The #25 Wisconsin Badgers (16-10, 10-9 Big Ten) take on the #5 Iowa Hawkeyes (19-7, 13-6 Big Ten) on the final day of regular-season Big Ten basketball play. Iowa attempts to sweep the season series against the Badgers after downing Wisconsin, 77-62, in Madison in mid-February. Sunday’s contest tips off at 12:30 p.m. EST inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, IA. Iowa is a 6-point favorite over the Badgers, according to oddsmakers.
What to Know – Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin will try and get back on track as they gear up for conference tournament play after dropping four of their last five games. The Badgers sit in the middle of the pack in the conference standings and are a projected seven-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The Badgers offense averages 69.8 points per game while shooting 41.9% from the field and 35.2% from the three-point line. Defensively, the Badgers are first in the Big Ten, surrendering only 63.5 points per game, holding teams to 41.8% shooting from the floor, and 34.0% from three.
Wisconsin went on the road Tuesday night and fell to the Purdue Boilermakers, 73-69. Five Badgers scored in double-figures, led by senior guard Brad Davison with 15 points. The Badgers connected on just 24.1% (7-of-29) of their three-point attempts and got outrebounded 37-27.
The Badgers are 12-14 against the spread this season, including 1-4 over their last five games. Wisconsin is 5-5 on the road this season and 4-1-1 in their previous six in Iowa City.
What to Know – Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa enters the final game as one of the country’s top teams and winners of six of their last seven games. The Hawkeyes are out of the running to win the Big Ten regular-season title, but a win Sunday and deep run in the conference tournament could bump the Hawkeyes from a two-seed to a one-seed in the Big Dance.
Offensively, the Hawkeyes led the Big Ten scoring 85.3 points per game while shooting 47.3 from the field and a conference-best 39.9% from deep. Iowa’s defense holds teams to 72.1 points per game, 41.0% shooting from the floor, and 34.8% from beyond the arc.
Iowa hit the century mark for the fourth time this season in a 102-64 blowout victory over Nebraska on Thursday night. The Hawkeyes got a game-high 26 points from senior guard Jordan Bohannon and 19 points off the bench from reserve forward Patrick McCaffery. Iowa forced 20 turnovers and shot a sizzling 51.4% (38-for-74) from the field.
The Hawkeyes are 15-11 ATS on the year with a 5-2 mark over their last seven contests. Iowa is 10-9 ATS against Big Ten teams and 10-5 ATS at home.
The Pick is In
In their previous meeting, Wisconsin had no way to stop Luka Garza, with the star center pouring in 30 points for the victory. Sunday will be his final home game in a Hawkeye uniform, and we expect another big game from him and classmate Jordan Bohannon. Wisconsin’s defense limits the Hawkeyes below their scoring average, but Iowa does just enough on the offensive end to win this one comfortably.
The Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes -6
