The Matchup: Wisconsin (2-2, 0-0) vs. VCU (2-1, 0-0)
When: Sun. Nov. 22; 2:30p.m. CT
Where: New York, New York; Madison Square Garden (19,812)
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Badgers Sports Network
Last Meeting: None
All-Time Series: 1st ever meeting
Starting Lineups:
VCU Rams
G JeQuan Lewis — 6-1, 180, Jr. (9.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.6 apg)
G Melvin Johnson — 6-4, 190, Sr. (19.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg,
G Jordan Burgess — 6-5, 225, Jr. (8.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.6 apg)
F Justin Tillman — 6-7, 215, Fr. (5.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 0.3 apg)
F Mo Alie-Cox — 6-7, 250, Jr. (10.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.3 apg)
Wisconsin
G Bronson Koenig — Jr. (16.5 pgg, 4.7 rpg, 3.2 apg)
G Zak Showalter — So. (8.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.2 apg)
F Vitto Brown — Jr. (12.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 0.5 apg)
F Nigel Hayes — Jr. (16.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.0 apg)
F Ethan Happ — Fr. (10.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 0.7 apg)
Biggest Matchup: JeQuan Lewis vs. Bronson Koenig
The numbers suggest Wisconsin point guard Bronson Koenig has been lighting it up, leading the team in points and averaging a healthy 3.2 assists per game. However, Koenig has been wildly inconsistent, and that simply can’t happen if the Badgers are going to win games against high level opponents.
Most troublesome is the 10 of 26 shooting from deep. Making just 2.5 three-pointers per game is not going to cut it, especially when there isn’t a whole lot of perimeter help to speak of. Koenig also needs to take better care of the ball, with a near 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
He’ll also face a pretty good challenge from VCU’s JeQuan Lewis, who is a good perimeter shooter himself.
3 Numbers to Know:
— 31.7: Wisconsin shot just 31.7 percent from the field in its loss to Georgetown on Friday afternoon. It was also a season-low for the Badgers, who have shot below 40 percent as a team in half of its games so far this season. Not coincidentally, both games were put in the loss column. Watch how UW is shooting from the field in this one to give you all the answers on the win or loss.
— +8: Despite a much smaller lineup on the court this season than last, the Badgers have managed to outrebound every opponent so far this season. It has resulted in a +8.0 rebounding margin for the season. Wisconsin had a 40-36 advantage on the boards in its loss to Georgetown on Friday.
—9-7: That is the Badgers record against Atlantic 10 opponents, with the last game being a victory over St. Louis University in the Cancun Challenge a few years ago. However, teams from this conference have clearly given the Badgers trouble.
Prediction: VCU 70, Wisconsin 68
This is a complete style clash, and while these two teams haven’t played each other ever, VCU’s new head coach Will Wade is very familiar with the Badgers. He was the head coach at Chattanooga last season, so he knows what the Badgers are all about.
While that one ended in a Badger blowout of the Mocs, this VCU team is far more athletic and far more dangerous than anything Wade could’ve offered. I’m not a fan of the matchups all over the court, and if UW’s inconsistencies on offense continue to rear their ugly head, it could be a long day at MSG.
Look for Wisconsin’s interior defense to face a stiff challenge, and I’m not sure Happ and Co. are up to the task after seeing them over the last four games. VCU dominates inside on the offensive end, and Wisconsin’s cold shooting continues.
If the Badgers do win, expect a huge helping hand from Khalil Iverson, who is one of the few Wisconsin players with the athleticism to keep pace with the Rams at this point.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
