PREVIEW: No. 15 Wisconsin vs. Rutgers

Matchup

No. 15 Wisconsin (17-3 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) vs. Rutgers (12-9 overall, 1-7 Big Ten)

When/Where

Saturday, Jan. 28 | 11:00 a.m. CST | Manhattan, New York

Broadcast

TV – BTN

Radio – 101.5 FM | 1310 AM | Matt Lepay and Mike Lucas

Streaming – BTN2Go

At a Glance

The No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers are headed to the Big Apple to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in one of the most well known cathedrals in basketball – Madison Square Garden. The Badgers sit near the top of the Big Ten Conference, while Rutgers sits on the very bottom having only a single in-conference win so far this season. Though Rutgers has a 9-2 record at The Garden, a team as talented as Wisconsin is a tough assignment, despite any advantages. A win in Manhattan would put the Badgers into a tie with Maryland for first place in the Big Ten Conference.

Head Coach

Greg Gard: 32–11 (.744)

Last Time Out

The last time the Badgers were on the floor they exploded in a massive second half performance and sent Penn State home with an 82-55 thrashing after only leading by three points at the half. The Badgers star guard, Bronson Koenig, led the second half charge and lit up the scoreboard with four 3-pointers and finished the night with 20 points in 29 minutes. Wisconsin dominated the paint as well, scoring 28 to Penn State’s 10 in the lane. In addition to the impressive 46-point explosion, the Badgers stingy defense held the Nittany Lions to only 22 points in the entire second half.

Nigel Hayes – 9 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals

Ethan Happ – 14 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals

Bronson Koenig – 20 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists

Quick Facts

- The Badgers 17-3 start is the 3rd best in 100 years for Wisconsin.

- Wisconsin has won 13 of its last 14 games by an average of 18.8 PPG.

- Wisconsin is 8-5 in true road games under Greg Gard.

Head Coach

Steve Pikiell: 209-183 (.533)

Last Time Out

Rutgers is coming off a 67-55 loss to Maryland. While the team has won just one game of their last nine, the Scarlet Knights outing versus the Terrapins was one of their more respectable showings. At one point the Knights were actually making it a game, having pulled within just three points and were outrebounding the Big Ten leading Terps. However, that was closest they would get all night as the superior Maryland talent took over the game and sent Rutgers home with yet another conference loss.

Quick Facts

- The last time these two foes met Wisconsin beat Rutgers 72-52 in Madison.

- Rutgers’ official school name is The State University of New Jersey.

-The Queen of England chartered Rutgers University in 1766, making it the 8th oldest college in the U.S.

Wisconsin – 76

Rutgers –61

(Badgers are favored by 16 in the spread)