UW offense vs. Marquette defense
In Wisconsin's 63-54 loss to the Golden Eagles last year, Marquette stifled the Badgers' swing offense by utilizing a big lineup and forcing UW to launch low-percentage shots from the outside. Kammron Taylor and the other Wisconsin perimeter players will need to have big games if Marquette head coach Tom Crean employs the same defensive scheme this year. Through six games, Taylor is shooting 50 percent from the field and nearly 53 percent from three-point land. While Marquette uses several gimmick defenses to establish the tempo and disrupt opposing offenses, in their first seven games the Golden Eagles surrendered 72 points per contest.
Advantage: Wisconsin
Marquette offense vs. UW defense
The Badgers' defense had better be hungry, because the Golden Eagles' point totals have been soaring early this season. In his first seven starts, freshman point-guard Dominic James averaged 15.4 points and 6.7 assists per game. Senior Steve Novak lacks the post moves that one would expect to find in 6'-10' forward, yet with 24 treys in seven games, he remains one of the deadliest three-point shooters in the country. Nevertheless, Brian Butch and the Badger big men should be able to out-muscle the Marquette posts on the inside. Both the Badgers and Golden Eagles have put up big offensive numbers thusfar in 2005, and Saturday's game could very well be a shootout.
Advantage: Push
Coaching
A win against the Golden Eagles would give Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan 100 victories as the head coach of the Badgers. Ryan, who has led UW to the NCAA tournament in each of his four years at the helm, will match wits with Marquette head coach Tom Crean. After taking the Golden Eagles to the Final Four in 2002, Crean was hailed as one of the top coaches in college basketball and courted by many big name programs. Yet back-to-back NIT appearances and key player transfers have put the seven-year head coach on the hot seat at Marquette. An upset victory against rival Wisconsin would give Crean some much needed breathing room.
Advantage: Wisconsin
Intangibles
They may not be 'Warriors' or as good as 'Gold,' but with three freshmen and three sophomores seeing significant playing time, Marquette boasts one of the most talented, young lineups in all of college basketball. Then again, winning in a tiny gym in Alaska and demolishing perennial powerhouses like South Dakota State does not prepare a team for a crazed crowd at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin has a 35-14 record against Marquette in Madison. With coach Ryan going for win 100 and the 'Grateful Red' out in full force, look for the Badgers to down the Golden Eagles.
Advantage: Wisconsin
