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Wisconsin Basketball: Predicting the Big Ten Tournament

By Christian Borman

Mar 7, 2021; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks with guard Trevor Anderson (12) and guard Brad Davison (left) and forward Micah Potter (11) late in the game during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2021; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks with guard Trevor Anderson (12) and guard Brad Davison (left) and forward Micah Potter (11) late in the game during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Potential Wisconsin basketball opponents, Minnesota and Northwestern
Feb 25, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Gophers forward Eric Curry (24) and Northwestern Wildcats forward Pete Nance (22) fight for the ball during the second half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports /

Game 1: #12 Northwestern vs. #13 Minnesota

The Gophers (6-14) and the Wildcats (6-13) have just one meeting this season. Northwestern defeated the Gophers in Minnesota on February 25th, despite being down 17-3 with 12 minutes left in the first half. The Wildcats answered back with a 17-2 run, tying the game at 19-19 with just over 5:00 left in the first half.

The Gophers have been solid at home this season, and the complete opposite on the road. They were 13-4 at home, including 11-straight to start the season. They fell apart at the end of the season, finishing just 2-4 at home, and seven overall.

On the road, the Gophers are 0-10. Playing away from the Barn has not been kind to them, and I don’t see it changing against Northwestern in Game 1. The Gophers are losers of seven straight, while Northwestern comes in winners of three in a row.

Prediction: Northwestern 

Game 2: #11 Penn St. vs. #14 Nebraska

The winner of this game will move on to face the Wisconsin basketball team. Penn St. has shown the ability to beat better teams, such as their victory over the Badgers at home earlier in the season. They’ve also shown the ability to lose games they should win, such as their loss to Nebraska earlier in the year.

These two teams split their season series, each winning on the road. Both games have been close, decided by one point and three points, respectively. I think this game could be another close one, but with Nebraska losing their top scorer in Teddy Allen, I think Penn St. will take this game and move on to Wisconsin in the second round.

Prediction: Penn St. 

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