The Wisconsin Badgers are taking on the Penn State Nittany Lions on Thursday, with tip-off scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT on Fox Sports 1 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The Badgers are riding a four-game win-streak, most recently beating the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 96-87 at the Kohl Center over the weekend. Wisconsin had one of its best complete halves of the season in the first half, getting out to a 51-29 start. But their defense unraveled a bit in the second half as Rutgers climbed back to within single digits before the Badgers put them away for good.
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It was the Nick Boyd show, as the Badgers point guard had 32 points and nine assists, playing well off two feet and making good decisions with the basketball. His speed was evidently a factor, but Boyd was poised and controlled in the half-court, finding ways to get to the rim (15 free-throw attempts), while setting up teammates for open shots.
John Blackwell also had 19 points, while Nolan Winter had 18 points on a perfect 6-of-6 from the field.
Wisconsin now faces a Penn State team that has seen a rough patch recently, losing eight of its last nine games, including five in a row. They’re 0-7 in conference play, although they’ve played Illinois, Michigan State, and Michigan to single digits. They’re definitely capable of keeping games close, but the defense has been an issue (203rd in KenPom defensive efficiency), as they allow over 76 points a game.
Penn State is the worst rebounding team in the Big Ten, as its leading rebounder, Ivan Juric, averages only 4.2 boards a game. Freshman guard Kayden Mingo has been a strong addition, averaging 15.2 points, 4.5 assists, and a whopping 2.4 steals per game, all of which lead the team. He’s shot nearly 50 percent from the field, but has struggled outside the arc (14-of-56 this season).
Heading into the game, Wisconsin is a 5.5-point road favorite, with the over/under at 159.5 points. Can the Badgers extend their winning streak to five?
