The Wisconsin Badgers, ranked number twenty-three in the country, find themselves coming back into Big Ten play at a very solid 9-3 start. Their opponent on Tuesday Night will be the Iowa Hawkeyes to open up 2024 play. Here are some things to look for as the Badgers look to go 2-0 in conference.
Offense - AJ Storr
The Badgers, averaging 74.2 points per game, are led by transfer guard AJ Storr. Coming from St. Johns, the Badgers knew they were getting an outstanding combo guard who could both shoot and bring an explosiveness that the offense seemed to lack last year. Storr has been as advertised, and some, averaging a clean 15 points per game on 44% shooting from the field. Along with Storr, Steven Crowl (12.8 points per game) and Tyler Wahl (10.8 points per game) have led the offensive attack for the Badgers. As I mentioned in a previous article, John Blackwell has continued to impress and averages 9.3 points per game now, which is good for 4th on the team. With the scoring being so spread out and balanced, this team has many different options when they come down the floor on offense, but if AJ Storr can continue to play at his high level, this team should continue to roll.
Defense - Iowa Offense
While Wisconsin averages 74.2 points per game as a team, the Iowa Hawkeyes are averaging a higher margin of 87.8 points per game. It will be quite a battle between a high-scoring offense and a defense in Wisconsin, which only gives a few opportunities at 64.2 points per game allowed. The Hawkeyes are led by Senior Forward Ben Krikke, who averages 17.0 points per game. It has been clear that Iowa likes to run the offense through their big men, so Crowl and Company will have a high-scoring forward on their hands, but there are two. Iowa's second-leading scorer at 13.8 points per game, and who also leads the team in rebounds, is Junior Forward Peyton Sandfort. When you look at the Hawkeyes, the offense will likely look to run between the two big men, and they'll see if they can't get the tandem going once again Tuesday Night.
The Week Ahead - Big Ten Play In Full Force
Upcoming, besides Iowa on Tuesday Night, the Badgers look onward as they hit the full swing of Big Ten Conference play. Besides Iowa in the Kohl Center Tuesday Night, the Badgers will return home on Saturday Night, January 6th, to also take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Cornhuskers currently stand at 11-2, so the Badgers will have two Big Ten opponents coming into town this week with positive records and a combined record of 19-7, as the Hawkeyes are a respective 8-5. Three keys to the week will once again be getting the offense going through AJ Storr, John Blackwell sparking the bench, and limiting two higher-scoring offenses with a defense that has been very solid thus far.
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