What To Know About Wisconsin Mens Basketballs Opponent Ut Rio Grande Valley

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What to know about Wisconsin men's basketball's opponent UT-Rio Grande Valley
What to know about Wisconsin men's basketball's opponent UT-Rio Grande Valley from

What to know about Wisconsin men's basketball's opponent UT-Rio Grande Valley

The Basics

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is located in Edinburg, Texas, and is a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The Vaqueros are led by head coach Matt Figger, who is in his fifth season at the helm.

UTRGV has a 4-7 record this season, with wins coming against Houston Baptist, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Sam Houston State, and Prairie View A&M. The Vaqueros have lost to Oklahoma, SMU, UTEP, New Mexico State, and Grand Canyon.

Strengths

UTRGV is a young team with a lot of potential. The Vaqueros have four players averaging in double figures, led by junior guard Marek Nelson (14.7 ppg). Other key contributors include sophomore guard Jonathan dos Santos (13.4 ppg), junior forward Lesley Varner II (12.7 ppg), and senior forward Justin Johnson (10.3 ppg).

The Vaqueros are also a solid rebounding team, ranking second in the WAC in rebounding margin (+5.7). Varner II is the team's leading rebounder, averaging 8.1 rebounds per game.

Weaknesses

UTRGV is a young team and can be inconsistent at times. The Vaqueros have also struggled to defend the three-point line this season, allowing opponents to shoot 36.8% from beyond the arc.

The Vaqueros have also had some trouble taking care of the basketball, averaging 14.1 turnovers per game.

Matchup with Wisconsin

Wisconsin will be a heavy favorite in this matchup. The Badgers are ranked 14th in the AP Poll and have a 9-2 record this season. Wisconsin is led by senior guard Brad Davison, who is averaging 19.3 points per game.

The Badgers have a lot of experience and depth, and they should be able to handle UTRGV's pressure. Wisconsin is also a much better shooting team than the Vaqueros, and they should be able to exploit UTRGV's weakness on the defensive end.

Prediction

Wisconsin should win this game comfortably. The Badgers are a much more talented team than UTRGV, and they should be able to impose their will on the Vaqueros. I predict Wisconsin will win by 15 points or more.