Wisconsin Badgers vs Michigan Wolverines: Predictions, Odds and Roster Notes

Where: Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, MI, USA

When: Saturday February 9 at 12pm EST

How (TV/Radio): FOX

Wisconsin(Away)

Head Coach: Greg Gard {Overall: 17-6, .739 W-L% | Conference: 9-3, T-3rd in Big Ten}

The Wisconsin Badgers come to Crisler Arena looking to sweep the Wolverines after taking care of business back at the Kohl Center on January 19th. The Badgers came out on top 64-54 with senior big man, Ethan Happ, contributing 26 points and 10 boards on 12 of 22 shooting. Happ was the only double figure scorer that night for his team.

Wisconsin enters this matchup after escaping with a close 56-51 road win over rival Minnesota. Happ again had to carry his team to victory, netting a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds, on a night when the Badgers shot just 34.5% from the field.

Michigan (Home)

Head Coach: John Beilein {Overall: 21-2, .913 W-L% | Conference: 10-2, 1st in Big Ten}

The Maize and Blue return home from a road trip to New Jersey to avenge their earlier loss to Wisconsin. The Wolverines were uncharacteristically plagued by turnovers in that game by committing 16 of them despite ranking 2nd in the nation in turnovers per game, at just 9.4.

In Michigan’s latest contest at Rutgers, the Wolverines came out on top 77-65 behind a 23 point effort from Ignas Brazdeikis who knocked down five shots from beyond the arc. Junior point guard Zavier Simpson filled the box score with 14 points, 7 boards, and 7 assists.

Wisconsin Roster Notes

The Badgers are without redshirt-sophomore guard Trevor Anderson for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL suffered November 30 against Iowa.

Michigan Roster Notes

Michigan has no injuries to report

Head-to-Head: Ethan Happ vs Zavier Simpson

Ethan Happ

Power Forward | 6-10 237lb (208cm, 107kg) | Rockridge HS | Milan, IL | Senior

18.5 PPG | 5.1 APG | 10.3 RPG | 1.0 SPG | 1.2 BPG | 2.8 TOV | .556 FG% | .000 3P%

Zavier Simpson

Point Guard| 6-0 190 (183cm, 86kg) | Lima Senior HS| Lima, OH | Junior

9.0 PPG | 6.0 APG | 5.2 RPG | 1.5 SPG | 0.1 BPG | 1.7 TOV | .429 FG% | .265 3P%

The common denominator in this matchup is leadership, as both players play a crucial role in powering their teams towards success. The ways they contribute to the success of their squads somewhat differs, but both nonetheless have thrived as leaders thus far.

There is not much to say about Ethan Happ that has not been said already. The senior power forward has been a key contributor for the Badgers since he stepped on campus and replaced current NBA pro, Frank Kaminsky. Happ leads the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists, the latter of which says a lot about a big guy doesn’t spend much time on the perimeter.

Contrary to Happ, Michigan’s Zavier Simpson is a more traditional team leader where he runs the point for a team that was once ranked number one in the country. His six assists per game ranks second in the Big Ten behind Michigan State’s Cassius Winston, as his selflessness has allowed the likes of Brazdeikis, Jordan Poole, and Charles Matthews to shoulder the bulk of the scoring load.

Wisconsin at Michigan Predictions and Odds

Michigan is currently listed as a 6 point favourite according to oddsmakers, with an over/under of 121.