Entering week 16 of the college basketball 2023-24 season, the Big Ten has some squads still jostling for postseason seeding and the NCAA Tournament. This of course includes the likes of perennial contenders Michigan State and Wisconsin who will both be in action on Tuesday. In the first highlighted matchup of the day, the Spartans are set to defend home court against the Iowa Hawkeyes in East Lansing as Michigan State is aiming to close the season strong heading into the conference tournament. Meanwhile, Wisconsin is set for a battle against Maryland in Madison that could get their season back on the right path. With a 1-4 record in their last five games, the Badgers have an opportunity to bounce back in a big way against the Terrapins at home.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming from the world of college basketball and also other general notes.
| NCAA Basketball 23-24 Week 16 Games | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa at Michigan State | Michigan State | -300 | -300 | -300 |
| Maryland at Wisconsin | Wisconsin | -250 | -250 | -250 |
Team Spotlight: Iowa Hawkeyes
Heading into this contest, Iowa has done a serviceable job of defending its home floor in the last five games with wins over Wisconsin (in overtime), Minnesota, and Ohio State. However, the Hawkeyes have struggled on the road this season against conference foes, occurring a record of 2-6 against Big Ten opponents away from Iowa. Hawkeyes guard Tony Perkins has been the main scorer for Iowa this season, notching 15.5 points per game while also pacing the team in assists as well with 4.2 per contest.
With an overall points-per-game average of 83.7, the Hawkeyes do a great job of scoring the basketball, however, they do need to shore up their defense (78.3 ppg allowed). While the Hawkeyes are currently ranked in the eighth spot in the Big Ten rankings, they are coming off an excellent win over a ranked foe (No. 20 Wisconsin), which could turn their season’s momentum around.
Team Spotlight: Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State has positioned itself squarely in the NCAA Tournament once again and is currently riding a solid three-game conference winning streak. The Spartans are led by an excellent guard in Tyson Walker who paces the team with 18.4 ppg. Michigan State has scored a couple of impressive wins this season including over Baylor (then ranked-No.6) and also Illinois (No.10). Moreover, the Spartans have an unblemished mark of 6-0 at home this season in East Lansing.
Michigan State is currently three games back of Purdue in the Big Ten standings. While they probably will not catch the Boilermakers, they can still get some excellent seeding for the conference tournament. Another player to watch in this matchup is center Mady Sissoko who leads the team in rebounds at 5.7 per contest and will be crucial in this conference tilt against Iowa.
Prediction: Michigan State needs to take care of business here at home against Iowa and it should do just that as the Spartans have been great in East Lansing this year.
Team Spotlight: Maryland Terrapins
The Terrapins are in a tailspin coming into this game and looking to right the ship after going 1-4 in their last five contests. Of course, things could change quickly in this game as the Terps are led by electric scorer Jahmir Young who averages 21.2 ppg. Moreover, Maryland features a strong presence in the front court in the form of forward Julian Reese (10.1 rpg). However, Young and Reese cannot do everything by themselves and will need a full effort from their supporting cast if they want to score the upset win over Wisconsin on the road.
Team Spotlight: Wisconsin Badgers
On a similar note to Maryland, Wisconsin has also gone 1-4 in their last five games. That said, the Badgers still are one of the country’s top squads as evidenced by their six Quad 1 wins along with an overall record of 11-9 in Quad 1/2 games. Playing a grueling schedule this year, the Badgers have found themselves in the NCAA Tournament hunt for high seeding heading into the home stretch of the regular season. At one point being recognized as a near top ten team in the country per the NET rankings, the Badgers have the ability to hang with some of the best teams in America with marquee wins over Michigan State (twice), Marquette, and Virginia.
Prediction: The Terps certainly feature some strong firepower, but this is Wisconsin’s game to lose.
After you are all squared away regarding the latest news and notes coming from the world of college basketball, make sure to check out the great array of info for you at SBS. Of course, for additional insights on the topic at hand, the NCAAB betting sites guide has you covered with a ton of great information. This includes the latest betting markets on the sport and some other topical news as well. Moreover, for those on the go, the best betting apps rundown is a fantastic page to learn more about mobile betting sites. This includes tips for mobile wagering and other resources for you to stay on top of the action while you are on the go. Finally, if you are interested in some higher-stakes wagering, then check out our VIP sports betting sites breakdown where you can learn more about the perks of VIP betting and also see if it is the right fit for you.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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