When the Badgers face off against Michigan State on Saturday, seniors Alando Tucker, Jason Chappell and Kammron Taylor will attempt to avoid being swept by the Spartans for the first time in their careers. The game, however, will have implications far beyond that.
Michigan State is looking to close out its season with a win over a top 10 team and improve its resume for the NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin has lost its last two games and is trying to salvage some momentum heading into the Big Ten tournament. The Badgers may have added motivation because of the bitter taste left from the last time these teams met.
When Wisconsin invaded the Breslin Center, it had a No. 1 ranking and its sights set on a No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle with Ohio State. The Spartans upset those plans, knocking off the Badgers 64-55 and sparking a court-storming celebration.
The hero that night was senior point guard Drew Neitzel, whose mastery of MSU's screen-based offense led to 28 points and 6-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc. Sophomore guard Travis Walton chipped in with 12 points, seven boards and 10 assists.
The Spartans are the best shooting team in the conference but rank sixth in scoring. This can ultimately be attributed to their patient offense that employs a variety of on-and-off ball screens to create open shots.
The Badgers' biggest issue in this game will be solving the Michigan State defense that held them to 35 percent shooing and 32 percent from long range in the first contest. The Spartans have allowed the lowest opponent field goal percentage in the conference and only let opponents connect on 29 percent of their 3-point attempts.
Taylor has been counted on as a major part of the Badger offense for most of the season but has only hit four of his last 16 shots and registered a mere two assists in the last two contests.
Two potential factors for Wisconsin are freshman guard Jason Bohannon and sophomore forward Marcus Landry. In East Lansing, Mich., Landry put up a career-high 18 points and shot 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Bohannon's 11 points were a major part of keeping the Badgers within striking distance against top-ranked Ohio State Sunday.
Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan has fared exceptionally well against MSU, boasting a 7-3 record and a 4-0 record against them at the Kohl Center. This is even more remarkable since the man standing across the court from Ryan is the most accomplished coach in the conference, Tom Izzo. Izzo has led the Spartans to nine straight NCAA tournament appearances, including four Final Fours and one national title.
Michigan State is currently being projected as a middle-of-the-pack seed for the big dance, but a victory in Madison would bump the Spartans up and make them a squad that few higher seeds would want to face in the round of 32. The Badgers are considered a borderline No. 1 seed and a win against the Spartans is paramount to making that a reality.
Fans are encouraged to arrive at 10:30 a.m. for Saturday's pre-game ceremonies honoring the team's seniors.
