Wisconsin at Iowa: how to watch and open thread [UPDATE]

The Wisconsin Badgers are back on the road, this time traveling to Iowa City to do battle with the No. 18 Iowa Hawkeyes. Wisconsin (12-8 overall, 5-4 B1G) is 3-3 in their last six outings including getting rebounded off the court by Purdue this past Friday. Iowa (14-5 overall, 5-3 B1G), on the other hand, has won four straight which includes three wins over ranked opponents.

The Boilermakers out-rebounded UW 42-16, including 16-2 on the offensive glass, in Friday’s game and there has been a lot of questioning of Wisconsin’s “desire” to battle for boards.

That is very unlike most Wisconsin teams in recent memory and one would imagine that they’ll come out on Monday night with a fire lit under their respective asses, but Iowa grabs 33.6% of the offensive rebounds available to them, according to KenPom, which is good for No. 35 in the nation...so, this won’t be easy for UW.

The Hawks average 80.2 points per game and have the third most efficient offense in the nation, again according to KenPom, so the Badgers’ defense is going to have to be locked in from the jump and cut down on second chance scoring opportunities. You can’t give a team like Iowa multiple cracks at the basket.

How to watch/listen

TV: BTN, 7:30 p.m., CT, Kevin Kugler, Stephen Bardo

Streaming: FOX Sports Go

Radio/Satellite: 1310 AM, Sirius/XM 380; Matt Lepay, Mike Lucas

Live stats: Here!

Arena: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, Iowa

Line: Wisconsin +6

KenPom Wisconsin win percentage: 30%

Fun facts (according to the media guides)

• Monday’s game marks the 167th meeting between Wisconsin and Iowa, in a rivalry that began in 1909. The Badgers lead the all-time series, 85-81.
• Since 1999, the Badgers are 27-10 against the Hawkeyes, including a mark of 12-6 at Carver.
• Overall, however, the Hawkeyes are 51-30 against the Badgers in Iowa City.
• More recently, UW has won four of its last five visits to Iowa City and eight of the last 10 overall against Iowa.
• Ten of the last 15 meetings, dating back to 2011, have been decided by seven points or less.
• Wisconsin assistant Dean Oliver was a three-time, third-team All-Big Ten performer at Iowa (1998- 01). Oliver scored 1,561 points in his career and his 561 assists rank third in Iowa history.
• This season, if the Badgers attempt 20+ three point field goals they are 10-5. If they are losing at halftime they are 0-6. So, here’s my plan...huck early and huck often.
• Iowa’s Luka Garza (23.2) and Joe Wieskamp (15.0) combine to average 38.2 points per game, which is sixth best Division I scoring duo in the country.
• Garza is first in the Big Ten in scoring (23.2 ppg), and second in double-doubles (11), and rebounding (10.3 rpg).
• Iowa fans are encouraged to wear black clothing for the game on Monday for their annual “Blackout.”

Probable starters

Wisconsin

• D’Mitrik Trice, redshirt junior, guard, No. 0
• Aleem Ford, redshirt junior, forward, No. 2
• Kobe King, redshirt sophomore, guard, No. 23 We, uh, don’t know
• Brad Davison, junior, guard, No. 34
• Nate Reuvers, junior, forward, No. 35

Iowa

• Joe Toussaint, freshman, guard, No. 0
• CJ Fredrick, redshirt freshman, guard, No. 5
• Joe Wieskamp, sophomore, forward, No. 10
• Connor McCaffery, redshirt sophomore, guard, No. 30
• Luka Garza, junior, center, No. 55

UPDATE 1/27/20 at 3:30 p.m. CT: According to Jeff Potrykus, Kobe King did not travel with the team to Iowa.

UPDATE 1/27/20 at 3:41 p.m. CT: Official statement from the team.