Badgers Basketball Preview: Green Bay edition

[Da-news-now]

The Matchup: Wisconsin (7-5, 0-0) vs. Green Bay (6-4, 0-0)
When: Wed., Dec. 23; 8pm CT
Where: Madison, Wis.; Kohl Center (17,287)
TV: BTN
Radio: Badgers Sports Network
Last Meeting: Wisconsin won, 84-60 (Nov. 19, 2014)
All-Time Series: Wisconsin leads, 20-1

Starting Lineups:


Green Bay Phoenix

G Carrington Love — Sr. 6-1, 171 (18.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.0 apg)
G Khalil Small — So. 6-2, 205 (9.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.6 apg)
G Charles Cooper — Jr. 6-4, 230 (11.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.9 apg)
G/F Jordan Fouse — Sr. 6-7, 225 (11.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.3 apg)
F Kenneth Lowe — Jr. 6-8, 230 (6.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.2 apg)

Wisconsin Badgers

G Bronson Koenig — Jr. 6-4, 193 (15.1 pgg, 2.8 rpg, 2.5 apg)
G Zak Showalter — Jr. 6-2, 180 (8.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.3 apg)
F Vitto Brown — Jr. 6-8, 230 (10.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 0.5 apg)
F Nigel Hayes — Jr. 6-8, 240 (15.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.3 apg)
F Ethan Happ — Fr. 6-9, 235 (11.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.3 apg)

Biggest Matchup: Greg Gard vs. Linc Darner


It is not too often that the head coaches will be the biggest matchup of a game, but this is an unusual game to say the least. This will be the first matchup between these two coaches, and for Gard his first ever game at the helm of the Badgers.

Darner has tried to deflect attention away from his team, saying all of the pressure is on Wisconsin. Considering all the talk around Gard’s first game and the Badgers’ overall struggles against teams from in-state, Darner isn’t wrong.

That said, this game could come down to a coaching decision or two and given the lack of experience between the two coaches at the D1 level, this coaching matchup is juicier than just about anything that will happen on the court.

3 Numbers to Know:


—17: Wisconsin has won all 17 meetings between the Badgers and Phoenix heading in to this game. Can that streak sustain itself, unlike the one that was stopped by fellow Horizon League in-state foe, Milwaukee?

—4: Freshman forward Ethan Happ is fitting in rather nicely in his first go-round, putting up 4 double doubles to tie for the lead in the Big Ten. He also ranks 4th in the conference in rebounding, averaging 8.5 rebounds per game this season.

—9: Green Bay is deep, real deep — having nine or more players score in all 10 of its games to date. Additionally, the Phoenix has had five players eclipse double-figures three times already this season, something last year’s 24-9 team accomplished only once.



Prediction: Wisconsin 74, Green Bay 62


These aren’t the old-school Dick Bennett Phoenix, and these aren’t the Phoenix of the Brian Wardle era either. Instead, these Phoenix will run an opponent to death for 40 minutes, up and down the court. It’s why they are averaging 85.4 points per game.

However, the Badgers matchup well athletically and can play a slower game to help ease some of that pressure. Speaking of which, the Badgers are likely to be more focused and turn the ball over less than they did against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. That will make all the difference, especially against a team that is averaging 11.9 turnovers per game.

Look for Wisconsin to focus in and for Gard to have a deeper bench, all of which will make the difference in what is going to be a game much closer than the final score will indicate.

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