Basketball: Badgers get rematch with Xavier in Gavitt Games
Wisconsin will get another shot at Xavier in 2018 Gavitt Tipoff Games. Last year, Xavier beat Wisconsin in Madison 80-70, dropping Wisconsin’s record in the Gavitt Games to 0-2.
Xavier will host Wisconsin in the 2018 Gavitt Games, per a source.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 15, 2018
Wisconsin’s fortunes in the Gavitt Tipoff Games, an annual Big East/Big Ten season series, have not been ideal. In 2017 they hosted the 15th-ranked Xavier Musketeers and lost after a mostly close battle. In 2016, the 22nd-ranked Creighton Blue Jays left the Kohl Center with a victory too.
Xavier is a familiar opponent, but they will be a completely different program in 2018. Head coach Chris Mack has since taken the same position at Louisville and Xavier’s top three players have all graduated.
Wisconsin is returning every starter from last year, plus some key pieces are coming back from injury. The Badgers will be one of the most experienced teams in the Big Ten. That experience should make them the favorite to win this non-conference matchup.
Wisconsin should return to form in 2018-19 and be ready to compete for a bid in the tournament. Ethan Happ will likely return to Madison for his senior season, which is a major key to Wisconsin’s success. Happ still has his name in the draft, but hasn’t hired an agent allowing him to return to school if he wishes. His presence isn’t necessary for the Badgers in this game, but it significantly tilts the odds in their favor.
Xavier has a solid home-court advantage, but in the early parts of the season they’ll still be trying to establish a new identity. Wisconsin will already know who they are and should win the rematch going away.
Xavier simply won’t have the experience and firepower they’re accustomed to without Trevon Bluiett and Kohl Center villain J.P. Macura. Wisconsin’s depth should be enough to handle the inexperience of the players and coaching staff for Xavier.
Wisconsin should get back to their traditional style of play with smothering defense and efficient offense. The guard play will be much better when D’Mitrick Trice and Kobe King return, plus incoming freshman Tai Strickland will add valuable minutes on both ends of the court.