While offense hasn't been a problem for the Badgers, who are on pace to set their highest scoring average since 1970, defense has caused its fair share of problems for this season's squad. Wisconsin doesn't have a terrible defense, but they don't make a ton of impactful plays that can win games. In fact, they are dead last in the Big Ten in steals plus blocks, or 'stocks'.
The Badgers average 7.4 'stocks' per game, dead last in the conference, with Purdue being the next closest at 8.8 blocks plus steals per game. It's not a perfect indicator of how good or bad a defense is, but last in the conference is surely a sign for needed improvement.
Head coach Greg Gard has admitted that the defense has a lot of catching up to do if they are going to be one of the top teams in the country.
"From an offensive standpoint, if we can be top 10, where we are now, defensively, we need to climb to be top 25 in order to be really elite, said Gard. "If you look across the country of who's in that category, it's some pretty high-powered teams."
The Badger defense comes in as the 46th ranked defense in KenPom's rankings, a far cry from the top 25 unit Gard is hoping to achieve. One huge roadblock on the way to there is Wisconsin's lack of a true rim protector, as evidenced by their anemic 2.2 blocks per game. Countless times this season opposing bigs have bullied Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter. It could be a big enough issue to keep the Badger D from climbing higher in the ranks.
While steals and blocks aren't everything, they represent a bigger issue of the Badgers' inability to make game changing plays on defense. They don't have anyone solidify the inside, and while the roster has some strong perimeter defenders in Max Klesmit and Kamari McGee, there hasn't been enough big plays on that side of the ball. With a brutal road stretch ahead, Wisconsin will need the defense to lock in more than ever.