MADISON, Wisc. — Setting up for their lone matchup of the season, Wisconsin and No. 9 MSU are both heading into Sunday with something to prove.
Wisconsin, who kicked off the season 16-0 and earned the No. 3 ranking in week 11, have hit tough times in Madison, Wisc. Accustomed to setting the world on fire at home, the Badgers have dropped three straight game at home for the first time since the 1997-98 season.
After falling to 5-5 in the Big Ten, the Badgers are looking for a statement win over the Spartans, who are the sole leader in the conference after Michigan’s loss to Iowa on Saturday.
The infamous injury bug already is helping Wisconsin out before the game, as senior guard Keith Appling is a likely scratch due to an injured wrist.
Appling missed his first game as a Spartan on Thursday, but in his place Travis Trice and Denzel Valentine had fans forgetting he was gone by combining for 13 assists and two turnovers.
Against Penn State, MSU subtracted Appling, but added senior forward Adreian Payne, who went off for 12 points in 18 minutes of play after missing the previous seven games.
The Spartans will look to dominate the Badgers in the post, as Wisconsin averages 33.7 rebounds per game to MSU’s 38.7.
This also likely won’t be the usual slow-paced, low scoring game the Spartan usually have against the Badgers. Wisconsin and MSU both rank in the top four in field goal percentage in the Big Ten.
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