Indiana @ Wisconsin preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 26, 2019 ) Wisconsin 73, Indiana 75

Indiana looks to keep its perfect record intact when it opens Big Ten Conference play on the road at Wisconsin on Saturday. The Hoosiers cruised past No. 19 Florida State 80-64 on Tuesday as part of the Atlantic Coast Conference/Big Ten Challenge to improve to 8-0 for the first time in seven seasons, and they hope to continue their sizzling start by notching two straight victories over the Badgers.

"We put in a lot of work in the offseason and it's paying off right now," Indiana forward Justin Smith told reporters. "When your head is clear then things start going your way." Wisconsin is heading in the wrong direction following a 69-54 setback against North Carolina State on Wednesday. The Badgers dropped a pair of games in the Legends Classic to Richmond (62-52) and New Mexico (59-50) before going 5-of-23 from 3-point range in the loss to the Wolfpack, and they hope to stop the bleeding by knocking off the Hoosiers in Madison for the 17th consecutive time. "Right now we're in a rut that we've got to try to find a way to bust out of," Wisconsin coach Greg Gard admitted to reporters. "It puts so much pressure on your defense and you almost have to play perfectly when you have a hard time scoring."

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT INDIANA (8-0): Devonte Green went 5-of-7 from 3-point range en route to a career-high 30 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists in the win against Florida State. Trayce Jackson-Davis, who is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, continued the stellar start to his collegiate career by adding 15 points, eight rebounds and a pair of blocks, while Smith scored 14 points to finish in double figures for the fourth time in five games. Rob Phinisee, who is averaging nine points and 4.5 assists this season, missed his fourth straight game with an ankle injury, but could return to the lineup on Friday.

ABOUT WISCONSIN (4-4): Aleem Ford scored a team-high 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds but the Badgers were limited to 37.5 percent shooting in the loss to N.C. State. Kobe King and Nate Reuvers each added 11 points while Brad Davison, who is averaging 11 points this season, was held to three as he failed to crack double digits for the third straight game. "I feel a lot of people are in panic mode, but I think we'll be fine," King told reporters. "We're as talented as a team as I've seen since I've been here so we'll figure it out."

TIP-INS

1. Indiana is 11-3 in the month of December under coach Archie Miller.

2. Wisconsin is ranked fifth nationally in free-throw percentage (81.1).

3. The Badgers have gone 14-of-76 from 3-point land during their losing skid.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 68, Indiana 64