The Matchup: Milwaukee (9-2) at No. 4/6 Wisconsin (10-0)
When: December 11, 2013 at 7pm CT
Where: Madison, WI (Kohl Center)
TV: Big Ten Digital Network, BTN2Go
Radio: Badger Sports Network
All-Time Series: Wisconsin leads 29-1
Last Meeting: 74-53 Wisconsin Win
The Opposition:
Milwaukee is riding a five-game win streak coming into Wednesday night's competition, beating the likes of Tennessee Tech, Judson College, UMKC, Northern Iowa and Bradley . There is no question that this is an improved team, regardless of the level of competition the Panthers have played. UWM has improved in scoring average, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and assists. It has also cut down on the turnovers from a season ago, committing just 12.2 a game this season.
Leading the way in the scoring department for the Panthers is 6-8 forward Matt Tibby, who averages 14.7 points a game and leads a group of four Panthers that average double figures. Tibby also leads UWM in rebounding average at 6.9 per game.
Feeding Tibby the ball inside is guard Steve McWhorter, who leads the team with 31 assists coming into Wednesday night's contest. McWhorter also averages 8.6 points a game and is shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc to help his own cause.
This isn't a team afraid to play outside of the confines of the U.S. Cellular Arena either, as they will play just 12 home games all season long, but when they've faced a challenge on the road against a higher level opponent (Loyola of the Missouri Valley and DePaul of the Big East) they've come up losers.
Key Matchup:
Some would say it's Matt Tibby versus Frank Kaminsky, but for me this game will hinge on the ability of Sam Dekker to slow down a very underrated wing-man in Austin Arians. The sophomore averages 12.2 points a game and is third on the Panthers with 10 steals to his credit on the season. Dekker needs to play well on the defensive end to neutralize a very lethal shooter, who hits at a 55.8 percent clip from the field. Offensively he will need to take care of him in the one-on-one matchup and the zone that UWM is likely to employ. Dekker's abilities on both ends of the floor will get tested tonight and UW will need him to win this battle to win the game.
Prediction: Wisconsin 81, Milwaukee 69
This will be the second meeting with a Horizon League foe and the final against an in-state foe. Wisconsin will look to avoid what took place up in Green Bay, where the Phoenix nearly knocked off the Badgers—only to see UW pull away late, 69-66. Don't expect that same challenge tonight though as GB is on a whole different level than the Panthers are, beating Virginia this past weekend. Milwaukee can be a challenge when it plays up to its competition, but this version of the Badgers is much more capable of playing multiple styles of basketball and will take care of the Panthers at home with relative ease.
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