On Friday, Wisconsin hosts No. 9 Arizona in a highly anticipated men’s college basketball game at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The game is set to begin at 9:00 p.m. ET and will be streamed exclusively on Peacock. This marks the ninth meeting between the two programs, with Wisconsin leading the series 5-3. Their most recent encounter came last season when Arizona defeated Wisconsin 98-73 in Tucson. Both teams are currently undefeated, with Arizona at 2-0 and Wisconsin at 3-0, setting up an exciting matchup.
Arizona enters the game after two dominant victories over Canisius (93-64) and Old Dominion (102-44). The Wildcats are known for their high-scoring offense, averaging an impressive 43.5-point margin of victory, and they are one of the best in the country. Arizona’s standout player is Caleb Love, a preseason All-American who leads the team with 13.5 points per game. Love, in his second season with Arizona after transferring from North Carolina, is poised to play his 140th career game, joining an exclusive group of active players in men’s basketball.
On the other side, Wisconsin, also undefeated at 3-0, is hoping to secure another top-10 victory at home, following a similar achievement last year. The Badgers have been prolific on offense, averaging 83.6 points per game. John Tonje, a sixth-year graduate student, has been the team’s leading scorer, averaging 17.7 points per game. Tonje, a transfer from Missouri, has quickly become a key player for Wisconsin, earning the nickname “the dad” for his leadership. Additionally, Wisconsin has been exceptional at the free-throw line, leading the nation with a remarkable 92.5% shooting percentage.
Defensively, Wisconsin has impressed through its first three games, but it will face a significant challenge against Arizona’s explosive offense, which is averaging 97.5 points per game. The Badgers’ defense will need to be at its best to contain the high-powered Wildcats and keep the game close. This game will test Wisconsin’s ability to balance both sides of the court as they face one of the top-ranked teams in the country.
The game will be available to stream live on Peacock, which is offering 56 men’s basketball games and 26 women’s basketball games throughout the 2024-2025 season. To watch, fans need to subscribe to Peacock and can access the live stream either through their web browser or the Peacock app. Additionally, Peacock subscribers will be able to view the first rounds of both the Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Tournaments. This game is a crucial early-season test for both teams and sets the stage for an exciting season of college basketball.
