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Purdue at Wisconsin: 2021-22 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Tristan Freeman

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 15: Johnny Davis #1 of the Wisconsin Badgers against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on February 15, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 15: Johnny Davis #1 of the Wisconsin Badgers against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on February 15, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The Big Ten regular-season title is on the line when Purdue takes on Wisconsin. Can the Badgers get the season sweep over the Boilermakers?

TV schedule: Tuesday, March 1st, 9:00 pm ET. ESPN

Arena: Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin

There was a ton of mayhem on Saturday among the top teams in college basketball, with many of them losing. Purdue (24-5, 13-5) was one of them, falling on the road at Michigan State. Zach Edey had 25 points to lead all scorers, while Jaden Ivey chipped in with 16.

The two big problems for the Boilermakers were the turnover-to-assist ratio (17 to 12), along with going just 1/9 from three-point range. Considering they only lost by three at the Spartans, it shows that they do have some margin of error with all the talent they have. But this is the type of performance that could have Purdue leaving the NCAA Tournament early.

Even with the loss, the Boilermakers still have a shot at getting a share of the Big Ten regular-season title. But they must beat their next opponent in Wisconsin (23-5, 14-4), coming off a 66-61 victory over Rutgers on the road. Johhny Davis had 19 points and eight rebounds, while Brad Davison and Chucky Hepburn had 14 and 13 points respectively.

The Badgers are on a four-game winning streak and currently with a one-game lead over both Purdue and Illinois in the Big Ten. As long as they beat Nebraska at the end of the week, they’ll have a share of the title and likely the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. But a win over Purdue would give them the title all on their own.

Wisconsin already has a win over the Boilermakers on the road at the start of the year, 74-69. Edey had 24 points and 10 rebounds off the bench but it was Davis who had a National Player of the Year type of performance, going for a career-high 37 points and 14 rebounds. The supporting cast for the Badgers has played better but they’ll need another big night from Davis to beat Purdue, who should be very motivated after this weekend’s setback.

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Wisconsin’s defense against Purdue’s offense has been the main focus this season but I would argue that the Badgers’ emerging offense versus the Boilermakers’ struggling defense will be the key to this game. Unless Ivey can have the same kind of night that Davis had before, look for the home team to have the advantage.

Prediction: Wisconsin 73, Purdue 71

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