Starting Five: Purdue

Thursday, March 2

8 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

Purdue

Tickets

Men's basketball vs. Iowa February 22, 2023

Photo by: Dan Sanger

February 27, 2023 | Men's Basketball

Badgers will celebrate Senior Day at the Kohl Center

By: Jenna Statz

Wisconsin

16-12, 8-10 Big Ten

Purdue

24-5, 13-5 Big Ten

Game Coverage

Thursday | 8 p.m. | FS1 | Kohl Center | Madison, Wis.

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin men's basketball team hosts its regular-season finale and Senior Day on Thursday with No. 5 Purdue visiting the Kohl Center. UW will recognize Tyler Wahl and ist senior student managers. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. (CT) on FS1.

Before the Badgers host the Boilermakers, here is the Starting Five.

1. LAST TIME OUT: Despite a career-high 24 points from freshman Connor Essegian, Wisconsin suffered an 87-79 overtime loss at Michigan on Sunday. In addition to Essegian's career day, Max Klesmit scored 19 points (5-of-8 3FG). Steven Crowl scored 14 points, while Tyler Wahl had a double-double for the second-straight game with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

2. SENIOR SENDOFF: Senior forward Tyler Wahl will be celebrated pregame as part of this year's Senior Day festivities. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 7:30 p.m. for the pregame celebration. Having played in 119 career games as a Badger with 78 starts, Wahl has become one of the most versatile and valuable players in the Big Ten, averaging 11.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game this season.

3. CROWN HIM: Hitting a 3-pointer on Sunday at Michigan, Essegian officially moved past Brad Davison for sole claim of the school record for made 3-pointers in a freshman season (61). Essegian is averaging a team-best 12.1 points per game this season, aiming to become the first freshman to lead the Badgers in scoring since Sam Okey (1995-96).

Wisconsin's freshman 3-pt king

CE3 👑 @CEssegian pic.twitter.com/sSXIRb6Spg
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) February 26, 2023

4. SCOUTING THE BOILERMAKERS: Purdue (24-5, 13-5 B1G), which has already clinched at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title this season, is led by junior center Zach Edey who averages 22.3 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Fletcher Loyer is also averaging double-figure scoring for the Boilermakers at 11.8 points per game. Purdue is coming off of a 79-71 home loss against Indiana on Saturday.

5. ALL-TIME SERIES: Thursday's game will mark the 186th meeting between Wisconsin and Purdue in a series that dates back to 1906. Purdue leads the all-time series, 111-74, however the Badgers hold a 52-38 advantage in games played in Madison. UW has won two-straight games against Purdue at the Kohl Center, including the most recent matchup last season on March 1, 2022 when UW earned a 70-67 victory. In that most recent meeting, Wahl had 19 points and five steals, while Chucky Hepburn scored a then-career-high 17 points and hit five 3-pointers, including the game-winning 3 in the final seconds of the game.