Wisconsin Basketball: 2018 Basketball Schedule Revealed
The 2018-2019 schedule for the Wisconsin Basketball team has been revealed, and it looks a little different than we are used to.
The Wisconsin basketball schedule has been released. It is a little different than how the conference is usually formatted. This year, the Big Ten has switched to a 20-game conference schedule.
So what does this mean and how is it different? Well, starting this year, each team will be playing seven teams twice, and the other six teams in the conference once. Last year, not counting the Big Ten Tournament, the Badgers played 18 conference games.
Let’s take a closer look at the schedule.
Conference Games
The teams Wisconsin will be facing twice (home and away) will be:
- Minnesota
- Illinois
- Northwestern
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Penn St.
The teams Wisconsin will be facing once will be:
- vs. Rutgers
- vs. Purdue
- @ Ohio St.
- vs. Michigan St.
- @ Nebraska
- @ Indiana
A quick reaction from this is having a home game vs. Michigan St. is definitely a positive. Wisconsin basketball has not typically fared well playing at Michigan St. or home for that matter. Since the 1949-1950 season, Wisconsin is the team the Spartans have had the most success against, going 74-57 (.565) against Bucky. Playing the Spartans just once at home this season is a positive for this young squad.
Michigan will be tough again this year. The defending Big Ten Tournament champs lost their Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player Moritz Wagner to the NBA Draft. However, they still have Charles Matthews and Jordan Poole returning to lead the Wolverines. These two games against the Wolverines could be important if the Badgers want to get back to a top-four finish in the Big Ten again.
Like the situation with Michigan St., Wisconsin only plays Purdue once this season, at home. Purdue finished second in the Big Ten standings last season. The Boilermakers are losing a few seniors including big man Isaac Haas, but are returning a key player in Casen Edwards. The Badgers split with the Boilermakers last season, each team taking their home games. With only one matchup this season, it is important for Wisconsin to take this one.
Non-Conference Games
Here’s a look at the non-conference games on the Wisconsin basketball schedule:
- vs. Coppin St.
- @ Xavier
- vs. Houston Baptist
- vs. Stanford (Battle4Atlantis)
- vs. Florida/Oklahoma (Battle4Atlantis)
- vs. Virginia/Butler/Dayton/Middle Tennessee State (Battle4Atlantis)
- vs. NC State
- vs. Marquette
- vs. Grambling St.
- @ Western Kentucky
The Badgers have a good non-conference schedule, especially if they can make some noise in the Battle4Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas in November. The potential of having wins against Stanford, Florida or Oklahoma, and either Butler or Virginia would help build a strong resume for the Badgers.
Outside of the big tournament, the big game is Xavier, a team that snuck out of Madison with a win last year. After J.P. Macura’s antics last year, I’m sure the Badgers are eager to get some revenge on the Muskateers.
Wisconsin plays NC State this year as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Wolfpack finished 5th in the talented ACC Conference last year. They made the NCAA Tournament last season but fell in the first round to 8th ranked Seton Hall.
As always, the Marquette game is important. Not necessarily to boost their NCAA tournament resume, but for bragging rights. Last year, the Golden Eagles embarrassed the Badgers at the Kohl Center, 82-63. I’m sure Wisconsin is looking to return the favor this season at Marquette’s new home court, Fiserv Forum.
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This schedule gives Wisconsin a great chance to get back into the NCAA Tournament after missing it last year for the first time in 20 years. They have an ideal schedule for home games against tough teams in their conference. The strength of their non-conference schedule can also give them an edge, assuming they can get some big wins.