By Danielle Daniels
MADISON, Wis. — Winners of four straight and 10 of its last 11, the No. 15 Wisconsin men’s basketball team heads on the road for a Big Ten test at Ohio State on Wednesday. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. (CT) on Big Ten Network.
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday will mark the 173rd meeting between Wisconsin and Ohio State in a series that dates back to 1905. The Buckeyes lead the all-time series, 95-77.
The Badgers have won eight of the last 13 games overall against Ohio State dating back to 2015.
UW has won four of its last six games at Ohio State, including a 65-60 win last season in Columbus.
Wisconsin is 7-5 against the Buckeyes under head coach Greg Gard.
QUALITY COMPETITION & RESUME
Wisconsin is at No. 13 in the latest NET Rankings (through games Jan. 7), going 6-3 overall in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games (3-3 in Quad 1).
Through Jan. 7, only Purdue (9) and Memphis (7) have more Quad 1+2 wins than Wisconsin.
Conversely, UW has no bad losses with all three coming from teams in the NET top 60: Arizona (3), Tennessee (5) and Providence (57).
Playing the 15th-toughest strength of schedule in the country, according to the NET Rankings, UW’s average opponent NET rank is 10th-best in the nation.
LEAVING NO DOUBT
Over the last two seasons, the Badgers played a total of 35 games decided by five points or less, going 25-10 in such games. However this season, Wisconsin has played ZERO games decided by fewer than 7 points.
Wisconsin has been finishing teams off this season. In five games, the Badgers hled a two-possession lead in the final 10 minutes and never allowed the opponent to get closer, extending the lead and going on to win by double figures.
In UW’s Big Ten championship season in 2022, the Badgers were 12-2 in close games. Last season, they went 13-8 in such games.
CHUCKY AT THE POINT OF IT
Chucky Hepburn is not being relied on as heavily to score compared to last season, but his overall play has risen as a result.
Wisconsin has won 10 of its last 11 games and during that stretch Hepburn has averaged 7.6 points, 4.5 assists (1.0 turnover) and 1.8 steals per game.
On the season, Hepburn has maintained a 3.3 assist-to-turnover ratio (56 assists, 17 turnovers), which would rank as the fourth-best single-season mark in school history.
COURTESY WISCONSIN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
