Wisconsin vs. Loyola (Chicago): how to watch, game preview and open thread

The No. 12 Wisconsin Badgers (4-1 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) men’s basketball team has already had two games canceled this season but, luckily, they have been able to find two excellent replacements on short notice. This time, the Loyola (Chicago) Ramblers (3-0 overall, 0-0 MVC) will be making the short trip north to Madison to take on the Badgers Tuesday night at the Kohl Center.

You’ll, no doubt, remember the Ramblers from their fantastic run to the 2018 Final Four and Sister Jean and how we were all cheering for them against Michigan, but now things have changed. Now they are playing our beloved Badgers and it’s time to stuff Sister Jean in a trash can where she belongs! I’m sorry, that’s over the line. We shouldn’t want or do that.

::takes a deep breath::

OK, let’s try this again! The Ramblers will be coming to Madison having won their first three games of the season albeit against lesser competition than the Badgers present.

Loyola is incredibly efficient when shooting the basketball this year, sporting a 62.8% eFG% on the season which is good for second best in the nation. They also don’t turn the ball over much and don’t give up any offensive rebounds. Weirdly, they are a poor free throw shooting team this year but one would imagine they’ll improve as the season goes on.

Big man Cameron Krutwig needs 63 assists this season to move into the top-10 in school history for that category and then would become the first player in school history to rank in the top-10 of points, rebounds and assists. He’ll pose a problem for Nate Reuvers and Micah Potter down low as he has proven adept at drawing fouls (7.5 per game) and the two Wisconsin big men have proven, uh, adept at committing fouls.

How to watch/listen

TV: BTN, 7:00 p.m., CT, Jeff Levering, Brian Butch

Streaming: FOX Sports Go

Radio/Satellite: 1310 AM, Sirius/XM 84; Matt Lepay, Mike Lucas

Live stats: Here!

Arena: Kohl Center

Line: Wisconsin -8

KenPom Wisconsin win percentage: 74%

Fun facts (according to the media guides)

• The Ramblers — coming off a 77-66 win over UIC on Sunday — have won at least 20 games in each of the last two seasons, including a run to the Final Four as a No. 11 seed in 2017-18.
• Wisconsin owns a 12-game home win streak, the longest active in the Big Ten.
• Wisconsin leads the all-time series with Loyola, 9-6, which dates back to the first meeting in 1948. However, the two teams haven’t met in 22 years.
• UW is 7-3 for games played in Madison. Although the Ramblers have won three of the last five.
• Senior Micah Potter recently got engaged (mazel tov) this summer to Elle Van Grinsven, a senior on the Loyola Chicago volleyball team.
• Through five games, D’Mitrik Trice is averaging 11.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 3.8 apg. He is also shooting 40% from 3-point range (8-for-20).
• Along with Brad Davison, UW’s starting backcourt has 26 assists with just eight turnovers in 256 combined minutes on the year.
• If Davison scores 16 points in this game, he’ll pass color commentator Brian Butch on the Wisconsin all-time scoring list.
• The Badgers continue to stifle opponents yet again this season, leading the Big Ten this year allowing just 59.2 ppg.
• Dating back to the 2017-18 season the Ramblers have beaten four of their last seven ranked opponents, however they have last their last nine games against Big Ten opposition.

Probable starters

Wisconsin

• D’Mitrik Trice, 6-foot, redshirt senior, guard, No. 0
• Aleem Ford, 6-foot-8 redshirt senior, forward, No. 2
• Micah Potter, 6-foot-10, redshirt senior, center, No. 11
• Brad Davison, 6-foot-4, senior, guard, No. 34
• Nate Reuvers, 6-foot-11, senior, forward, No. 35

Loyola (Chicago)

• Lucas Williamson, 6-foot-4, senior, guard, No. 1
• Braden Norris, 6-foot-0, redshirt sophomore, guard, No. 4
• Tate Hall, 6-foot-6, redshirt senior, forward, No. 24
• Cameron Krutwig, 6-foot-9, senior, center, No. 25
• Aher Uguak, 6-foot-7, redshirt senior, forward, No. 30