Wisconsin basketball is set to take on its second opponent of the season, the Northern Illinois Huskies, tonight in the Kohl Center at 7:30 pm CT. The Badgers are 1-0 and are playing another quad-4 opponent that the Badgers should be able to cruise through. Which means, we aren't just looking for a win; there's more to it than that.
Here are the three things that Wisconsin fans should look for against Northern Illinois.
1. A blowout win
Northern Illinois is ranked 351 in the NET, which is not the worst, but it's near the bottom. The Badgers are 27.5-point favorites, and they shouldn't have a problem with the Huskies at all. Which means, we want to see a blowout. A decisive and easy win for the Badgers. It shouldn't feel close, ever.
2. Points from the bench
The biggest concern for this Wisconsin Badgers basketball team is depth. The starting five are about as good as any in the nation, but 6-10 is a bit of a wildcard situation. Three of the next five off the bench are true freshmen.
Against Campbell, the bench was underwhelming, especially when it came to scoring. That needs to change in this game, and there needs to be some connective tissue that remains when bench players come in. This Badger team can't just be five-deep the whole season.
3. Chemistry / ball movement
Greg Gard talked about how he wants to see more chemistry on the team. They are still getting used to playing together. One important thing to watch for in this matchup is exactly that: how are they playing together? Is there chemistry between the five on the court?
Are the Badgers moving the ball well? Do they seem like they are in sync with where each other are on the court? How about on the defensive end, is there seamless defense or are players missing assignments? This will be important to watch.