Big Ten Basketball: Wisconsin vs. Michigan preview, prediction, TV schedule
By Taylor Sturm
With a trip to the 2017 NCAA Tournament still more than possible, the Michigan Wolverines face the Wisconsin Badgers in Ann Arbor on Thursday night.
TV Schedule: Thursday, Feb. 16, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Arena: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, MI
The Wisconsin Badgers currently sit atop the Big Ten standings and have a real opportunity to assert their dominance over the conference in the last six games of the season. Their recent home loss to the Northwestern Wildcats did more to bolster NW’s chances at the NCAA Tournament than harm Wisconsin, but a loss here to Michigan could be devastating in the hunt for the Big Ten regular season title and a coveted No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament.
Michigan, on the other hand, have just one bad loss on the season on the road to the Illinois Fighting Illini. Their non-conference losses came to the UCLA Bruins, South Carolina Gamecocks, and Virginia Tech Hokies, all of which are currently ranked. The only thing the Wolverines are missing to make the 2017 NCAA Tournament at the moment is a signature, season defining win over a top opponent – and Wisconsin is just that.
On the road in Wisconsin earlier this season, Michigan fell by just four points. While unable to close games out on the road, this Wolverines’ squad has played well defensively at home and definitely have a chance at the upset.
The bad news for Michigan is that the loss to Northwestern will have Wisconsin come out ready to prove that it was just a fluke home loss to the Wildcats and not an indication of how this team will close out the season. If the Wolverines can avoid the initial push by the Badgers, then they have a chance of winning. If they don’t, this one could get ugly, fast.
Being in Michigan, however, makes this a toss-up. I give this game to Michigan in a season changing upset for the Wolverines.
Prediction: Michigan 68, Wisconsin 65