost assuredly jump up to a No. 3-seed in most NCAA Tournament bracket projections.

One big trend to note, Wisconsin is just 2-3 in true road games this season, including Big Ten losses to Illinois and UCLA. Maryland, meanwhile, is 12-1 at home. But the Badgers do enter with similar momentum to Maryland’s. The team has won seven of eight, including blowout victories of 31 points vs. Iowa, 12 Rutgers, 21 vs. Minnesota, 12 vs. USC and 28 vs. Nebraska. Its one loss, meanwhile, was a two-point defeat at UCLA.

KenPom displays where the game may be decided: Wisconsin enters with the No. 8 offensive efficiency in the country, while Maryland sits at No. 24 defensively. The winner of that strength vs. strength matchup will likely finishing on the right end of the scoreboard.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. CT from the XFINITY Center in College Park, Maryland. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Wisconsin just a 35.9% chance to exit with a much-needed victory.

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Saints offensive assistant Kevin Petry set to coach in the Senior Bowl

The Saints will have multiple representatives at the Senior Bowl this year, one of whom is offensive assistant Kevin Petry

The New Orleans Saints have always been a team that highly values Senior Bowl attendees, drafting them at a relatively high clip and always trying to take part in the event. This year seemingly will be no different, as they will have offensive assistant Kevin Petry coaching the wide receiver group for the American Team, which has quite a significant talent pool.

Petry has been coaching with the Saints for eight seasons now, entering his ninth, and has been with the organization for 12 years in various positions including as a video assistant early on. He will be able to get a first hand look at some of the wide receivers in this class, which is actually a position of need for the Saints this offseason to add some quality players to a group of Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Bub Means, and a few others who will remain beyond this year.

Elic Ayomanor is one of the names to really keep an eye on from this group, as he is one of the higher rated receivers outside the group of likely first-round talents. In two seasons with Stanford he accrued 125 receptions for 1,844 receiving yards (14.8 yards per reception) and 12 touchdowns.

Overall, having a coach (or multiple) at the Senior Bowl and other events is a positive regardless of outcome, as it gives them the ability to work with the players and see how they may mesh into the system of the team they represent.

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What Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said about Nebraska matchup, Connor Essegian’s return

What Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said about Nebraska matchup, Connor Essegian’s return

Wisconsin basketball (15-4, 5-3 Big Ten) returns to the Kohl Center court on Sunday afternoon for a matchup against the Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-7, 2-6 Big Ten).

The Badgers enter the contest after splitting a two-game West Coast road trip with a win over the USC Trojans and a narrow loss to UCLA. The team is still 7-1 in its last eight games and in a strong position to contend for a Big Ten crown.

Related: Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin basketball after UCLA loss

Nebraska, meanwhile, enters on a five-game losing streak. The team’s 12-2 start has quickly turned in the wrong direction, with consecutive losses to Iowa, Purdue, Rutgers, Maryland and USC. The Badgers will enter as a clear favorite, expected to extend that streak to six games.

One key for Wisconsin to achieve that result is slowing down Cornhuskers guard and former Badger Connor Essegian.

The sharpshooter is averaging 11.5 points per game for Nebraska this season after transferring in from Wisconsin after the 2023-24 campaign. He took little time before becoming one of the team’s top offensive options, albeit off the bench.

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard discussed the matchup against Essegian when meeting with the media on Friday, specifically what he’s seen from the former Badger at his new destination:

“Yea, I think running around and shooting threes. They run some stuff for him. Some of the same things we ran for him, that I’ve seen so far,” Gard began. “So yea, he’ll let them fly in transition. I think he started early in the year and now they bring him off the bench. He’s got a quick trigger, ball comes off the hand just like it did when he was here.”

Essegian has scored in double-figures in three of his last four games. His latest performance was an efficient 15 points on five-of-eight shooting and three-of-six from three in the Cornhuskers’ narrow loss to USC.

Gard was clear that Essegian can’t be a player that Wisconsin loses in the mix defensively.

“He’s a recipient of Brice Williams and Juwan Gary, of those guys playing with the ball in their hands and finding him,” Gard continued. “You have to pay attention to him, can’t lose him. Moves well without the ball, so a lot of the same things that we saw here.”

Essegian’s year-long numbers (22.8 minutes, 11.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 43.1% shooting and 41.5% from three) resemble those from his freshman season with the Badgers in 2022-23 (27.4 minutes, 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 40.4% shooting and 35.9% from three). While his team has struggled in conference play, he’s established himself one of the its top offensive options (one of three averaging double-digit points).

Wisconsin allows its opponents to shoot 31% from three, 75th-best in the country. Its work against Essegian will be key to whether the team can return to the win column and extend Nebraska’s losing streak.

Tip between the Badgers and Cornhuskers is set for 1 p.m. ET, noon CT. The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.

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Where Wisconsin’s upcoming opponents rank in ESPN early top 25 for 2025 football season

Where Wisconsin’s opponents rank in ESPN early top 25 for 2025 football season

Ohio State‘s national title game win over Notre Dame on Monday night marked the end of the 2024 college football season.

Now eyes turn to the 2025 campaign. For Wisconsin, the way-too-early top-25 rankings underscore the team’s brutal upcoming schedule.

Related: Early Big Ten football power rankings for 2025 season: Ohio State leads top tier

Wisconsin is coming off a disappointing 5-7 campaign that was the program’s first non-bowl season since 2001. It was also the first year since 1996 that the Badgers didn’t spend a single week ranked in the AP Top 25.

Any spin of the program’s 2024 campaign is likely to be negative. The lasting positives were the team’s close games against top-ranked Oregon and Penn State. Those results were quickly followed, however, by losses to rivals Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota by a combined margin of 110-42.

Wisconsin enters 2025 with new faces in important positions. Jeff Grimes takes over as offensive coordinator after Phil Longo’s firing. He’ll enter the year with former Maryland starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. under center and a host of promising transfer pass-catchers.

They will line up against, as mentioned, one of the toughest schedules in the sport. ESPN’s way-too-early top 25 projects six ranked opponents on the Badgers’ schedule, with another two right outside that tier.

Here are those ranked matchups, per ESPN’s early forecast:

  • Sept. 13 at No. 12 Alabama
  • Oct. 4 vs. No. 21 Michigan
  • Oct. 11 vs. Iowa (also considered)
  • Oct. 18 vs. No. 1 Ohio State
  • Oct. 25 at No. 6 Oregon
  • Nov. 8 vs. Washington (also considered)
  • Nov. 15 at No. 17 Indiana
  • Nov. 22 vs. No. 13 Illinois

Eight of Wisconsin’s 12 games are against teams that project somewhere inside the sport’s top 30. Contests against Miami (Ohio), Middle Tennessee, Maryland and Minnesota are the only games that do not qualify in that category.

Much will change between now and kickoff for Week 1. An early thought entering preseason preparation: Wisconsin would do extremely well to return to six wins and bowl eligibility.

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Wisconsin basketball’s big game at UCLA will be available only via streaming

Another streaming-only game for the Badgers

The No. 18-ranked Wisconsin Badgers (15-3, 5-2 Big Ten) will look to add another statement win to a growing NCAA Tournament resume when they take on the UCLA Bruins (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten) on Tuesday night.

The road matchup is the second of a two-game Los Angeles, California road trip. The Badgers triumphed over USC in the first leg on Saturday.

Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Jan. 20): Top tier continues to separate

Wisconsin basketball fans have likely grown aware of Peacock’s Tuesday night Big Ten doubleheader. The streaming platform will play host to the Badgers and Bruins’ matchup — they will play in Peacock’s second game of the evening, with the tip time set for 9:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. CT.

Wisconsin is 3-2 in Peacock-only games so far this season. Those results include an upset win over Arizona, a narrow home loss to Michigan, a road loss to Illinois, a decisive home victory over Minnesota and a home win over Ohio State.

UCLA enters Tuesday ranked No. 31 in KenPom, making the contest a Quad 1 game for the Badgers. Wisconsin is 2-3 in such games this season — that record stood at 3-3 until Ohio State recently fell outside of the NET’s top 30. UCLA is 1-4 in its last five games, its latest result a blowout win over Iowa.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is up to No. 21 in KenPom, No. 18 in the AP Poll and No. 19 in the Coaches Poll. The team is one of the sport’s biggest risers over the last two weeks. It is 5-0 since the start of the calendar year, all five of those wins coming against conference opponents.

For more on how the Badgers and Bruins match up, check out our full game preview and prediction. Wisconsin fans will need to log back into Peacock to see how the game plays out.

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Game preview, betting odds and prediction for Wisconsin basketball vs. UCLA

Game preview, betting odds and prediction for Wisconsin basketball vs. UCLA

Wisconsin basketball (15-3, 5-2 Big Ten) returns to the hardwood on Tuesday night for its second consecutive road matchup, this against the UCLA Bruins (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten).

The Badgers enter the contest after an impressive 84-69 win over the USC Trojans on Saturday. That result marked the fifth straight Big Ten win and the seventh straight triumph overall for Greg Gard’s team dating back to Dec. 14.

John Blackwell (28 points, five rebounds, two steals), Max Klesmit (18 points, four assists, two steals), Nolan Winter (13 points, five rebounds, three assists) and Kamari McGee (10 points, four assists, two steals) helped UW morph a three-point affair into a 15-point win during a late-game 29-17 scoring spurt.

The Bruins, meanwhile, enter Tuesday after a crucial 94-70 win over Iowa on Jan. 17. The win broke a four-game losing streak to Big Ten opponents and improved UCLA’s conference record to 3-4 on the season. The Bruins did post wins over No. 15 Oregon, Gonzaga and Arizona this season, but they are now just 4-6 in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games this season.

The Bruins are led by junior forward Tyler Bilodeau in scoring this season (14.6 points per game), but do not boast much offensive firepower anywhere else in the starting unit.

The tip is set for 9:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast exclusively on Peacock. Here are the betting odds and a full preview of how the Badgers and Bruins match up.

Wisconsin vs. UCLA game odds

All College Basketball Odds via BetMGM.

  • Point spread: UCLA favored by 3 1/2
  • Money line: UCLA minus-165, Wisconsin plus-135
  • Over-under: 141 1/2

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Statistical Preview

KenPom:

  • Wisconsin: No. 21 overall (No. 12 offense, No. 46 defense)
  • UCLA: No. 31 overall (No. 74 offense, No. 12 defense)

ESPN BPI:

  • Wisconsin: No. 25 overall (14.9) — No. 6 in the Big Ten
  • UCLA: No. 32 overall (13.4) — No. 8 in the Big Ten

2024-25 Averages:

  • Wisconsin: 82.4 points per game (47.0% shooting, 34.6% from 3), 70.3 points allowed per game (41.5% shooting allowed, 31.1% from 3)
  • UCLA: 75.7 points per game (46.8% shooting, 33.3% from 3), 63.7 points allowed per game (42.2% shooting allowed, 32.1% from 3)

ESPN Matchup Predictor:

  • UCLA 57.0% chance to win, Wisconsin 43.0%

Wisconsin Key Players

  • G John Blackwell (16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists on 49.5% shooting)
  • G Max Klesmit (10.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2,9 assists on 34.2% shooting)
  • Wing John Tonje (17.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists on 44.8% shooting)
  • C Steven Crowl (10.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists on 55.4% shooting)
  • F Nolan Winter (10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds on 61.3% shooting)

UCLA Key Players

  • G Skyy Clark (6.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists on 44.0% shooting)
  • G Sebastian Mack (9.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists on 41.7% shooting)
  • G Kobe Johnson (8.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists on 45.4% shooting)
  • F Tyler Bilodeau (14.6 points, 5.0 rebounds on 50.5% shooting)
  • F Eric Dailey Jr. (12.2 points, 4.2 rebounds on 52.8 shooting)

Wisconsin vs. UCLA prediction, pick

UCLA’s defense is no joke, and the Bruins have beaten three quality teams this season. Wisconsin, however, enters Tuesday’s bout with one of the most lethal offensive units in the country. All five scorers in UW’s starting five score at least 10 points per game, and the Badgers share the ball for roughly 15 assists per contest.

That well-rounded offensive attack, coupled with the team’s momentum from its current seven-game win streak, give it a great chance to exit UCLA with a win. If the game gets tight late, UW can lean on its nation-leading free throw percentage to counteract the Bruins’ stout defensive lineup.

Wisconsin’s two seven-footers should also lean on their size advantage against a much smaller UCLA front court on Tuesday. Given those trends and what the Badgers can present offensively, UW will win this game in tight fashion.

Prediction: Wisconsin 75, UCLA 71

Wisconsin vs. UCLA channel, start time, streaming

Wisconsin-UCLA starts at 9:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. CT and can be seen on exclusively on Peacock.

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