Wisconsin vs. Michigan State Basketball Preview: Can the "Cardiac Kids" Pull Off Another Top-10 Upset?
Both teams are fresh off overtime wins against Illinois. Here is everything you need to know for tonight’s battle for Big Ten positioning.
Friday the 13th. A top-10 rival. The Kohl Center. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Fresh off their exhilarating overtime win against No. 8 Illinois, the Wisconsin Badgers return home tonight to face the No. 10 Michigan State Spartans. This is a massive game for Big Ten positioning: Wisconsin is looking to prove its “Cardiac Kids” reputation is no fluke, while Tom Izzo’s squad tries to keep pace at the top of the conference standings.
Game Info
Matchup: Wisconsin Badgers (17-7, 9-4 B1G) vs. No. 10 Michigan State Spartans (20-4, 10-3 B1G)
Time: 7:00 PM CST
Location: Kohl Center – Madison, WI
TV: FOX
Radio: Badger Radio Network
The Line: Wisconsin +1.5 | Total: 146.5
Players to Watch
Wisconsin: Nick Boyd
Boyd is playing at an All-Big Ten level. Coming off a masterful 25-point performance against Illinois, where he committed zero turnovers in 39 minutes, he has become the engine of this offense. His decision-making and ability to create his own shot (19 points in the second half/OT on Tuesday) will be crucial against Michigan State’s physical perimeter defense.
Michigan State: Jeremy Fears
The battle at the point guard spot will be electric. Fears Jr. is fresh off a career game of his own, dropping 26 points and dishing out 15 assists in the Spartans' overtime win against Illinois last Saturday. He is a blur in transition and arguably the best passer in the conference. If Wisconsin can't keep him out of the paint, he will pick the defense apart.
Storylines to Watch
The “Cardiac Kids” Confidence: Wisconsin has erased double-digit deficits in five of its last nine games, including the 12-point comeback in Champaign on Tuesday. While living on the edge is dangerous, this team clearly believes it is never out of a game. Can they finally start fast at home, or will we see another dramatic finish?
The Common Denominator: In a strange scheduling quirk, both teams are coming off overtime wins against Illinois. Michigan State beat the Illini 85-82 last Saturday; Wisconsin beat them 92-90 on Tuesday. Both teams have proven they can execute in crunch time against high-level competition, setting the stage for a heavyweight fight tonight.
The Rebounding War: Tom Izzo’s teams are famous for their “War” drill mentality. The Spartans are aggressive on the offensive glass (led by Jaxon Kohler), while Wisconsin relies on team rebounding. Nolan Winter (11 rebounds vs. Illinois) and Aleksas Bieliauskas must limit the Spartans to one shot. If MSU gets second and third chances, they will cover the spread easily.
Prediction
Vegas sees this as a coin flip, installing the Badgers as slight home underdogs (+1.5). That feels like a slight to a Wisconsin team that is coming off a huge road victory over No. 5 Illinois and generally rises to the occasion at the Kohl Center.
Michigan State is talented, but Wisconsin has the best offense in the Big Ten right now and the momentum of a massive road win. The Kohl Center crowd will be the difference in a game that comes down to the final possession.
I picked against Wisconsin earlier this week; I’m not going to do that again.
Final Score: Wisconsin 76, Michigan State 74
Continue Reading:
The "Cardiac Kids" Do It Again: Badgers Erase Late Deficit to Stun No. 8 Illinois in Overtime
At this point, maybe they just like the drama.
Ceiling vs. Floor: Predicting the Chaos of Wisconsin’s Final Month
February in the Big Ten is where efficiency meets reality. After a scorching 7-1 run through January that saw the Wisconsin basketball team climb to 16-6 (8-3 B1G), Greg Gard’s squad finds itself at a crossroads.
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