The Big Ten has four teams in the top 16 in the AP poll, and they belong. No. 16 Ohio State was the first team to beat then-No. 1 Duke, using a late 14-1 run for a 71-66 victory in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Nov. 30. No. 13 Wisconsin has victories over top 15 teams Houston and Purdue and has a premier talent in wing Johnny Davis, arguably the best player in the country.
No. 16 Ohio State at No. 13 Wisconsin
Thursday, 7 pm ET
TV: ESPN3
Record: Ohio State 10-3, 4-1 Big Ten; Wisconsin 13-2, 4-1 Big Ten
Spread: Wisconsin -3.5
Over/Under: 140
Moneyline: Wisconsin -160; Ohio State +140
Injuries/unavailable: Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann (Covid-19) missed the Northwestern game Sunday but is expected to be back on the bench. Buckeyes forward and expected key contributor Justice Sueing (abdominal injury) has not played since the second game of the season.
Series history: The series is tied 10-10. The Buckeyes have won the last two, including the 73-55 conference opener Dec. 11.
A look at Ohio State
The Buckeyes already have a leg up in the season series after punishing the Badgers physically in a 73-55 victory in Columbus in the conference opener for both on Dec. 11.
Ohio State plays through 6-7, 240-pound forward E.J. Liddell and 6-8, 245-pound forward Zed Key, and the Buckeyes utilized their stout paint presence to dominate the interior in the first meeting.
Liddell scored 28 points, Key had 11 and another 6-8 bruiser, Kyle Young, had 14 rebounds as the Buckeyes shot 50 percent from the field and finished with a 49-28 advantage on the boards. Liddell and Key were 16 of 23 from the field.
An agile big body who also can score from outside, Liddell is the Buckeyes’ principle weapon. He is averaging 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds after opting to return for his junior year.
“I’m about winning games.”
– E.J. Liddell @EasyE2432 | #Team123 pic.twitter.com/1xlsyv0Wq8— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) January 10, 2022
Liddell withdrew his name from the 2021 NBA draft after struggling in the NBA’s G League Elite Camp in May, but he is considered a late first-round pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
Liddell had 34 points in a win over Northwestern the last time out, and fast-developing freshman guard Malaki Branham has 72 points in the last three games.
A look at Wisconsin
Having the best player in the country never hurts, and Wisconsin checks that box with athletic sophomore Johnny Davis, whose emergence has returned the Badgers to the Frank Kaminsky/Sam Dekker-type Big Ten elite.
Davis, a 6-5 wing who spent last season playing off the bench behind a veteran group, entered this week following an overpowering three-game streak — 82 points, 30 rebounds and 10 assists in victories against No. 7 Purdue, Iowa and Maryland from Jan. 3-9. He had a 37/14 double-double with three assists, two steals and two blocked shots at Purdue.
Davis, who is averaging 22.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, is DraftKings’ favorite to win the Wooden Award at +750, ahead of Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji, Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn and Duke’s Paolo Banchero, all at +900.
.@JohnnyDavis is averaging 22.3 points, which would be the third highest in school history. #OnWisconsin
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) January 12, 2022
Wisconsin is not overpowering physically but plays a smart, do-the-little-things style that emphasizes taking care of the ball. The Badgers have a plus-4.0 turnover margin per game.
Three-point shooter Brad Davison (14.5 points) helps. The Badgers need that precision — and Davis’ athleticism — to make up for a lack of dominance in the paint.
Facts to know
- Wisconsin leads Division I in fewest turnovers per game, 8.2.
- Ohio State has not recorded a home-and-home sweep of Wisconsin since 1992. (Sweeps in 1999 and 2000 were vacated by the NCAA.)
- Wisconsin has a five-game winning streak. Ohio State broke the Badgers’ six-game winning streak in their first meeting.
Numbers to know
- Wisconsin is 7-1 at home this season, 4-4 ATS.
- Ohio State is 1-3 ATS in true road games.
- The Badgers are 4-4 straight up and ATS in their last eight in the series in Madison.
The pick: Wisconsin 67, Ohio State 60
