Michigan State vs. Wisconsin tipoff: How to watch, preview, prediction
•What: Michigan State vs. Wisconsin
•When: 8 p.m. Friday
•Where: Breslin Center, East Lansing
•TV/Radio: FS1/Spartan Sports Network, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM
•Records/Rankings: MSU is 18-3 overall, 6-2 in the Big Ten and is No. 6 in both major polls; Wisconsin is 10-11 overall, 3-5 in the Big Ten and unranked.
•Coaches: MSU — Tom Izzo is 561-223 in his 23rd season, all with the Spartans. Wisconsin — Greg Gard is 52-29 in his third season, all with the Badgers.
•Series: MSU leads the all-time series 77-64.
Wisconsin
Pos. | Name | PPG |
F (35) | Nate Reuvers (6-10) | 5.6 |
F (22) | Ethan Happ (6-10) | 16.9 |
F (21) | Khalil Iverson (6-5) | 8.8 |
G (34) | Brad Davison (6-3) | 11.8 |
G (1) | Brevin Pritzl (6-3) | 8.9 |
MSU
Pos. | Name | PPG |
C (44) | Nick Ward (6-8) | 14.1 |
F (2) | Jaren Jackson Jr. (6-11) | 11.9 |
G (22) | Miles Bridges (6-7) | 17.7 |
G (1) | Joshua Langford (6-5) | 13.0 |
G (5) | Cassius Winston (6-0) | 12.2 |
•Wisconsin update: This is a lost season for the Badgers, who have found themselves short on talent surrounding big man Ethan Happ. Wisconsin has lost five straight road games, including by 18 points earlier this week at Iowa, perhaps the low-point of the season. Ethan Happ is still an All-Big Ten-caliber player, but he hasn’t shown he can carry a team and doesn’t have much around him to carry. There are issues go beyond the lack of firepower offensively. The Badgers are the Big Ten’s worst defensive team, with opponents shooting better than 46 percent.
•MSU update: The Spartans have rebounded nicely since their three-game slump, with convincing wins over Indiana and at Illinois. Both of those wins were expected, but especially against the Illini. There were signs of new and good things from Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr. Turnovers, however, remain an issue. The Spartans committed a season-high 25 turnovers at Illinois, led by a career-worst eight by sophomore point guard Cassius Winston.
•About the matchup: I can’t imagine a worse matchup for Wisconsin, which has one consistent offensive option who can create for himself, Happ, who will likely be defended by Jaren Jackson and his 30-foot wingspan. For the Badgers to keep pace at Breslin, Happ will have to score 30. Wisconsin’s backcourt of Brevin Pritzl and Brad Davison are both capable guards who can shoot from with range. Neither is a scary athlete. Cassius Winston sometimes struggles when athletic defenders get into him. Neither Pritzl or Davison should keep Winston out of the lane, though Davison is a gritty player on both ends.
•Prediction: This should get ugly. Wisconsin is so limited and doesn’t do anything defensively that bothers opponents significantly. If MSU plays like it has its last two times out, this one will be over relatively early.
•Make it: MSU 87, Wisconsin 67
– Graham Couch