INDIANAPOLIS – if you thought the Wisconsin men’s basketball team was in a tough spot when it lost Max Klesmit for three games, imagine how the Northwestern faithful feel.
At the end of January they lost starting guard Brooks Barnhizer for the rest of the year due to a broken foot. Three games later the team announced guard Jalen Leach, a graduate student, was done for the season due to an ACL injury.
That is 31.4 points of production per game Northwestern no longer has at its disposal that includes its top rebounder (Barnhizer) and No. 1 three-point shooter (Leach).
These Wildcats are wounded and the Badgers need to take advantage.
No. 5 seed Wisconsin (23-8) faces No. 13 Northwestern (17-15) in a second-round Big Ten tournament game Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tip-off is approximately 1:30 p.m.
A Badgers win would send them to the quarterfinals where they would get a shot at No. 4 seed UCLA, an opponent that would bolster their NCAA tournament resume.
Here is what you need to know about the matchup.
How can I watch or listen to the Wisconsin-Northwestern Big Ten tournament game?
The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. Guy Haberman (play-by-play), Stephen Bardo (analysis) and Rick Pizzo (sideline) will handle the call.
The matchup can be heard on AM-97.3 in Milwaukee and on AM-1310 and FM-101.5 in Madison. Matt Lepay (play-by-play) and Brian Butch will call the action. The contest can also be heard on the Varsity app or on Sirius XM channel 84.
Wisconsin Badgers probable starters
25 – John Blackwell, 6-4, G, 15.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.2 apg
11 – Max Klesmit, 6-4, G, 9.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.7 apg
9 – John Tonje, 6-5, G, 18.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.7 apg
22 – Steven Crowl, 7-0, C, 9.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.5 apg
31 – Nolan Winter, 7-0, F, 9.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.0 apg
Wisconsin: Schedule || Roster || Statistics
More: With Max Klesmit set to return, here is a look at his impact on the Wisconsin basketball team
Northwestern Wildcats probable starters
2 – Nick Martinelli, 6-7, F, 20.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.8 apg
34 – Matthew Nicholson, 7-0, C, 5.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.4 apg
3 – Ty Berry. 6-3, G, 10.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.3 apg
11 – Jordan Clayton, 6-2, G, 4.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.7 apg
20 – Justin Mullins, 6-6, G, 4.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.4 apg
Northwestern: Schedule || Roster || Statistics
Wisconsin-Northwestern prediction
Will we get the Wisconsin team that was held to 25 points in the first half against Northwestern earlier this season or the one that scored 50 in the second half of the 75-69 win? We think it’s going to be the latter and that the return of Klesmit is going to jump start the team.
Northwestern, which defeated Minneota in a first-round game Wednesday, is a scrappy bunch that has remained competitive despite its personnel losses, but it is going to have a hard time keeping up if the Badgers get going offensively.
Final: Wisconsin 77, Northwestern 65.
A look back at UW’s win over Northwestern in February
A look back at UW’s loss to Penn State in the regular season finale
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: No. 18 Wisconsin vs. Northwestern: Starters, TV info, prediction
