Wisconsin Basketball: Breaking down the Badgers non-conference schedule

It may be a bit early, but the Wisconsin basketball season will be here before you know it. We  can even begin the countdown to tip off because the Badgers’ non-conference schedule has been released!

The season unofficially kicks off on October 29th when the Badgers host UW-Whitewater at the Kohl Center in an exhibition game.

Then, the regular reason really gets going on November 9th when the Badgers host St. Francis College Brooklyn in the first of three games at home to start the season. I’ll be honest, I didn’t even know St. Francis College Brooklyn was even a school, let alone a Division 1 school. The Terriers are a part of the Northeast Conference. Last season, the Terriers went 9-10 in the covid-shortened season.

Next, the Badgers will face another in-state school when they take on Will Ryan and UW-Green Bay. Last season, the Badgers defeated the Phoenix 82-42 at the Kohl Center behind 14 points from Micah Potter.

So hopefully a couple of tune-up games before things get real. After the UWGB game, the Badgers will host Providence on November 15 as a part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games, which is similar to the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, but between the Big Ten and the Big East to honor Dave Gavitt, who is the founder of the Big East conference. Last year, the Gavitt Tipoff Games didn’t occur due to covid.

This is going to be the first real test for the young Wisconsin basketball squad as Providence is a part of a competitive conference. The Friars went 13-13 in the Big East and lost in the first round of the Big East Tournament.

Next, the Wisconsin basketball team will travel to Hawaii on November 22 to take on Texas A&M in the Maui Invitational. They will take on the winner or loser of Butler and Houston the next day. This is going to be a good gauge of the Badgers. The three other teams in this tournament are all great competition for the Badgers and are likely the toughest opponents in the Badgers’ non-conference schedule.

After the Maui Invitational, the Badgers face Georgia Tech in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in Atlanta.

On December 4th, the Badgers will get their chance at some revenge when they host in-state rival, Marquette. Last season, the Golden Eagles won a very close game and ended up winning on a last-second shot that was tipped in off of a missed free throw. That was the Badgers’ first loss last season and was their only non-conference loss all season.

Finally, to finish up the non-conference schedule, the Badgers will have three more (what should be) tune-up games. They will take on Nicholls St., Morgan St., and Illinois St. all at the Kohl Center.

Overall, the Badgers will play eight of their non-conference games at home, two at a neutral setting, and one true road game. With a group as young as this, a mostly-home schedule should help them settle in and get ready before they take on Big Ten opponents.