NFL
By: Melo Williams
Wisconsin (6-2) opens up B1G Conference play against No. 13 Maryland (8-0, 1-0) Tuesday in Madison, WI at the Kohl Center.
The Badgers are coming off an exciting 80-77 win against in-state rival Marquette on Saturday behind the big-time play of Sophomore Chucky Hepburn while playing with an undisclosed injury.
Maryland is off to its best start since 2019-20. The Terps are 8-0 under first-year head coach Kevin Willard. Maryland won their Big Ten opener 71-66 over No. 13 Illinois on Friday and have won seven of their first eight games by double digits.
The Terrapins are one of just 12 remaining undefeated teams in college basketball.
Wisconsin is holding the Terps to 61.2 points per game throughout the 12 meetings.
The Terps are the best offensive team the Badgers will have faced this season besides Kansas who the Badgers lost to in overtime earlier this season.
Maryland has four players averaging double figures while the Terps are averaging 81 points per game.
Maryland is shooting 60 percent from inside the 3-point arc which is ninth in the country. The Terrapins also get to the free-throw line 20 times a night, so the Badgers will have their hands full defending the Terrapins. Everyone must stick with their defensive assignments adding pressure without fouling.
The Badgers have been riding the wave of Hepburn’s hot play as of late. In the Badgers’ last three games, Hepburn is averaging 19.7 points per game, 2.7 assists, shooting 50.0 percent from the floor, and 60.8 percent (14-23) from behind the 3-point line.
Hepburn has also been taking care of the basketball with a 2.6:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Badgers have also been getting solid play from their big men Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl on both ends of the floor.
The Badgers are very good at playing from the inside out. With Wahl and Crowl both having the ability to score the ball, teams have been doubling the Badgers’ big men. To counter that, Wisconsin has been punishing teams who double the post by passing the ball out to the shooters Hepburn, Max Klesmit, and Jordan Davis. The Badgers have hit double-digit 3-pointers in each of their last three games and four times this season overall.
PREDICTION:
Wisconsin wins 73-68
WISCONSIN STARTERS:
G Chucky Hepburn (12.5 ppg, 2.6 apg) 6-1 So.
G Max Klesmit (6.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg) 6-3 Jr.
G Jordan Davis (6.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg) 6-4 Jr.
F Tyler Wahl (14.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg 6-9 Sr.
C Steven Crowl (9.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg) 7-0 Jr.
GAME DETAILS:
Where: Kohl Center (Madison, Wis.)
When: 8 p.m. CST
TV: ESPN2
PRESS ROW FACTS:
Since Maryland joined the Big Ten, the Badgers own the series 7-5.
Series History: Wisconsin leads 12-7
Last Meeting: Wisconsin 70-69 (2022)
The Badgers have taken each of the last two meetings and four of the last five against the Terrapins.
The Badgers are 7-1 against the last eight teams that came to the Kohl Center with a record of 8-0 or better.
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