Badgers Set for First Place Showdown on Sunday Afternoon
It seemed like just a week ago Wisconsin Basketball was cruising on their way to a Big Ten Title. With two games in hand over both Purdue and Maryland, all was well for the Badger Faithful. But things can change quickly, especially in the wacky Big Ten. In just five short days the Badgers fell from lead horse to even with the pack as they dropped two straight to Northwestern and again last night to Michigan on the road. To add insult to injury, the Badgers look like they will be without star point guard Bronson Koenig for a significant period of time. With CO-leader Maryland coming to town on Sunday, it appears as though the Badgers are tightly against the wall.
Its do or die time for Wisconsin as Sunday likely decides the favorite to win the regular season title, despite a few more games on the schedule. Sure lots can happen over the course of these next five games, but the winner gets a significant leg up in the final push of the regular season. Maryland comes into the game winners of two in a row, with a similar schedule to Wisconsin to close out the regular season.
Each team still has a bout with Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan State, while Wisconsin still has Ohio State and Maryland has Rutgers as their only different game. Its a schedule that plays favorably for both, but in the Dog eat Dog world of Big Ten Basketball literally anything can happen. So how can the Badgers come out with the lead come Sunday evening? It has to start with the offense.
The Badgers offense has been close to atrocious for most of the season outside of Ethan Happ and a few shining spectacles of Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig. But with Bronson now likely out for a lengthy period, someone will really have to step up to remain in contention for not only the Big Ten Title, but also for a run in March. The Badgers will need a threat to step up on the offensive side. It may be time to release a guy like Brevin Pritzel, who has been regarded as one of the best pure shooters around those close to Wisconsin. With bench production being relatively low, you never know what you can get if a shooter gets hot. Without Bronson in the lineup, the Badgers will desperately need a perimeter threat to remain in contention.