3 keys and a prediction for Michigan Basketball vs Wisconsin

Win the battle of strengths

Wisconsin is a solid defensive team and ranks 29th according to Kenpom in adjusted defensive efficiency. However, the offense struggles, and the Badgers are 146th according to Kenpom on the offensive end.

In the Big Ten, one thing the Badgers haven’t done well is defend inside the arc. Opposing teams are making 50.7 percent of their 2-point attempts, which ranks 10th in the Big Ten.

That’s an area that Michigan needs to take advantage of. Hunter Dickinson needs to get going but Kobe Bufkin needs to be aggressive and attack too. Wisconsin has big bodies but no great rim protectors and one-on-one, Dickinson should have his way.

Either way, the Wolverines need to shoot above 50 percent on 2s to win this game and that should be a pretty reasonable as Michigan basketball shoots 51.6 percent in Big Ten play.

A strength for Wisconsin on offense is the 3-point shot. The Badgers don’t have a lot of pure scorers but they always have shooters.

Chucky Hepburn makes 2.3 triples per game (45 percent) and leads Wisconsin with 13.2 points per game. Yet, don’t sleep on freshman Connor Essegian, who is also making 2.3 per game and shooting 43 percent.

The Badgers attempt the 2nd-most 3-point shots in Big Ten play and are second in the Big Ten in 3-point field goals per game (7.9). Michigan has allowed just 6.1 per game to opponents and is second in the league in 3-point defense at 31 percent.

So, if Michigan’s offense can win that 2-point battle on offense, while keeping Wisconsin shooting at the lower end of the 30s from beyond the arc, instead of the higher end, the Wolverines should leave Madison with a much-needed win.