Wisconsin basketball (1-0) meets Montana State (0-0) on Thursday night in the second game of its 2024-25 non-conference schedule.
The Badgers began their season with a less-than-convincing win over Holy Cross on Monday. While the final score reads a decisive 85-61, the Badgers’ early 23-7 deficit and 36-35 halftime deficit signal otherwise.
Related: Game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin basketball’s full 2024-25 non-conference schedule
Greg Gard’s group will look for a complete, wire-to-wire effort on Thursday against what projects to be a tough Montana State team — one that was picked in the preseason to win the Big Sky.
The Bobcats are still yet to take the court in 2024-25, so those projections are the primary available evidence about the team’s quality. The program enters 2024-24 after three consecutive NCAA Tournaments appearances, two under former head coach Danny Sprinkle and one under current coach Matt Logie.
Logie’s 2023-24 team finished just 17-18 and 9-9 in the Big Sky. It captured the Big Sky postseason tournament for the third consecutive season, clinching the mentioned NCAA Tournament berth.
Before the Badgers and Bobcats tip-off from the Kohl Center Thursday evening at 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT, here is a full matchup preview:
Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) makes a move on UW-River Falls guard Zac Johnson (23) during the second half of their preseason game Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin beat UW-River Falls 78-62. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
KenPom Rating:
- Wisconsin: No. 48 overall (No. 43 offense, No. 59 defense)
- Montana State: No. 194 (No. 199 offense, No. 186 defense)
ESPN BPI
- Wisconsin: No. 38 overall (12.4) — No. 9 in the Big Ten
- Montana State: No. 175 overall (minus-1.0) — No. 2 in the Big Sky
2024-25 Averages:
- Wisconsin: 85.0 points per game (49% shooting, 35% from three), 61.0 points allowed per game (43% shooting allowed, 37% from three)
- Montana State (2023-24 recap): 17-18, NCAA Tournament First Four, 75.3 points per game, 74.5 points allowed per game
ESPN Matchup Predictor:
- Wisconsin 94.4% chance to win, Montana State 5.6%
Mar 15, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Steven Crowl (22) celebrates his three-point basket against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
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