Wisconsin basketball (16-4, 6-3 Big Ten) hits the road on Wednesday for a massive showdown against Maryland (16-5, 6-4 Big Ten).
The Badgers sit at No. 17 in both the AP and USA TODAY Coaches Poll after a recent 1-1 week. They are also up to No. 15 in KenPom and No. 22 in ESPN’s BPI. By all metrics, Wisconsin has emerged as a legitimate contender to both win the Big Ten and make a deep run in March.
Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Jan. 27): Wisconsin holds serve
Maryland does not enter Wednesday’s game with an AP ranking. That is somewhat of a surprise, given the team’s current form. The Terrapins have won five of their last six, including a 21-point road win at Illinois and a road win at Indiana. That stretch elevated the team to No. 20 in both KenPom and the BPI.
On paper, the Terrapins are Wisconsin’s toughest opponent since its December road trip to Illinois. That makes Wednesday’s matchup a potential resume-defining result as the Badgers look to elevate further into Big Ten contention. The same can be said for a Maryland team that still needs defining victories despite its recent surge.
Each team’s NCAA NET Ranking and resume displays the importance of Wednesday’s result:
Wisconsin NET Resume: No. 18 overall (No. 4 Big Ten). 4-4 vs. Quad 1, 5-0 vs. Quad 2, 2-0 vs. Quad 3 and 5-0 vs. Quad 4
Maryland NET Resume: No. 19 overall (No. 5 Big Ten). 3-4 vs. Quad 1, 3-1 vs. Quad 2, 2-0 vs. Quad 3 and 8-0 vs. Quad 4
Wednesday’s matchup is a clear Quad 1 game for both teams. The winner will rise closer to the top tier that Purdue (NET No. 9) and Illinois (NET No. 10) currently occupy. The victor will almost assuredly jump up to a No. 3-seed in most NCAA Tournament bracket projections.
One big trend to note, Wisconsin is just 2-3 in true road games this season, including Big Ten losses to Illinois and UCLA. Maryland, meanwhile, is 12-1 at home. But the Badgers do enter with similar momentum to Maryland’s. The team has won seven of eight, including blowout victories of 31 points vs. Iowa, 12 Rutgers, 21 vs. Minnesota, 12 vs. USC and 28 vs. Nebraska. Its one loss, meanwhile, was a two-point defeat at UCLA.
KenPom displays where the game may be decided: Wisconsin enters with the No. 8 offensive efficiency in the country, while Maryland sits at No. 24 defensively. The winner of that strength vs. strength matchup will likely finishing on the right end of the scoreboard.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. CT from the XFINITY Center in College Park, Maryland. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Wisconsin just a 35.9% chance to exit with a much-needed victory.
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