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The Matchup: Wisconsin (10-9, 2-4 B1G) vs. Penn State (11-8, 2-4 B1g)
When: Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016; 7p.m. CT
Where: University Park, Pa.; Bryce Jordan Center (15,271)
TV: BTN
Radio: Badgers Sports Network
Last Meeting: Wisconsin won, 55-47; University Park, Pa. (2/18/15)
All-Time Series: UW leads 33-10
Starting Lineups:
Penn State Nittany Lions
G Shep Garner — So. 6-1, 185 (14.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.8 apg)
F Payton Banks — So. 6-6, 220 (10.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.2 apg)
F Brandon Taylor — Sr. 6-6, 225 (16.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.7 apg)
F Julian Moore — So. 6-10, 235 (4.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.3 apg)
C Jordan Dickerson — Sr. 7-1, 245 (3.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.8 bpg)
Wisconsin Badgers
G Bronson Koenig — Jr. 6-4, 193 (14.3 pgg, 2.6 rpg, 2.5 apg)
G Zak Showalter — Jr. 6-2, 180 (8.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.3 apg)
F Vitto Brown — Jr. 6-8, 230 (8.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.6 apg)
F Nigel Hayes — Jr. 6-8, 240 (16.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.6 apg)
F Ethan Happ — Fr. 6-9, 235 (11.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 0.9 apg)
Biggest Matchup: Nigel Hayes vs. Brandon Taylor
If you love one-on-one basketball, this is going to be a fun matchup to watch. No doubt both the Badgers and Nittany Lions are going to love getting their point guards involved, but as we’ve seen with UW — as goes Nigel Hayes, so goes the Badgers. That’s exactly the same case with Penn State in this pivotal matchup for both teams.
Hayes and Taylor possess similar games, in that they both like to be physical and take advantage of things on the offensive end of the court. They both also love to shoot from deep, with Taylor shooting 35.5 percent from beyond the 3-point line and Hayes shooting 31.8 percent.
Both teams put games on their backs, and this game could be all about which one plays better on defense and stays out of foul trouble. It should be a fascinating evening of basketball between two very talented players.
3 Numbers to Know:
— 7: That is the current win streak for the Badgers in this series. UW swept the season series last year and has had major success as of late at the Bryce Jordan Center, winning 10 of the last 11 meetings in Happy Valley. Still, Wisconsin has had to slug it out and pull more than a few rabbits out of the hat in that timeframe.
— 60: That is the magic number of points for the Badgers against Penn State. So much so that Wisconsin has won 20 straight games in the series when it has scored 60 or more points. Given the offensive struggles and the horrific shooting history at the BJC, getting to that point total may be a Herculean effort.
— 6: That is the number of double doubles for Ethan Happ this season. It is also the mark to beat in the Big Ten, and Happ is coming off a near double double against MSU last weekend. He poured in 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the win. This game is going to be a challenge given Penn State will have a 6-10 and a 7-1 player going up against him on Thursday night.
Prediction: Wisconsin 64, Penn State 58
History suggests this is going to be an ugly game, one that may be an affront to basketball at times — and we aren’t just talking about Wisconsin’s effort this year alone. Overall, games between Wisconsin and Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center tend to be dramatic and awfully offensive games.
Given recent UW history and long-term history at the BJC, don’t be surprised to see a low-scoring affair for most of it. However, Penn State is also coming off a big confidence-building win this weekend over Northwestern.
Both teams are also used to close contests this season, so it could be a matter of which team is hotter at the end and lately it seems as if the Badgers have figured out how to get over a late scoring drought and make the free throws count.
Wisconsin wins this one from the line, much like they did on Sunday against Michigan State and earn a two-game win streak in Big Ten play for the first time this season.
The post Badgers Basketball Preview: Penn State edition appeared first on Madtown Badgers.
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