The Matchup: Wisconsin (3-2, 0-0) vs. Prairie View A&M (0-4, 0-0)
When: Wed. Nov. 25; 7pm CT
Where: Madison, Wis.; Kohl Center (17,287)
TV: BTN
Radio: Badgers Sports Network
Last Meeting: Wisconsin won, 80-43 (Dec. 28, 2013_
All-Time Series: Wisconsin leads, 2-0
Starting Lineups:
Prairie View A&M Panthers
G Tevin Bellinger 6-0, 180, So. (12.3 ppg, 2.3 apg)
G Jayrn Johnson 6-3, 180, Sr. (10.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
F Zachary Hamilton 6-4, 200, So. (7.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
F Admassu Williams 6-8, 240, Jr. (13.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg)
F Karim York 6-9, 225, Sr. (8.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Wisconsin Badgers
G Bronson Koenig — Jr. (17.6 pgg, 3.6 rpg, 3.2 apg)
G Zak Showalter — So. (8.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.2 apg)
F Vitto Brown — Jr. (10.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 0.4 apg)
F Nigel Hayes — Jr. (14.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.6 apg)
F Ethan Happ — Fr. (10.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 0.8 apg)
Biggest Matchup: None
Why do we say there isn’t a biggest matchup? Well, the Badgers simply overmatch the Panthers everywhere on the court. UW has the size, strength and athletic advantage in this matchup regardless of who is out there starting.
If you’re going to look for a key matchup though, look to the one between Zak Showalter and Jayrn Johnson. Showy has been great on the defensive end of the court and filled in nicely for that Josh Gasser role as a junk-yard dog type of defender. However, he’s no slouch offensively either. Look for him to make life difficult for one of the three scoring threats PVAMU puts on the court.
3 Numbers to Know:
— 346: That is the ranking of Prairie View A&M’s offense by KenPom.com, putting them in the bottom six of all Division I programs in the country. In contrast, the Badgers rank 11th in the country. Given the opposition Wisconsin has played this season and the ups and downs the offense has had, that’s about as good of news as one could hope for after some rough games to start the season.
— 2: UW freshman Ethan Happ is coming off of back-to-back double doubles in the 2K Classic. He’s the first freshman to do that since 2001-02 when Mike Wilkinson did it. We all know how Wilkinson’s career ended up, and Happ could do far worse than duplicating that career.
— 40.5: The Wisconsin Badgers have won the previous two meetings against the Panthers by an average of 40.5 points. Such is the talent gulf between anything in the Big Ten and anything in the SWAC.
Prediction: Wisconsin 92, Prairie View A&M 58
Plain and simple, this is a bad Panthers team that Wisconsin is taking on and losing to any team from the lowly SWAC at home would be a major humiliation. In fact, Wisconsin is 10-0 against the SWAC all-time. Don’t expect that to change in any way, shape or form.
There’s a reason Prairie View A&M are winless on the season, and it has a lot to do with a defense that is 318th in adjusted defense and 346 in adjusted offense per KenPom.com. Wisconsin has plenty of scoring options, and even if it is cold from the field the likes of Ethan Happ and Nigel Hayes could really take over given the size and strength advantage.
Wisconsin needs to get on a positive winning streak, if for no other reason than to head in to a critical week of games with confidence brewing in its freshmen. Look for major minutes to go to Charlie Thomas and Khalil Iverson as this is a perfect game to get them the growth needed at the collegiate level.
UW rolls easy, and it is likely over at halftime.
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