Wisconsin Basketball Hosts No. 9 Tennessee: 3 Big Things to Watch For

Following a historic 105-76 victory over Arkansas State in their season opener, Greg Gard and the Wisconsin Badgers basketball program will have to quickly refocus for their first top-10 opponent of the season.

The Badgers are set to host the No. 9 ranked Tennessee Volunteers on Friday night in front of a packed, roaring Kohl Center in Madison. Head coach Rick Barnes and the Vols are coming off a colossal 80-42 beatdown against Tennessee Tech in their first clash of the season, cementing their status as one of the most feared teams in college basketball right now.

Wisconsin would crack the AP Top-25 with a win on Friday. Let’s look at three big talking points ahead of the matchup.

Wisconsin Basketball Must Limit Tennessee’s Transfer Superstar

Without a doubt, Tennesse’s best player is none other than Northern Colorado transfer Dalton Knecht.

The fifth-year senior was the 23rd-best scorer in Division I basketball last season, averaging 20.2 points per game on 47.9% shooting from the field. The 6’6″ guard also led the Volunteers in scoring during their three off-season games abroad, putting up 16.3 PPG, and a 28-point showing against Michigan State in an exhibition game. He translated his hype to game one of the regular season vs. Tennessee Tech, leading his squad in scoring with 17 points in the home win.

Knecht is a full package on the basketball court. He can dunk, shoot from distance, and completely shift the momentum of a game with his flare and poise on the ball. Wisconsin will have to guard the Vols’ No. 3 touch-tight and remain sturdy on their feet if they wish to control the tempo of Friday’s contest.

A.J. Storr vs. Dalton Knecht – you won’t want to miss it.

New Kids on the Block

Despite the hype around Wisconsin’s entire core returning for the 2023-24 season, don’t be surprised to see a few new guys carry a solid chunk of the load against the Volunteers on Friday.

St. John’s transfer A.J. Storr has already sparked excitement amongst Badger fans, scoring 15 points in 22 minutes in Wisconsin’s season opener on Monday.

Like Knecht, Storr brings the “it” factor that every basketball team needs on its squad. He possesses a beautiful jump shot, can score from almost everywhere on the floor, and is a superstar athlete on both sides of the court. The 6’7″ guard out of Rockford, Illinois brings an aura to the court that the Kohl Center hasn’t witnessed since the Johnny Davis era. If all goes to plan, he will likely pan out to be the Badgers’ most valuable player this season, and a statement move from head coach Greg Gard in the transfer portal. Against a tough Tennesse defense, Storr will certainly be instructed to take on his defender and drive to the rim whenever he gets an opportunity.

Freshmen John Blackwell and Nolan Winter also made their presence felt in the Badgers’ victory over Arkansas State earlier this week.

Blackwell couldn’t have had a more impressive start to his collegiate career. The 6’4″ guard out of Highland Park, Michigan had 12 points, four rebounds, and a steal in only 15 minutes on the court. He was given numerous ovations throughout the game, and must have received a thousand compliments on Twitter following the game. Winter, standing at 6’11”, also looked very solid in his Badger debut. The Lakeville, Minnesota native tallied six points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes of action on Monday. He was Gard’s first player off the bench, and will likely see valuable minutes this season.

Blackwell and Winter give the Wisconsin Badgers the depth they were missing out on in seasons prior. Despite being first-years, both players look extremely comfortable on the ball and will give Gard’s starters the rest they deserve. The deeper the Badgers’ lineup goes, the more likely they are to compete with top-10 opponents this season.

Storr and his freshmen companions can play a huge role in taking down the No. 9 ranked team in the nation. Storr could very well turn out to be the most talented player on the court on Friday night, while Blackwell and Nolan bring the “freshman drive” in only their second official clashes as Badgers. Sometimes, a little mix of raw talent and young hunger is all you need to shock a monster opponent and spark an upset.

Odds Are In…the Wisconsin Basketball Team’s Favor?

At first glance, the unranked Badgers probably shouldn’t take down the No. 9 ranked team in college basketball, right?

Well, this is where things get exciting. Per ESPN analytics, the Wisconsin Badgers have a 52.9% chance of defeating Tennesse on Friday. Although home-court advantage may play a huge role in this prediction, unranked teams typically face less than a 40% chance ahead of top-15 matchups. The experts must see something in Gard’s squad that proves them capable of being giant slayers.

It’s also important to mention that Wisconsin basketball was 15.5-point favorites ahead of their season opener against Arkansas State. Instead, the Badgers smashed the Red Wolves by 29, breaking the all-time scoring record at the Kohl Center with 105 points.

Average college basketball teams don’t put up 105 against any Division I opponent — great teams do. Chucky Hepburn, Connor Essegian, and A.J. Storr have the talent to become an elite group of guards this season. Tyler Wahl is looking better than ever, and the combined workloads of Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter will cause major problems for rival big men. John Blackwell provides a much-needed athletic boost off the bench, and don’t be surprised to see Max Klesmit bring his game to a whole new level. This team has the keys — and I can’t wait to see how they fare against the mighty Tennessee Volunteers.

Get ready to rush the court, Badger fans.

Final score prediction: Wisconsin Basketball 82 – 79 Tennessee 

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