The Big Sky champion Grizzlies have won 14 of their last 15, with the lone setback coming by 3 points. This club has the depth, with 6 players averaging at least 9.2 points and 4 averaging double figures. Montana has the experience and should have the poise to hang with a solid but unspectacular Wisconsin club.

Wisconsin was one of the top scoring teams in the Big Ten this season, averaging just under 80 points per game. The Badgers will be facing a Montana team that ranked in the bottom three of the Big Sky in points allowed per game (72.9). Wisconsin should have no issues finishing with 80+ points here. The Grizzlies have been playing their best offensive basketball of the season of late, and I expect them to come out firing. I see this game ending with a final score in the 85-70 range.

Wisconsin should be able pick its number against a Montana team that was already middling defensively in Big Sky play and faces a big jump up in competition against this new edition of the Badgers. Since Montana’s best chance to spring an upset is to try and get its offense going — something that’s very possible as the Grizzlies have a couple of strong shooters that can space the floor — I think we see a higher scoring affair. The over cashed at a 61% rate in road or neutral situations for both teams this year, and I think we get another here on Thursday.