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Maryland Basketball: Big Ten Tournament preview

By John Niswander

Feb 17, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Troy Williams (5) drives to the basket against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Troy Williams (5) drives to the basket against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 28, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Nigel Hayes (10) attempts to move the ball past Michigan Wolverines guard Kameron Chatman (3) during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Nigel Hayes (10) attempts to move the ball past Michigan Wolverines guard Kameron Chatman (3) during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /

Cinderella: No. 6 Wisconsin

Wisconsin may be the most improved team in the conference from the start of conference play. The Badgers ended conference play winning 11 of their final 13 games. Some of those wins include road victories at Iowa and Maryland; as well as a three-point home victory over Indiana. To put the Badgers season in perspective, this team opened the 2015-2016 campaign by losing at home to Western Illinois. I do not believe anyone would have predicted the Badgers to finish 12-6 in conference play after that result in the early going.

Even after Bo Ryan’s abrupt departure, Wisconsin rallied around Nigel Hayes, the team’s leader in minutes and points-per-game (16.5). Bronson Koenig provides the Badgers with an inside outside threat as this junior guard also averages double figure scoring and boasts a 40 percent mark from deep. Perhaps the biggest surprise this season for the Badgers has been the play of freshman big man Ethan Happ. Happ is the last of the Badgers to also average double figures (11.9) as well as lead the team in steals (1.8) and blocks (0.9).

Next: No First Team honors for the Terps

Wisconsin will be a dangerous team for whoever they face as they split their regular season meetings with the top three teams in the conference (Indiana, Maryland, and Michigan State).