After the scheduled Big Ten/ACC challenge matchup against Louisville was put on hold, Wisconsin basketball found a quality mid-major replacement game for this Wednesday afternoon.
The Atlantic 10’s Rhode Island Rams will travel to the Kohl Center for a 3:30 P.M. CT tip in Madison. Not only did Wisconsin find an opponent, but they found a game that will help them get ready for March. Rhode Island comes in at 3-2 after a difficult five-game stretch to open the season. After falling to No. 23 Arizona State and Boston College to open the year, the Rams have reeled off three straight double-digit wins, the latest of which came over Seton Hall.
After a 21-9 (13-5) 2019-20 campaign for head coach David Cox and crew, the Rams return their leading scorer in 5-foot-10 senior guard Fatts Russell. While they get Russell back, they did lose multiple transfers, including Jacob Toppin (yes, the younger brother of Obi Toppin) to Kentucky.
With a scoring guard as dynamic as Russell, this team can hang with nearly anyone in the country on any given day. After averaging nearly 19 a game last year, the Philadelphia native is off to similar start in 2020-2021, even if he hasn’t taken the most efficient road to his points. Russell can pull up from anywhere in the gym, has an elite array of finishes at the rim as any undersized scoring guard does, and gets to the line where he is over 80%.
🚨Schedule Change Alert🚨Rams to play nationally ranked Wisconsin on Wednesday in Madison on the @BigTenNetwork ! #TheRhodyWay pic.twitter.com/kkCUhlGno5
— Rhody MBB (@RhodyMBB) December 7, 2020
Expect D’Mitrik Trice, who can match Russell’s speed better than most, to take the early task of guarding one of the better scorers in college basketball. Especially early this year, with arguably less offensive weapons around him, Russell can be baited into some really tough, low-percentage looks. While he can make contested mid-range jumpers and deep threes, Wisconsin will look to keep him taking those looks and not racking up free throws.
While losing a few transfers, the Rams also added pieces from the transfer carousel. One of those pieces has Big Ten experience in sophomore center and Maryland transfer Makhi Mitchell, who has led Rhode Island in rebounding so far. You may think you are seeing double with Mitchell, but that would be his 6-foot-10 twin brother and fellow Maryland transfer Makhel Mitchell who has played just over 13 minutes a game in the early going.
Also keep an eye out for Antwan Walker, a lengthy junior who has taken the next step in his all-around game early this year. If the Rams can get offense from the 6-foot-7 do-it-all forward who excels on defense and on the glass, it would be a major bonus.
For Rhode Island to pull the upset, it comes down to Fatts Russell bringing consistent offense to a Rams team that lures Wisconsin into a faster game than the Badgers want to play. With a contrast in pace between these two programs, expect Wisconsin to comfortably grind out a win if they can keep the Rams from running. If Rhode Island gets some of the early offense we saw Marquette succeed with, the Badgers could be on upset alert at the Kohl Center.