INDIANAPOLIS – The Big Ten schedule doesn’t offer many opportunities for teams to gain redemption.
But that is the situation for Wisconsin on Friday afternoon.
The Badgers face UCLA in a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at (approximately) 1:30 p.m. The Bruins defeated the Badgers, 85-83, at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 21.
John Blackwell’s last-second attempt to tie the game was blocked and UCLA snapped the Badgers’ seven-game winning streak.
7’3 UCLA big Aday Mara went off vs Wisconsin today
22 points
5 boards
2 blocks
7-7 FG
8-11 FTVery impressive performance for the sophomore from Spain, who pretty much got whatever he wanted today
First game all season where Mick Cronin allowed his guards to keep giving him… pic.twitter.com/EHyhFA12Zk
— Arman Jovic (@PDTScouting) January 22, 2025
Matchup to watch: Badger bigs vs. UCLA’s Aday Mara
The Bruins’ 7-foot-3 sophomore had a day against the Badgers in the first meeting. He was 7-for-7 shooting, drew six fouls and went 8 for 11 from the free throw line. His 22 points were six more than his previous career-high. What answers will the Badgers have for this matchup?
Wisconsin-UCLA prediction
The first meeting between the teams was a shootout. We’re sxpecting more of a defensive battle this time as both teams shot better than 50% and the Badgers hit 15 threes.
The key for UW to emerge victorious boils down to having a couple fewer turnovers and preventing a couple more offensive rebounds. Also can Nolan Winter and Max Klesmit, who had quiet games in the first meeting, make more of an impact? We think so.
Final: Wisconsin 72, UCLA 69.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Big Ten quarterfinal prediction: Can Wisconsin avenge loss to UCLA?
