Tale of the tape: Texas at Wisconsin

Setting:  9:30 EST tonight – It’s a Big 12 – Big 10 throw down in the cheese state as #9 Texas (9-2) travels to Madison for a two-step with Wisconsin (9-2).

Plot:  Both teams played Saturday – Texas lost to Michigan State, 67-63 while the Badgers dropped Coppin State, 57-46.   Other than the Longhorns 6.3 blocks per game that rank 14^th in the country, neither of these combatants have put together any impressive team statistics, yet they both have nine wins.

Sub-plots:  Texas and Wisconsin both have been to the NCAA tournament for the last ten years.  Even though it is early, Bo Ryan has to be worried about his Badgers.  Their two losses, UConn and Marquette, represent the only tough teams they have played.  A third loss tonight could crush the Badgers’ confidence. 

Along with their loss to MSU, Texas dropped a close one to Notre Dame, but the Longhorns have topped Villanova and UCLA.

Tone:  Urgency vs. Complacency.  A loss tonight gives either team the opportunity to dwell on the failure for the yuletide season.  Texas does not play again until January 2^nd when they host Appalachian St.  Wisconsin has off until New Years’ Eve when they travel to Ann Arbor to play the resurgent Michigan Wolverines.

Conflict:  Wisconsin is holding teams to 58.4 ppg while scoring 66.4 ppg.  The Badgers have a 5.7 rebound margin and they grab 4.6 steals per game.

Texas has been scoring at a clip of 73.3 ppg and holding opponents to 60.6 ppg.  The Longhorns have a rebound margin of 4.1 and they swipe 7.6 steals per game.   

Characters:  Senior, Marcus Landry and junior, Trevon Hughes, have been throwing in 12 ppg for the Badgers.  Senior, Joe Krabbenhoft leads Ryan’s gang with six rebounds per game.

A.J. Abrams and Damion James are both scoring in double figures for Rick Barnes – Abrams leading the way with 19.7 and James dropping 14.1.  James is grabbing eight boards per contest.  Justin Mason is doing his best to replace D.J. Augustin handing out 5.4 assists per game.

Flashback:  Last year around this time Texas dropped back-to-back affairs to MSU and Wisconsin.  Tonight Barnes will hope history won’t repeat.  Wisconsin has won four of the five meeting s between these two schools.

Foreshadowing:  It’s hard to imagine the NCAA tournament without Texas and Wisconsin.

Resolution:  Texas stays close and uses their press to knock off the Badgers.