NFL
By: Melo Williams
No. 17 Wisconsin (16-5, 6-4) travels to Northwestern (12-9, 3-7) in another Big Ten road battle.
Both teams are trying to get back on the win side of the column.
Wisconsin is on a 1 game losing streak after losing to Maryland 76-68 Wednesday night. Northwestern is currently on a 2 game losing after dropping its last two games to No. 18 Illinois and Rutgers.
The Badgers leads the all-time series against the Wildcats, 124-67, winning 8 out of the last 10 matchups, and leaving Evanston winners 4 out of the last 5 trips.
From January 13, 2010 – March 15, 2024, Wisconsin leads the head-to-head matchup 19-6, with the last matchup at the 2024 Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis with the Badgers winning 70-61.
The winner of this game most likely but not surprisingly will win the defensive matchups overall, the rebounding battle, 50-50 ball winners etc.
It’s going to be a physical and scrappy game as both teams are two of the premier defending teams in the conference and the country.
DEFENSE-
Northwestern defense is ranked 6th in the Big Ten giving up 69.4 points per game, as the Badgers are ranked 8th giving up 70.6 points per game.
OFFENSE-
Wisconsin is scoring 81.8 points per game to Northwestern’s 74.1 points per game.
The Badgers are shooting 46% from the field to the Wildcats 44% and Wisconsin 36% to Northwestern 33% from the 3-point line.
John Tonje continues to show that he can score the ball even after teams have made defensive adjustments against him. Tonje leads the Badgers in scoring with 18.2 points per game with John Blackwell following up with 16.0 points per game, and Nolan Winter 10.1 points per game.
Max Klesmit last two games vs Northwestern, he’s averaging 17.0 points per game and 4.5 assist per game.
Northwestern is led in scoring by Nick Martinelli 19.6 points per game, with Brooks Barnhizer 17.1 points per game, and Jalen Leach 14.3 rounding out the Wildcats top scorers.
Jalen Leach is the player I feel that can hurt Wisconsin with his scoring.
Edge Wisconsin
REBOUNDS-
Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter leads Wisconsin in rebounds with 5.7 rebounds per game and John Tonje bringing down 4.9 rebounds per game.
For Northwestern, Brooks Barnhizer leads the team with 8.8 rebounds per game, followed by Matthew Nicholson’s 5.5, and Nick Martinelli 5.4 rebounds per game.
Edge Northwestern
ASSISTS-
Max Klesmit leads Wisconsin in assists with 2.9 assists per game, followed by Steven Crowl 2.5, and John Blackwell’s 2.3 assists per game.
Brooks Barnhizer leads Northwestern in assists with 4.2 assists per game, next Jalen Leach 3.1, and Nick Martinelli 1.6 assists per game.
Edge Northwestern
PREDICTION: Wisconsin
GAME NOTES:
Start Time: 1 PM CST
Evanston, IL
Watch on FS 1
