Wisconsin Basketball: Preview vs. Loyola-Chicago, how to watch and more
The Wisconsin basketball team is back in action tonight when they face off against the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers.
It has been almost a whole week since we’ve last seen the Wisconsin basketball team in action when the Badgers defeated Rhode Island, 73-62 in a foul-fest. Now, the Badgers will have three games within a seven-day stretch. They kick off that stretch tonight when they play the 3-0 Loyola-Chicago Ramblers.
How to watch
The game will be played tonight at 7:00 PM central time and will be televised on the Big Ten Network (BTN).
Game odds
According to Bovada, Wisconsin basketball is a 9.0-point favorite to win tonight. The over/under for the game is set at 127.5. The money line for Wisconsin is -430.
ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) gives Wisconsin a 73.1% chance to win this game.
Team Stats
Now let’s compare the stats between the two teams. We’ll start with the team stats, and break down scoring, rebounds, turnovers, and more. First, let’s look at the visiting Ramblers of Loyola-Chicago.
The Ramblers come into this game averaging 80.3 points per game while allowing just 55.0 points per game. They have also been very efficient shooting the ball. They shoot a very respectable 54.9% from the field, and grab 36.3 rebounds, dish out 18.7 assists per game, and block about 2.3 shots per game.
Wisconsin is behind the Ramblers in almost every statistic, but they have also played some harder competition than Loyola-Chicago has. The Badgers average 77.8 points per game while allowing 59.2 points per game. They are making 45.6% of their shots, but are producing 37.2 rebounds per game, 14.2 assists, and a whopping 6.6 blocks per game.
Player stats
Leading the way in scoring for the Ramblers is the 6-9 senior center, Cameron Krutwig. Krutwig is putting up 17.3 points per game while converting 66.7% of his shots. He is also grabbing 5.3 boards per game. Krutwig will have his work cut out for himself offensively, having to face off against Nate Reuvers and Micah Potter in the frontcourt.
Behind Krutwig is senior guard Tate Hall, who is averaging 11.0 points per game. Other than Krutwig and Hall, there are no other players who are averaging in double digits, but there are seven players who are in the 5-8.7 points per game range. That tells me the Ramblers’ scoring will be spread out anyone could contribute to their offense.
For the Badgers, Micah Potters and Nate Reuvers lead the way offensively. They are putting up 12.8 and 12.2 points per game, respectively. Behind them are D’Mitrik Trice (11.0), Brad Davison (9.6), Aleem Ford (8.8), Jonathan Davis (7.4), and Tyler Wahl (6.4).
Prediction
Like the Ramblers, the Badgers spread the ball around and anyone could be ‘the guy’ on any given night, which can make it really hard to defend. The depth and willingness to share the ball and score are what makes this Wisconsin basketball team so good.
I think that will give the Ramblers fits tonight. I also think between Potter and Reuvers, the Badgers should be able to keep Krutwig in check, forcing other players to do the bulk of the scoring.
Fouling has been an issue for this Wisconsin team, and I’d like to say tonight will be the night that they will play a clean game and stay out of foul trouble, but I think this one could be another whistle-fest. The Badgers are shooting 76.1% from the line this year, while the Ramblers are shooting just 62.5% from the line. If there are a lot of fouls tonight, that will come into play big time.
Overall, I think Wisconsin will handle the Ramblers and cover the spread, and win by double-digits.
Wisconsin 80 – Loyola-Chicago 67