UW offense vs. Illinois defense
While Alando Tucker and Kammron Taylor totaled a combined 50 points in Wisconsin's 85-76 loss to the Michigan Wolverines, the remainder of the UW squad scored only 26. Take away Ray Nixon's clutch 5-7 shooting performance, and that leaves five Badgers collaborating for 13 points on 4-19 shooting. Wisconsin must have a more balanced scoring effort against the Fighting Illini, who enter tonight's contest giving up only 58.1 points per game in conference play. Illinois' stifling defense has held its last three Big Ten opponents to under 60 points, and only once this season have the Illini surrendered more than 70. Advantage: Illinois
Illinois offense vs. UW defense
The Badgers put on a defensive clinic last Wednesday as they held the Penn State Nittany Lions to 43 points. On Saturday, however, Wisconsin repeatedly gave the Wolverines second-chance opportunities. Michigan forward Graham Brown simply out-hustled the Badger posts to snag 12 rebounds, two more than Brian Butch and Jason Chappell combined. The UW big men will have to contain Illinois' Jason Augustine, who averages 12.3 points and 8.4 rebounds in conference games. On the perimeter, the Illini are led by Dee Brown. The senior point guard averages nearly 17 points and six assists per contest in Big Ten play. Advantage:?Illinois
Coaching
In his fifth season as UW head coach, Bo Ryan has compiled a 35-1 home record against Big Ten opponents. Yet the sole blemish on that record came last year when Bruce Weber's Fighting Illini defeated the Badgers 75-65. Weber, a former assistant to Purdue legend Geane Keady, led Southern Illinois to the NCAA tournament before becoming the Illinois head coach in 2003. Last season his Illini team went 37-2, losing to North Carolina in the national championship game. Now in his third year, Weber has posted a 33-6 conference record and a 4-1 mark against Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan. His record against Ryan gives Weber the advantage in this game.
Advantage: Illinois
Intangibles
This should be a revenge game for the Badgers, who lost to Illinois three times last season. While the Fighting Illini cruise into the Kohl Center riding a three-game winning streak, the Badgers trudge home from Ann Arbor losers of three of their last four games. The absences of sophomore Greg Stiemsma and freshman Marcus Landry have forced Brian Butch, Jason Chappell and Joe Krabbenhoft to log big-time minutes. Nevertheless, the weary Badgers should be rejuvenated by a raucous crowd at the Kohl Center. With first place on the line, look for this game to be decided in the final minutes.
Advantage: Badgers
