Revenge time for Michigan vs. bad-on-boards Badgers

Michigan’s first loss of the year came at Wisconsin on Jan. 19 by a count of 64-54. The Wolverines get their chance to avenge that loss Saturday when they get the Badgers back in Ann Arbor.

In the first matchup, Michigan’s leading scorer, Ignas Brazdeikis, was held to zero points, an outlier considering in the team’s other 18 games since Nov. 17 he has been held to fewer than 10 points just once.

Wisconsin also had big man Ethan Happ play about as well as one can, giving the team 26 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals with just one turnover. In six career games against the Wolverines, Happ is averaging 19 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, so you have to think that will change.

He also has been fortunate over his career at the free-throw line against Michigan. He has shot 72.7 percent from the line against the Wolverines despite being a career 55 percent free-throw shooter. Wisconsin enters 10th in the nation in team 3-point shooting percentage, but runs into a Michigan team that allows the fewest made 3-pointers per game of any team in the country. Though both teams rank in the bottom 25 in possessions per game, both rank among the top 80 in offensive efficiency. The woe for Wisconsin is being 306th among Division I teams with regard to offensive rebound rate. Michigan is 14th in defensive rebound rate, so the Wolverines will force Wisconsin to hit several contested shots with not a lot of second chances in between. Michigan is out for revenge and should achieve it starting on the glass. THE PLAY: Michigan, -5¹/2.