Preview: Ball State at No. 24 Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis. — Off to a 2-0 start for the fifth time in six season, No. 24 Wisconsin (2-0) returns to action to host Ball State (2-0) on Tuesday at the Kohl Center. The Badgers and Cardinals are meeting for the first time since the 90’s. Badger Blitz breaks down and previews Tuesday’s matchup…
GAME INFO
Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Where: Kohl Center (Madison, Wis.)
TV: Big Ten Network
Stream: Fox Sports GO
TV Crew: Chris Vosters, Jordan Taylor
Series: Wisconsin leads 6-2
Last Meeting: Wisconsin won 60-50 in 1999
Line: Wisconsin – 28.5
NUMBERS TO KNOW
3: A win would gives the Badgers a 3-0 start to the season for the third time in five season.
6: Wisconsin is 6-2 all-time against Ball State
1999: Tuesday marks the first meeting between the two schools since 1999.
1999: The Cardinals last defeated a Big Ten program in 1999 (Purdue).
2017: Ball State hasn’t faced a ranked team since the 2017-18 season.
PROJECTED STARTERS
BALL STATE
G Davion Hill (6-2 So.) – 16.0 ppg, 4.0 apg
G Devon Barnes (6-1 Sr.) – 7.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg
G Armoni Ziegler (6-4 Jr.) – 16.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg
F Kayden Fish (6-6 So.) – 7.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg
F Mason Jones (3.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
WISCONSIN
G Nick Boyd (6-2 Sr.) – 23.0 ppg, 3.5 apg
G John Blackwell (6-4 Jr.) – 23.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg
G Andrew Rohde (6-5 Sr.) – 6.5 ppg, 2.0 apga
F Austin Rapp (6-10 So.) – 10.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg
F Nolan Winter (7-0 Jr.) – 14.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg
WHAT TO WATCH
Will the size of Wisconsin overwhelm Ball State?
The tallest projected starter for the Cardinals is 6-foot-7. The starting frontcourt for Ball State is only grabbing 5.0 rebounds per game. The Cardinals have done an adequate job on the defensive glass this season, but hardly get any second-chance opportunities. Ball State grabs just 4.0 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks No. 340 in Division 1.
Entering Tuesday, the Badgers are getting 13 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks top 50 nationally and grab nearly 40 percent of their misses.
Prediction
Bart Torvik predicts an 89-65 win for Wisconsin and gives the Badgers a 96 percent chance at victory.
This is a Ball State squad with eight newcomers. The Cardinals haven’t been overly impressive in their first two outings and are coming off a matchup against a Division 2 opponent.
What Ball State has done very well is shoot it from deep. The Cardinals enter Tuesday ranked third nationally in 3-point percentage (53.3%). However, that’s only translated to 8.0 triples per game. Still, Wisconsin has to be able to run this team off the line and force them to finish of their size inside.
Very slow starting team in Ball State, who averaged 28.0 ppg in the first half over their first two outings. If Wisconsin gets hot early like they did on Friday, the Cardinals are in big trouble. In addition to their outside shooting, the Cardinals do a great job of keeping teams off the free throw line. Because of those two reasons, could see this one being closer than expected.
Wisconsin doesn’t have the most imposing frontcourt, but they’ve been getting tons of points in the paint through two games. Gotta figure with their size advantage, the Badgers will handle Ball State.
Wisconsin 84 Ball State 63
