Coming off a blowout loss to Rutgers on Monday, the Wisconsin Badgers (4-12 Big Ten, 13-15 overall) seek revenge for a two point loss against Ohio State (9-7 Big Ten, 13-12 overall) and look to send their seniors out with a win.
In Ohio State and Wisconsin’s last matchup, the game came down to the very end when the Buckeyes were able to fend off a late comeback effort by senior forward Marsha Howard and the Badgers.
In the first matchup, Wisconsin struggled trying to guard freshman forward Dorka Juhasz. Juhasz grabbed 15 total rebounds, six on the offensive end, and managed to put up an impressive 21 points. Three other starters for Ohio State reached double-digit scoring in the game.
Junior guard Suzanne Gilreath’s exceptional three-point shooting was one of the few things that kept Wisconsin in the game. Gilreath shot five-for-nine from behind the arc and scored an additional four points to lead Wisconsin’s team in scoring with 19 points. The Badgers will need to be able to shoot well from three-point range if they want to keep the game close.
As the Badgers prepare for their rematch with Ohio State, they will need to focus on their defense. Wisconsin’s offense is better on the fast break after forced steals and turnovers, so in order to jump start their scoring they’ll need to be able to shut down Ohio State’s offense. The Badgers will first need to prioritize stopping Juhasz, who has been dominating recently for the Buckeyes.
The Badgers will also need to prioritize staying out of foul trouble, an issue that has plagued the team in recent games.
Thursday night’s matchup marks the last home game for Wisconsin’s senior class: guard Kelly Karlis and Lexy Richardson, and Howard.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
