:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48528915/usa-today-9040767.0.jpg)
After facing, and defeating Rutgers in one of the more comically lopsided conference games in recent memory, No. 3 Maryland faces what could be a bit of a tougher test on the road against Wisconsin. The Badgers have already lost seven times this season though, so it is a game you would expect Maryland to come away from with a comfortable win.
Wisconsin is 1-2 in Big Ten play so far. As you likely already know, they're on their second coach this season after Bo Ryan retired 12 games into the new season. Greg Gard, Ryan's former assistant, is now coaching the Badgers and is 2-2 so far. On offense, UW is 263rd in the country in points per game, and 148th in Offensive Rating. They fare better on the defensive side, ranking 33rd in the country in points allowed per game, albeit still a pedestrian 112th in Defensive Rating. This was never more evident than in their last contest on the road against Indiana, where they held the normally electric Hoosier offense to 59 points...but could only muster 58 of their own, on 41% shooting and 25% from three point land.
Three Wisconsin players average over 10 points per game - as opposed to five for the Terps - those being Nigel Hayes (15.7 PPG), Bronson Koenig (13.9 PPG), and Ethan Happ (11.0 PPG). Happ leads UW in rebounds with 8.1 per contest. Two other Badgers average over six rebounds per game, they being Nigel Hayes with 6.1, and Vitto Brown with 6.1.
Also, this is Wisconsin native Diamond Stone's first game back in the state since spurning the Badgers to sign for Maryland. If memory serves me correctly, Badger fans were pretty salty about that. This should be good.
The numbers
No. 3 Maryland (14-1, 3-0)
Wisconsin (9-7, 1-2)
How to watch
Date, time, and location
January 9th at 1:00 PM
Madison, Wisconsin
TV: ESPN. Bob Wischusen and Dan Dakich are on the call.
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Maryland Sports Radio Network. Johnny Holliday has the call, and Chris Knoche is the color man.