Breakdown of the 2018-19 Wisconsin Basketball schedule.
The Wisconsin Basketball team missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time last year since 1997-98. There’s a tough hill to climb, but the Badgers return just about everybody from last year’s team, along with preseason All-American Ethan Happ. The Badgers are as good of a bounce-back candidate as any in college hoops this year.
The Badgers don’t have to navigate the toughest of non-conference slates this year but do have some opportunities to get some noteworthy wins. Of course, the trek through Big Ten play won’t be easy either.
From start to finish, here’s a breakdown of every team Wisconsin will play in the 2018-19 men’s basketball season, from three writers (Sam Land, Cory Hilborne, and Tanner Nestle) at Badger of Honor.
UW-Oshkosh
Wisconsin always kicks off the season with an exhibition contest against one of the in-state Division III programs. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement for both sides because the Badgers get to work some kinks out before the games that count begin, and the opposing teams (which tend to be comprised mostly of Wisconsin natives) get to make a special memory by taking on Wisconsin on the big stage of the Kohl Center.
This matchup has also been dubbed the “Cancer Awareness Game”, as doctors and researchers will be recognized, along with survivors and their families, throughout the game.
What we are most looking forward to seeing in this one is what Greg Gard’s starting lineup and initial rotation look like. Beyond that, this shouldn’t be too exciting.
Badgers win by a mile.
Coppin State
Wisconsin will officially kick off its 2018-19 season with a cupcake matchup with Coppin State at the Kohl Center.
The Eagles are led by second-year head coach Juan Dixon. Dixon was a legendary player at Maryland in the early 2000’s, earning All-American honors twice and leading the Terrapins to a victory in the 2002 National Championship Game before going on to play in the NBA.
Other than that nugget, there isn’t much intrigue surrounding this game. Coppin State was an abysmal 5-27 last season and has had a losing record in 13 of the last 14 seasons. The last time the Eagles were on the right side of .500 was the 2010-11 season.
This is nothing but a tune-up game for the Badgers before they make the head to Cincinnati a week later to take on an always-dangerous Xavier team. Look for Wisconsin to come out on top by at least 30.