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The Matchup: Wisconsin (9-7, 1-2) vs. No. 3 Maryland (14-1, 3-0)
When: Sat., Jan. 9; noon CT
Where: Madison, WI; Kohl Center (17,287)
TV: ESPN
Radio: Badgers Sports Network
Last Meeting: Maryland won, 59-53 (Feb. 24, 2015)
All-Time Series: Wisconsin leads 5-3
Starting Lineups:
Maryland Terrapins
G Melo Trimble — So. 6-3, 185 (14.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 5.7 apg)
G Rasheed Sulaimon — Sr. 6-4, 190 (10.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.8 apg)
F Jake Layman — Sr. 6-9, 235 (11.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.1 apg)
F Robert Carter — Jr. 6-9, 235 (12.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.9 apg)
F/C Damonte Dodd — Jr. 6-11, 250 (3.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.3 apg)
Wisconsin Badgers
G Bronson Koenig — Jr. 6-4, 193 (13.9 pgg, 2.6 rpg, 2.5 apg)
G Zak Showalter — Jr. 6-2, 180 (8.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.3 apg)
F Vitto Brown — Jr. 6-8, 230 (9.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.6 apg)
F Nigel Hayes — Jr. 6-8, 240 (15.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.8 apg)
F Ethan Happ — Fr. 6-9, 235 (11.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.0 apg)
Biggest Matchup: Melo Trimble vs. Bronson Koenig
There’s big battles all over the court, and picking one is hard. However, if Wisconsin wants to win it has to win the battle of the point guards. It sounds simple, but it is far from it.
A quick look at Bronson Koenig’s stats suggest he’s doing just fine, averaging a healthy 13.9 points per game. The devil is in the details though, because Koenig hasn’t exactly been burning it up from the field and has needed volumes of shots in order to get to where he is at right now. His 193 shots are just five less than the team lead of Nigel Hayes (198) and he is shooting just 40.4 percent on the season. The good news is that Koenig is much more comfortable at home than on the road, shooting 44.5 percent on the year compared to 32.3 percent on the road.
If Koenig can get going from the field, it is but half the battle though. He has to step it up on the defensive end of the court and that includes not turning the ball over. Matching up with Trimble is easier said than done on the defensive end, but Koenig needs to make sure Trimble isn’t killing the Badgers by driving to the hoop. That is the nightmare scenario, as everything else opens up for the Terps should Trimble operate in the lane and not just on the perimeter.
3 Numbers to Know:
—.333: That is Wisconsin’s winning percentage in games against ranked opponents. In fairness, Wisconsin has played just three ranked opponents all season long, holding a win at then No. 14-ranked Syracuse.
—6: That is the number of wins in the last 8 games against top 5 opponents over the last three seasons.UW’s last home win over a top-5 team was 65-62 OT win over Michigan (2/9/13). Wisconsin is also 2-1 over the last three games against top-ranked opponents, making this a very interesting experiment in stats vs. reality of the season at hand.
— 4: That is the number of games Wisconsin has lost by two points or less this season. The loss to Indiana earlier this week made it four, and may have been the most frustrating given the effort put in on the defensive end of the court. UW’s youth can’t be a crutch for losing these type of games for much longer.
Prediction: Maryland 78, Wisconsin 64
While the Badgers have pleasantly surprised with competitive games and a blowout over a lowly Rutgers program, it simply hasn’t faced a team that can give you waves upon waves of talent and production. Yes, stopping Melo Trimble will go a long way, but any of the other four starters are capable of going off as well.
That doesn’t even touch the tip of the iceberg, as former 5-star recruit, Diamond Stone, comes off the bench and is second on the team in scoring (13.2). Wisconsin’s depth and production from anyone not named Happ, Hayes or Koenig is going to be under a microscope unlike any other game before.
It all adds up to a game that is dangerous for the Badgers, and while playing at the Kohl Center is a huge help…it won’t be enough…not by a long shot. This one is going to be U-G-L-Y folks.
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