Boilermakers and Badgers Meet in Madison: Purdue at Wisconsin

Purdue Boilermakers at Wisconsin Badgers, Kohl Center, Madison, WI
Tuesday, February 1, 2011, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Wisconsin -3 1/2
Current Line: Wisconsin -5
Opening Total: 124 1/2
Current Total: 122 1/2
Money Line: Wisconsin -220 / Purdue +180

Jon Leuer and the Wisconsin Badgers take on the Purdue Boilermakers in Madison in Big Ten action Tuesday. The Badgers are 5 point home favorites.

Purdue is 18-4 overall and 7-2 in the Big Ten. They are ranked #10 or 11 depending on which poll you look at. They travel to Madison to take on the #18/19 Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers are 15-5 overall and 5-3 in conference. Purdue has losses to Richmond, Minnesota, West Virginia and Ohio St on the season. Ohio St blew them out 87-64 last week, but Purdue’s other losses are by an average of 6 points, and all occured on the road or at a neutral site. Purdue has wins over Virginia Tech, Alabama, Michigan Northwestern, Penn St twice, Iowa, Michigan St, and and Minnesota. Purdue avenged their loss at Minnesota earlier in the season with a 73-61 win at West Lafayette Saturday. Wisconsin has losses to UNLV, Notre Dame, Illinois, Michigan St, and Penn St. All losses occurred on the road or at a neutral site. Wisconsin is 11-0 at home and has won 32 of the last 33 games played in Madison. The Badgers have wins over Boston College, North Carolina St, Marquette, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Northwestern. Wisconsin lost at Penn St 56-52 Saturday. Purdue leads the overall series 103-63 against Wisconsin, but Wisconsin is 45-36 in Madison. Purdue has won 3 of the last 4 straight up but both teams are 2-2 ATS in those games. Purdue is 5-14 ATS versus teams allowing 64 points a game or less the last 3 seasons. Wisconsin is 7-17 ATS in the same scenario.

Purdue has no injuries other than playing the whole season without guard Robbie Hummel who is out with a torn ACL. Forward Jujuan Johnson is averaging 20.7 points to lead the team, 7.8 rebounds to lead the team, 1.0 assists, and 2.1 blocks a game to lead the team. Guard E’Twuan Moore is averaging 17.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.5 steals a game to lead the team. Guard Lewis Jackson leads the team in assists with 3.9 a game. Purdue is outscoring opponents 74-61 on the season. The Boilermakers are shooting 45.4% from the field and 38.6% from 3-point range. The Boilermakers hold opponents to 41.5% shooting from the field. Purdue shoots 70.7% from the free throw line. Purdue averages 36 rebounds, and has a rebounding margin of +3. Purdue averages 16.9 assists and 10.9 turnovers a game. They force 15.5 turnovers a game on defense. Purdue averages 6.3 steals and 4.1 blocks a game.

Wisconsin has no significant injuries right now. Senior Forward Jon Leuer is on the mid-season Wooden Award list for College basketball player of the year. Leuer is averaging 19.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 blocks a game. He leads the team in scoring and rebounding. Leuer is shooting 45.1% from 3-point range and 83.5% from the free throw line. Guard Jordan Taylor averages 17.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists to lead the team, and 0.9 steals a game to lead the team. Forward Keaton Nankivil averages 9.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks a game to lead the team. All three of the top scorers shoot more than 40% from 3-point range. Wisconsin is outscoring opponents 69-56 on the season. The Badgers shoot 44.8% from the field and 37.3% from 3-point range. Badger opponents are shooting 40.2% from the field. The Badgers make 81.8% of their free throws. Wisconsin averages 32.8 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +3.7. Wisconsin averages 14.3 assists and 7.8 turnovers a game. The Badgers force 10.6 turnovers a game on defense. The Badgers average 3.8 steals and 3.9 blocks a game.

Purdue has lost 3 straight on the road. It won’t get any easier for the Boilermakers as they play Wisconsin and Illinois in their next two road games. Wisconsin is very tough at home. Purdue has the edge in rebounding, but Wisconsin is the more disciplined team. The Badgers shoot more than 81% from the free throw line and turn the ball over less than 8 times a game. The betting public loves Wisconsin in this game as the line moved from Wisconsin -3 1/2 to -5.