What a fight there will be tonight in California, wait that is politics, I'm talking about the fight in Madison, Wisconsin. The Badgers host the Hoosiers in a battle of the top two in the Big Ten. I have a real strong feeling on this game and it is not for the four point favored home team.
Indiana comes into this game off a difficult loss at home versus Connecticut. That was not one of the better performances by Indiana this year, and if they play anything like they did Saturday they will get slaughtered on the road and only score 50 points. But I think Kelvin Sampson can psyche his team up for this all important Big Ten battle. Eric Gordon is going to have to wake up as well.
Wisconsin is going to pressure Indiana in the backcourt and in the frontcourt, but I believe Indiana has the ball handlers in Gordon, Ellis, and Bassett to limit their turnovers. DJ White will also play well I think versus a undersized Wisconsin front-line. Wisconsin's forwards are big but they just aren't that tall which I think gives White a major advantage in shooting over them and not getting blocked.
Defense is going to be a major factor in this game for Indiana as well. They will need to limit Hughes and Bohannon from the perimeter because if they start knocking down long range shots that usually spells a Badger win. Brian Butch and Marcus Landry are going to score there 10-15 points but you cannot let Hughes or Bohannon go off for 20+ and five or more three pointers.
My x-factor in this game is Indiana G/F Lance Stemler. If he can open up the Badgers defense and knock down some big threes especially early that will give Indiana a major advantage. It will especially open up the inside game for DJ White to pick apart Butch and Co.
Final prediction is 65-63 Hoosiers in a rough game that might not be great on the eyes but will look great on the Hoosiers schedule come tourney time. And it will also give them the top position in the Big Ten by two games.
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