Wisconsin vs. Ohio State: how to watch, game preview and open thread

The No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers (12-3 overall, 6-2 Big Ten) are back in action on Saturday afternoon at the Kohl Center against the No. 15 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-4 overall, 5-4 Big Ten). OSU is coming off of a heartbreaking loss to Purdue while the Badgers are riding a modest two game winning streak.

The Buckeyes have an efficient offense (No. 5 in KenPom) that doesn’t turn the ball over much and is excellent at getting to the free throw line. Big men Micah Potter and Nate Reuvers will have to be careful on defense as they have been known to get into foul trouble regularly this season.

Ohio State’s defense is...fine. It isn’t terrible but it isn’t especially fearsome either. They don’t force a lot of turnovers, which plays into the Badgers’ style, and they give up a nationwide average of three point attempts, which Wisconsin will try and take advantage of I’m sure.

When looking over the numbers, the Buckeyes defense seems similar to Wisconsin’s defense...just worse. I could see this game featuring multiple scoring droughts and lots of frustrated fans watching at home.

Enjoy!

How to watch/listen

TV: CBS, 3:00 p.m., CT, Andrew Catalon, Jim Spanarkel

Streaming: CBS All Access

Radio/Satellite: 1310 AM, Sirius/XM 83; Matt Lepay, Mike Lucas

Live stats: Here!

Arena: Kohl Center

Line: Wisconsin -4.5

KenPom Wisconsin win percentage: 65%

Fun facts (according to the media guides)

• This is the only meeting of the season between the Badgers and the Buckeyes.
• Wisconsin is 3-1 against the AP Top-25 this season. Only Gonzaga (4), Iowa (4), Kansas (4) and Minnesota (4) have more wins.
• The Badgers lead the Big Ten allowing only 61.4 ppg this season and second in FG pct. defense (39.8%).

• UW has won 18 of its last 19 home games.
• Chris Holtmann’s teams are 1-3 vs. Wisconsin. Ohio State leads the all-time series 88-73 however the Badgers are 47-30 in Madison vs. the Buckeyes, including an 11-4 record at the Kohl Center. Greg Gard is 5-2 all-time vs. OSU.
• The Badgers have won three straight against the Buckeyes and six of the last eight meetings overall.
• In Madison, Wisconsin has won 13 of last 16 contests against Ohio State dating back to 2001.
• Five of the Wisconsin’s top eight scorers are shooting over 40% from deep.
• UW is 9-0 this season when having at least four players score in double figures.
• Wisconsin has two Ohio natives on its roster: D’Mitrik Trice (Huber Heights) and Micah Po‚tter (Mentor).
• Po‚tter played two seasons at OSU before transferring to Wisconsin in Dec. of 2018. He averaged 4.1 ppg and 2.8 rebounds in 59 games.
• Nate Reuvers is averaging 9.5 ppg in four career meetings and scored 17 points against the Buckeyes last season while adding nine boards.
• UW is 5-1 this season when making nine or more three pointers in a game this year.
• The game at No. 10 Wisconsin will the third-consecutive road contest vs. a Top 15 opponent for the Buckeyes, who defeated No. 15 Rutgers and No. 14 Illinois in the previous two.
• C.J. Walker (42 of 43; 97.7 pct.) and Duane Washington Jr. (44 of 50; 88.0 pct.) are combining to make 92.5% of their free throw attempts this season (86 of 93).

• Justin Ahrens has connected on 50% from three-point range this season (32-64) after knocking down 3-of-9 from distance vs. Purdue. He has taken just two shots inside the arc this season (1-2).

Probable starters

Wisconsin

• D’Mitrik Trice, 6-foot, redshirt senior, guard, No. 0
• Aleem Ford, 6-foot-8, redshirt senior, forward, No. 2
• Tyler Wahl, 6-foot-9, sophomore, forward, No. 5
• Micah Potter, 6-foot-10, redshirt senior, center, No. 11
• Brad Davison, 6-foot-4, senior, guard, No. 34

Ohio State

• Duane Washington, 6-foot-3, junior, guard, No. 4
• Justin Ahrens, 6-foot-6, junior, guard, No. 10
• Justice Sueing, 6-foot-7, junior, forward, No. 14
• Kyle Young, 6-foot-8, senior, forward, No. 25
• E.J. Liddell, 6-foot-7, sophomore, forward, No. 32