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11/21 Big Ten Preview: Badgers Host Green Bay

NCAA Basketball: Marquette at Wisconsin Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Game of the Night:

-Green Bay Phoenix at Wisconsin Badgers

  • Time/TV: 9:00 PM ET (BTN)

Wisconsin is coming off of an impressive 16 point home victory over Marquette and will now host in-state opponent Green Bay. The Phoenix are 1-2, losing by double digits to New Mexico and Purdue while beating Wisconsin-Stout by 51.

The Phoenix are led by Jayquan McCloud, who averages 13.7 points, 5.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. Green Bay is 177th in field goal percentage, 153rd in three point percentage and almost last in free throw attempts (while shooting only 65% from the line). Their numbers are slightly boosted due to facing a lower level team, so the Phoenix offense hasn’t exactly been efficient this season. With them now set to travel to Madison and face a stout Badgers defense, the ability to score could prove problematic.

Wisconsin has bounced back nicely from their season opener and shouldn’t have much of an issue tonight.

  • Pick: Wisconsin

The Rest:

-North Florida Ospreys at Iowa Hawkeyes

  • Time/TV: 7:00 PM ET (BTN)

The Hawkeyes will try to improve to 3-1 with a win over visiting North Florida. The Ospreys are 4-1 and coming off of a 115-39 throttling of Trinity Baptist.

If there’s one thing to expect from North Florida it’s to expect plenty of three pointers. Through five games the Ospreys have shot 176 three pointers, or roughly 52% of their field goals. Last time out they hit 21 of 47 three pointers on their way to 115 points.

Iowa’s offense has mainly been Luka Garza and a balanced attack from basically everyone else that sees considerable minutes. The offense has been more or less Iowa and considering their opponent, expect North Florida to live and (probably) die by the three.

  • Pick: Iowa

-Central Michigan Chippewas at Minnesota Golden Gophers

  • Time/TV: 8:00 PM ET (BTN+)

Minnesota hasn’t had a great start to the season so the Gophers will look to take advantage of two cupcakes this week as they try to crawl back to a .500 record. With DePaul, Clemson, Iowa, Ohio State and Oklahoma State coming up, there’s absolutely little room for error. Even more so when you realize the only other mid-major following the next two games is a home game against Florida International, with a Purdue road trip immediately following.

Central Michigan is interesting because they were a 23 win team last year and while their competition hasn’t been great, they’re averaging 108.8 points per game. While the Chippewas lost leading scorers Larry Austin and Shawn Roundtree, offensive production hasn’t been much of an issue. Of course they’ve made 49 three pointers on 121 attempts (40.5%) and have shot 57.2% from two, so that’s not a huge surprise.

Minnesota’s big man Daniel Oturu should prove a considerable challenge and should finally slow down Central Michigan inside. Last time out Oturu led the Gophers with 21 points, 18 rebounds and 3 blocks. If the Chippewas can keep shooting from outside, though, that could prove problematic for a Gophers team that currently ranks 257th in scoring.

Look for Minnesota to try to limit Central Michigan outside and a play a slower pace as they try to limit a potent Chippewas offense and end a three game skid.

  • Pick: Minnesota