Badgers face Iowa as they hope to get things going.

The Wisconsin Badgers take on the Iowa Hawkeyes tonight at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin has won 14 of their 15 home games at home this season and are looking  to win out before the regular season ends.

Wisconsin is a big favorite in this match-up between the 16-13 Hawkeyes as the Iowa basketball program has taken a step back since last season. Iowa comes in with six freshman,two starting, Jordan Bohannon and Tyler Cook. Hawkeyes star and leader Peter Jok, a 6’6 senior has never won a game in the Kohl Center.

Peter Jok

Iowa looked good in their last game as they beat No. 24 Maryland 83-69 in Annapolis led by Bohannon who scored a career high 24 points.  Bohannon averages 9.7 points per game and 4.5 assists.

As for the Badgers, currently ranked No.22, Ethan Happ was selected this week as one of the ten Naismath Trophy finalists. Happ is the only Division 1 player to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in league games.

But on the down side, Wisconsin is struggling. They’ve lost two straight road games and 4 out of their last 5. They’ve got to change something on defense as they allowed Michigan, Ohio State, and Michigan State to all shoot 46 percent or more from the floor.  The Badgers also have not been knocking down their free throws, significantly in their latest loss against Michigan State.

Several things need to happen in order for Wisconsin to get a share in the Big Ten title with Purdue.  The Badgers needs to win their two remaining games and Purdue needs to lose to Northwestern on Sunday.

Hopefully Wisconsin can heat things up late in the season so they can have a possible run at the Final Four.

By Jacob Szczap