Wisconsin Basketball: 3 Keys to a Badgers Victory vs Purdue

After a tough 80-72 overtime loss over the Nebraska Cornhuskers Thursday night, Wisconsin basketball has their biggest home game of the season today. The Wisconsin Badgers will face #2 Purdue in a battle for first place in the Big Ten. Purdue is coming off a 105-96 overtime win against the Northwestern Wildcats on Wednesday night.

The Boilermakers will bring in last year’s Wooden Award winner and the front runner for the award this year too in Zach Edey. At 7’4, he is a problem for any team. Can Wisconsin basketball get a massive home win and be in the drivers seat in the Big Ten? Tip time is 12 PM on CBS. Here are today’s keys to victory.

Wisconsin Basketball Has to Give Zach Edey Multiple Looks

Any time you play Purdue, the focus is how to slow down Zach Edey. The answer? You can’t. There’s only two choices you have: let him do his thing take away the role players. Option two is double team and take your chances on the role players beating you.

If I’m Wisconsin basketball, I’m letting Edey get his own. Purdue has players like Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith, Lance Jones, and Mason Gillis who can all shoot from three. As a team, the Boilermakers shoot almost 41% from three.

The threes will kill you and if they get conformable early behind the arc, it may not matter what Edey does. I think the Badgers have enough depth to give multiple looks to Edey, but they have to protect the three.

First Place On the Line

Sole possession of first place in the Big Ten is on the line. Wisconsin basketball has a great opportunity in front of their home crowd to get back to the top of the standings.

Throughout the season, both the Badgers and Boilermakers have solidified themselves as two of the top teams in the Big Ten. Both have played excellent and have great NCAA Tournament resumes to this point.

Take Away the Three Point Line

As mentioned before, Purdue can get hot from three in a hurry. Just like Nebraska, they don’t need much room. Fletcher Loyer and Lance Jones have quick releases. The Badgers have to be locked in defensively.

I also think Purdue is going to have make outside shots as well. Besides Edey, they don’t really have another player who can get to the rim. Taking the three point shot away will severely limit the Boilermakers.

It should be an incredible atmosphere in Madison between two top 10 teams in the country!

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