The sixth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers are on the road against today in Big Ten College Basketball action, taking on the Iowa Hawkeyes. The game is scheduled for a noon start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN. Currently the Betting Odds for the game have the Badgers favored by a couple of possessions on the road.
Wisconsin has been the best team in the Big Ten this season, winners of six of their seven conference games to date. The Badgers own a full game lead over Maryland, Ohio State and Michigan and can continue to build on that lead with a win in Iowa today. The Hawkeyes are just 4-3 in Big Ten play and already have been drilled by Bo Ryan's team just 11 days ago, 82-50. Since then, Wisconsin has only played one game, which was an overtime in in Ann Arbor against a beat up Michigan team that clearly played above their talent level.
The Badgers are led by Frank Kaminsky, a potential Player of the Year in the conference that had 13 points and 11 rebounds the first time Wisconsin played Iowa this year. The Badgers committed just one turnover in that game, tying a school record for lack of miscues in a game. Today the Badgers will look to continue not turning the ball over and cashing in on the offensive end. So far this season Wisconsin has been scoring an average of 120.3 points per 100 possessions on the year, which makes them the most efficient team in the Big Ten.
Iowa will be playing its seventh game against a ranked opponent in this game, having already gone 2-4 in the previous six games. The Hawkeyes for the most part have been in several of those games, losing four games by five points or less. Head coach Fran McCaffery is hoping Aaron White can be ready to go in this one, still recovering from a shoulder injury. White leads the Hawkeyes in scoring at 15.1 points and rebounding (6.6) per game this season. Expect him to play in this game, but if the shoulder is a real problem he shouldn't see a lot of time on the floor.
The Hawkeyes have won 10 of 12 home games this season, but note that Wisconsin has been very good away from their own building this season, winning five of their six games.
Iowa has some in-season revenge in this one, but with White not being at 100 percent, the Badgers have the advantage on the interior. Wisconsin has been a very good road team this season and they should be well rested having not played in a week. The Badgers might struggle to get things going in the opening minutes, but Wisconsin is better at both ends of the floor.
Free Pick: Wisconsin 71, Iowa 61
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