For the first time in program history, the Robert Morris men’s basketball program will visit one of the best college towns in the country as the Colonials take on the Wisconsin Badgers on Friday in Madison, Wis.
The Colonials continue their early customary non-conference trek against the Power 6 in college basketball with tip set at the Kohl Center for 7 p.m.
ROBERT MORRIS’ OUTLOOK
Robert Morris dropped to 1-2 after a 66-62 loss at the hands of the Towson Tigers on Sunday.
It was a matchup in which the Colonials trailed for a majority of the game. With 5:54 to go in the contest, Markeese Hastings drained a three-pointer to tie the game. Moments later, Hastings hit another shot to push the Colonials ahead. However, Towson would regain the lead on a Christian May lay-in as the Tigers would close out the Colonials.
In his first three games with the Colonials after transferring from Western Michigan, Hastings has averaged a double-double with 15.3 points and 10.7 rebound per game. The 6-foot-7 power forward has also been a threat from beyond the arc, with a team-leading 54.5% from three.
Justice Williams returned to the lineup against Towson after missing Robert Morris’ home opener against Point Park. Williams leads the Colonials averaging 18.5 points per game after dropping 16 against the Tigers and a career-high 21 points against Xavier to start the year.
The Colonials have been without starting shooting guard Josh Corbin for the past two games with a hand injury. He is a game-time decision.
With Corbin out, the Colonials have turned to its guard depth in freshman Alfredo Boglio, who started against Towson, and is expected to make the start against the Badgers. Boglio’s main role thus far has been to set up the offense and distribute the ball as he has one field goal on 10 total attempts.
Robert Morris scores 63.7 points per game (319th nationally) and allows 66.3 points pe contest (128th nationally).
WISCONSIN BADGERS
HEAD COACH
Greg Gard (9th season)
Gard and the Badgers are two years removed from a Big Ten regular season championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. After failing to qualify for the tournament last year, the Badgers have stumbled out to a 1-2 start in the 2023-24 campaign.
The Badgers lone win came against Arkansas State. Since the season-opening victory, the Badgers fell to No. 9 Tennessee, 80-70, and on the road at Providence, 72-59.
Wisconsin’s loss against the Friars was an eye-opener as the Badgers went 8 for 30 from the floor in the first half. On top of that, the Badgers struggled from the three-point line, shooting 25%.
Foul trouble has also plagued the Badgers through their first three game, committing a season-high 23 fouls against Providence. The Badgers’ 21.3 fouls per game is the 26th most in the country.
BEST PLAYERS
#2 AJ Storr – 6’7 G – 18 PPG – 2.7 RPG – 4 of 15 3FG
#23 Chucky Hepburn – 6’2 G – 13.7 PPG – 2.7 RPG
#22 Steven Crowl – 7’0 F – 9 PPG – 6 RPG
LAST YEAR
Wisconsin posted a 20-15 overall record a year ago, along with a 9-11 mark in the Big Ten that placed the Badgers 13th in the conference. Hepburn and Crowl led the team with 12.2 and 12.1 points per game, respectively. The Badgers only lost three bench players from its roster in the offseason, but added Storr via the transfer portal from St. Johns.
METRICS
Robert Morris currently stands as the No. 279 team in the country, according to Kenpom.com after starting the season at 307. Wisconsin slots in at No. 34 in division one and the fifth highest in the Big Ten.
SPREAD
DraftKings Sportsbook has Wisconsin favored on Friday by -19.5 points. The over-under is currently set at 134 points.
GAME TIME
Colonials and Badgers will tip off at 7 p.m. ET at the Kohl Center on Friday, Nov. 17.
TV
The action between Robert Morris and Wisconsin will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
RADIO
Chris Shovlin will have the call on the Robert Morris Gameday app.
