No. 5 Purdue basketball, Zach Edey prepare for Wisconsin in Big Ten action
Purdue basketball enters the final week of the regular season looking more mortal than it has all season.
The No. 5 (USA Today) Boilermakers (24-5, 13-5 Big Ten) have lost four of their past six, most recently to Indiana. Zach Edey leads Purdue with 22.4 points, 13.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots per game in conference play. Fletcher Loyer adds 12.5 points per game and 31 3-pointers in league action.
The Wisconsin Badgers (16-12, 8-10) are fighting for their postseason lives this week. They lost an overtime heartbreaker against another bubble team, Michigan, over the weekend, and have alternated wins and losses over their past eight games.
Freshman Connor Essegian from Indiana's Central Noble High School is the Badgers' breakout player, leading them with a 13.1-point scoring average and 39 3-pointers in conference play. Chucky Hepburn (12.3 points, 35 3s in league play) left the Michigan game with an injury, and his status is uncertain. Steven Crowl adds 11.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in Big Ten action.
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Did Purdue win the Big Ten?
Despite their recent issues, the Boilermakers own at least a share of the conference regular-season championship. They have faltered in the second halves of most of their recent losses.
Date, opponent / 2nd-half scoring / key stat
Purdue averages an 8-point deficit in the second half of these losses, and a 14-point deficit in the second half of the three most recent defeats
∎ Feb. 25, Indiana / IU 45-33 / IU 58.1% 2nd-half shooting, Purdue 30.3%
∎ Feb. 16, Maryland / Maryland 43-26 / Maryland 63% 2nd-half shooting, Purdue 39.1%; Maryland +12 overall rebounds
∎ Feb. 12, Northwestern / Northwestern 34-21 / 28.6% Purdue 2nd-half shooting, 0 2nd-half 3-pointers; Purdue -7 overall turnovers
∎ Feb. 4, Indiana / Purdue 39-29 / IU 62.1% 1st-half shooting
Purdue basketball vs. Wisconsin time, TV, radio
Time: 9 p.m. ET Thursday, March 2, 2023, at Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin
TV: FS1
Radio: 96.5 FM in Lafayette, 1260 AM in Indianapolis, SiriusXM Channel 83, and here.
Purdue basketball schedule
The Boilermakers finish the regular season by hosting Illinois on Sunday. The Big Ten tournament is March 8-12 in Chicago.
Is Purdue favored vs. Wisconsin?
The Boilermakers are 4-point favorites, according to Draft Kings. The over/under is 127 total points. ESPN's matchup predictor gives Purdue a 72.3% chance of winning.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue basketball, Zach Edey vs. Wisconsin: Odds, picks in Big 10 game
