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As crazy as it sounds, the matchup between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Iowa Hawkeyes on Tuesday, January 20, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN may be between two of the top three teams in the Big 10.
Ranked No. 6 in the country, Wisconsin rebounded from an upset at the hands of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights by dominating the above average Nebraska Cornhuskers. One thing that jumped out in their loss was how heavily this team relies on Frank Kaminsky; what happens when he plays poorly? Until Wisconsin proves that it can put up 80 points on top-five material, the Badgers are not a team that will win the NCAA tournament.
Iowa, on the other hand, began the season shakily, with two neutral court losses to the Texas Longhorns and the Syracuse Orange. However, the Hawkeyes will benefit from their tough non-conference schedule by boasting no bad losses and having a very good away win against the North Carolina Tar Heels and Ohio State Buckeyes. This team should cruise into the tournament and be more than capable of pulling off upsets.
Although I’m still not convinced Wisconsin is a top-10 team in the country, the Badgers are clearly the best team in the Big 10. Iowa should do well in the conference, but Maryland and Ohio State may be more suited to defeat Wisconsin down the road or in the Big 10 Tournament. Expect the Hawkeyes to put up a fight, but get manhandled down low.
Prediction: Wisconsin 68, Iowa 62
Taylor Sturm is a Featured Basketball Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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