Indiana to face Wisconsin in battle of Big Ten unbeatens
By COLLIN O’CONNOR
ISL Correspondent
The ending was not in any way a pretty one, but Indiana’s win over Minnesota on Saturday left the Hoosiers with a victory over a top-10 team and a 3-0 start in Big Ten Conference play. Now, IU faces an entirely different kind of test when the Wisconsin Badgers come to Assembly Hall on Tuesday.
Fresh off of a 74-51 win over then-No. 12 Illinois, the Badgers join Indiana as the only unbeatens in Big Ten play. What Wisconsin brings, however, is a different style of play that significantly contrasts to that of which Indiana forces on its opponents.
It’s an old and common-used basketball adage: it is much easier to slow a team down than it is to speed a team up. That is what the Wisconsin Badgers will attempt to do to Indiana on Tuesday — slow the Hoosiers down. And, with their average of only 63.8 possessions per game, the 310th slowest pace in the nation, they have the tools to do that.
In order to accomplish that, though, Wisconsin will need to be able to slow down an offense that is currently first in the country in points per game.
With Ryan Evans and Jared Berggren in the frontcourt, Wisconsin certainly appears capable. Evans and Berggren combine for over three blocks and 14 rebounds per game. Evans has the versatility to guard someone like Christian Watford, who will play out around the three-point line, but also has the ability to step in and post up against a smaller defender. At 6-6, Watford will have a tough time posting up against Evans.
What Berggren brings to the table for Wisconsin is someone who can pester consensus Preseason All-American Cody Zeller. With his wide array of skills, preventing Zeller from taking over will definitely be a task, but Berggren definitely has the capability to slow him down. At 6-10, 235 pounds and an average of just over two blocks per game, he has been a force defensively for this Badgers team that is allowing just 54.7 points per game, a mark that lands them sixth in the country.
Outside of Butler, this should be the toughest defensive unit that Indiana has faced up to this point, and that will be something to watch in itself. In order to win, however, Wisconsin will also need to find a way to score. Evans and Berggren also lead the team in scoring at 24.8 combined points per game. Ben Brust is a capable third scorer.
Even if Wisconsin can slow down the Hoosiers, its offense will still put up a significant amount of points. What is important from that point on is for Wisconsin to find scorers outside of Evans and Berggren that can help keep pace with one of, if not the most efficient offense in the country.
And, what comes from the result is very important at this point in the season: standing alone in first place in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers would become the lone undefeated team in the conference after defending home court in two very challenging games. For Wisconsin, the Badgers have a chance to go on the road and knock off a top-five team to become the last undefeated group left standing.
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