#14 Wisconsin Badgers Hit The Road To Illinois

By: Melo Williams 

The #14 Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team started the year 2023 like it ended 2022, winning.

Wisconsin extended its winning streak to six games after defeating Minnesota 63-60 Tuesday night at the Kohl Center behind Steven Crowl’s 17 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and Chucky Hepburn’s 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists to win Border Battle.

The Badgers are now 3-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2014-15.

Wisconsin Badgers (11-2, 3-0 Big Ten) will hit the road on Saturday to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini (9-5, 0-3 Big Ten) at The State Farm Center in Champagne.

DEEP DIVE:

WILL TYLER WAHL PLAY?

It’s uncertain if Wisconsin will have senior Tyler Wahl, who left the game in the 1st half after suffering an apparent ankle injury against the Gophers. Wahl returned and gave it a go, but was quickly pulled by Badgers’ head coach Greg Gard once he realized Wahl couldn’t go on and play. Wahl left the Kohl Center on crutches and wearing a walking boot.

Gard said about Wahl not finishing the game, “He just didn’t feel like he could explode off of it and get into a full stride. We’re not going to put him in a position where he’s going to hurt himself more.”

Tyler Wahl has been the Badgers’ best all-around player this season, leading UW with 13.2 points per game second on the team in rebounds (6.4 per game), second in blocks (7), and third in both assists (24) and steals (18). Swiss Army Knife Wahl.

Gard told UW reporters “I don’t know about a timeline.” “Each individual heals from those differently. We’ve got three days here, and we’ll see where it’s at.

NEXT MAN UP

For whatever reason, if Tyler Wahl can’t play, junior forward Carter Gilmore will replace Wahl. In 18.1 minutes a night, Gilmore is averaging 3.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Nothing extraordinary with his numbers I know. However, Carter Gilmore brings toughness, hustle, and effort.

Gilmore embodies all that the state of Wisconsin stands for, blue-collar workers with heart and grit. You will find Gilmore banging in the paint for rebounds, a rim protector who plays well on the ball defense.

Carter Gilmore understands his role, plays it with pride, and in return for doing so his play is very impactful on the outcome of games that are not always noticeable in the box scores.

JORDAN DAVIS IMPACT

Jordan Davis, who’s averaging 7.1 points and 4.1 rebounds as a starter will likely see an increase in minutes and more shot opportunities if Wahl misses the game against Illinois.

Davis has scored double figures three times this season. He had 13 against Stanford and 11 against UW-Green Bay. Against Lehigh, Jordan Davis finished with a career-high 14 points (4-of-6 from beyond the arc).

Davis is third on the team with 14 made three-pointers trailing Connor Essegian (24) and Chucky Hepburn (22).

OPPONENT

Illinois has a 9-5 record (0-3 Big Ten). The Fighting Illini is coming off a 73-60 loss at Northwestern Wednesday night. The Fighting Illini are led by senior guard Terrence Shannon Jr., who is averaging 17.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and shooting .451 (73-162) from the field.

CONCLUSION:

Wisconsin trails the all-time series against Illinois, 90-114. The Illini have won four-straight games in the series. Each of the last four games has been decided by five points or less. The last time Wisconsin earned a win against Illinois was in the 2019 season, with a 72-60 win over the Fighting Illini in Madison.

Badgers win 77-71

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