The No. 23 Wisconsin Badgers are taking on the No. 9 BYU Cougars on Friday in their first ranked matchup of the season. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Delta Center.
Wisconsin has had a smooth start to the season, beating each of its opponents by at least 25, while averaging over 93 points per game. That has led them to a top-10 offense on KenPom, as they’ve been efficient, shooting the ball well, and getting to the free-throw line at a high rate.
Guards John Blackwell and Nolan Winter have led the charge, but the Badgers have been growing as a team on both sides of the ball. They seem more advanced offensively at the moment, but the defense has shown steps in every game.
They face a BYU team led by projected top-three pick A.J. Dybantsa, who has been on a tear to start the season, averaging 20 points on over 57 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep.
But, the Cougars are well-rounded, with starters Richie Saunders and Rob Wright III forming a strong two-three punch. They’ve maintained an elite top-10 offense as well, according to KenPom, which proved to be a challenge for Wisconsin last year.
The Badgers are hoping to avenge their loss from the Round of 32, where they fell short to BYU 91-89, on Friday. They’re 3.5-point underdogs heading into tip-off, with the over/under set at 158.5 points.
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