Arizona vs Wisconsin: 2024-25 College basketball game preview, TV schedule

Wisconsin welcomes Arizona to town for an exciting Friday night battle. Will the Wildcats deliver in their first road game of the year or can the Badgers pull the upset at home?

TV schedule: Friday, November 15, 9:00 pm ET. Peacock

Arena: Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin

There were many changes at Arizona (2-0) in the past offseason following another trip to the Sweet Sixteen. Several pieces on the roster are different, with the team hit hard by transfers and other departures. The Wildcats also joined the Big 12 in the offseason and have that as a major challenge ahead. Things are going as planned for now, though neither of their first two opponents posed much of a challenge.

The show revolves around Caleb Love (13.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.5 apg), the North Carolina transfer who stands out as one of the nation’s best backcourt players. He’s the big returner from last season and the backbone for this team. Another prominent face returning in that backcourt is Jaden Bradley (11.0 ppg, 3.5 apg), who’s expected to have quite a productive junior year. Among the offseason additions, Tobe Awaka (11.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg) is excelling in a major role after transferring from Tennessee.

Arizona was ranked #9 in the most recent AP Top 25 but find themselves up to 6th in the KenPom ratings. The Wildcats’ offense has been elite in recent years, though this defense could have more in store this season. It’s honestly hard to gleam much from this team after beating Canisius and Old Dominion, but the Wildcats played about as well as possible and will look to continue that momentum in their first real test.

Across the court, Wisconsin (3-0) has dealt with their own type of transition with several changes on this roster. The Badgers are obviously still in the Big Ten and are still led by Greg Gard, but familiar names like AJ Storr and Tyler Wahl aren’t around in Madison any longer. This team has passed their early tests, but how will they handle a major opportunity on Friday?

The Badgers are leaning heavily on Max Klesmit (16.0 ppg), a senior guard and one of their most prominent returning players. After previous success at Colorado State, John Tonje (17.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg) has really found his footing in the opening week and a half with the Badgers. There’s talent across this roster, including the return of Steven Crowl (10.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg), as the senior forward looks to make this a special final year with the Badgers.

You won’t find Wisconsin in the national rankings after their offseason changes, while the Badgers sit down at 39th in KenPom. What’s been an elite defensive program leaned more heavily on their offense last season before seeing a 12-seed end their season prematurely in the NCAA Tournament. The offense has carried the load through their first three games, though the most prominent of the bunch was this past weekend against Appalachian State.

Which team will handle this uptick in competition better? The answer to that question will certainly be the team that wins this game, though it’s hard to argue that the Wildcats aren’t in a better position. They have a more talented team and play better defense, though we really haven’t seen how this new-look Wildcats rotation will handle legitimate opposition, especially in a hostile road environment.

Based on how some teams have fared on the road in the early going, Wisconsin absolutely has a chance to win this game and make an early statement. They’d need nice performances likely out of both Klesmit and Tonje, but outgunning the Wildcats alone won’t get the job done. If Love has another standout performance in a hostile environment, Arizona wins in Madison, and that’s exactly what we expect.

Prediction: Arizona 80, Wisconsin 74