The Wisconsin Badgers have won seven straight games and are 15-3 this season, including 5-2 in conference play. The Badgers take on historic blue blood UCLA tonight in Westwood. Mick Cronin’s Bruins had lost four straight games until a big 94-70 home victory over Iowa on Friday night.
Here are the keys to the Badgers’ victory against UCLA on Tuesday.
Control the paint (offensive and defensive)
What’s been key to Wisconsin’s winning streak: their front court of Nolan Winter and Steven Crowl. It’s no coincidence that Wisconsin looked the best during Crowl’s best stretch of the season. His level of play dictates the floor and ceiling of this basketball team.
UCLA is not a three-point offense, so it is imperative for the Badgers to limit offensive rebounds and protect the paint well. The Bruins scored 94 points against Iowa and did so while making just eight three-pointers.
Wisconsin can win this game, they just need to be locked in on interior defense.
Have a balanced offensive game plan
Wisconsin started out hot against USC from three down. Then things calmed down at the start of the second half, which allowed the Trojans to fly away and cut the fifteen-point halftime lead to three.
Wisconsin allowed this to happen by making too many three-point attempts early in the shot clock instead of trying to find cleaner, more open looks.
Wisconsin is very capable of shooting and making threes. I don’t want them to give up what they’re good at. However, the Badgers need to know when to take their medicine and head to the paint to shoot when the three isn’t falling.
Take care of basketball
Michigan and UCLA faced off a few weeks ago and it looked like the Wolverines were going to run away until UCLA made a comeback and actually led for a good portion of the second half. The reason for their return? Lazy turnovers from Dusty May’s team.
Michigan turned the ball over sixteen times during the game, which helped give the Bruins a fighting chance. UCLA’s defense has been very good this season, so the Badgers need to take care of the ball and not make mistakes in the form of turnovers that could lead to easy opportunities.
Watch for Wisconsin native Kobe Johnson to be active in the passing lanes tonight for the Bruins.
Final prediction
Wisconsin is playing its best basketball of the year and did so in the last game without any production from its leading scorer, John Tonje. Despite being 3.5 point underdogs, I expect the Badgers to win this game narrowly in what will be a dogfight with a lower score.
Final prediction: 72-66 Wisconsin
