Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis, IN
NCAA Tournament – Championship Game
Tip-off: Monday, 9:19 p.m. ET
Line: Pick

Wisconsin and Duke battle for supremacy when the two teams meet in the finals of the NCAA tournament Monday.

Wisconsin shocked the world on Saturday with a 71-64 victory over what was once an undefeated Kentucky team. The Badgers were 5-point underdogs in that game and have now covered in three straight contests in this tournament. Duke, meanwhile, dominated Michigan State in an 81-61 victory as a 5-point favorite Saturday. The Blue Devils have covered in all five of their tournament games and the team has allowed just 55.0 PPG in those contests. This team was once recognized as only an offensive powerhouse, but it is locked in defensively when it matters most. Earlier in the season, the Blue Devils went into Madison and beat the Badgers 80-70 as 4.5-point favorites. Duke shot 65.2% from the field and 58.3% from the outside in that game. The team is 2-1 both SU and ATS when playing against Wisconsin since 1997. Wisconsin is 13-5 ATS in all tournament games over the past two seasons and 6-0 ATS as a neutral court favorite of six points or less or pick over the past two seasons. Duke, meanwhile, is 9-2 ATS in all neutral court games this season and 27-12 ATS when playing only its second game in a week over the past two seasons. Both teams come into this game at full health but the Blue Devils are going to be without G Rasheed Sulaimon, who was dismissed from the team on Jan. 29. He had 14 points in the first meeting with Wisconsin this season and was a big part in the Blue Devils earning that big road victory.

Wisconsin has run one of the most efficient offenses in the nation this season, averaging 71.9 PPG (67th in NCAA) on 48.0% shooting (21st in NCAA). The team is also good defensively, allowing just 57.9 PPG (12th in NCAA). The Badgers are fresh off of a monumental upset over Kentucky last game and C Frank Kaminsky (18.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.5 BPG) and F Sam Dekker (13.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG) came up huge for Wisconsin. Kaminsky finished the game with 20 points (7-for-11 FG) and 11 rebounds in 37 minutes of action and Dekker had 16 points (6-for-9 FG, 2-for-3 3PT) and three rebounds in 34 minutes. These two have been one of the best duos in college basketball and will need to be on their games against the Blue Devils. Kaminsky had 17 points and nine boards in his last meeting with Jahlil Okafor, but Dekker had just five points in 24 minutes of action that game. The Badgers will need their star forward to keep up his hot shooting in this one. F Nigel Hayes (12.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG) had 12 points and five boards against Kentucky. He had just four points the last time he faced Duke and can’t afford to be that ineffective offensively on Monday. He is the third most reliable scorer this team has and needs to play like it in the finals. Gs Bronson Koenig (8.7 PPG, 2.4 APG) and Traevon Jackson (8.5 PPG, 2.6 APG) will split time at the point guard spot for Wisconsin. Jackson went off for 25 points the last time he saw Duke, but Koenig has since become the starter for the Badgers. He had 12 points, four boards and two assists against Kentucky and both of them will need to contribute against Duke Monday.

Duke’s offense has been unbelievable this season, putting up 80.6 PPG (4th in NCAA) on 50.2% shooting (3rd in NCAA). The team wasn’t as good defensively, allowing 64.2 PPG (111th in NCAA) but they have turned it around in the tournament. When Duke faced Wisconsin earlier in the season, Gs Tyus Jones (11.5 PPG, 5.7 APG, 3.5 RPG, 1.6 SPG) and Quinn Cook (15.6 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.0 SPG) combined for 35 points on 11-for-16 shooting from the field. Cook was excellent against Michigan State with 17 points in the game. These two can really shoot and will need to play well against Wisconsin once again or things will get very tough on C Jahlil Okafor (17.5 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.5 BPG). Okafor had 18 points and six boards against Michigan State last game. His matchup with Frank Kaminsky will likely be the deciding factor in who wins this game. Okafor had 13 points and six boards in 27 minutes the last time they met and has only gotten better as the season has progressed. F Justise Winslow (12.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG) only had five points the last time he saw Wisconsin. He has emerged as one of the best players in the nation and had 19 points and nine rebounds against Michigan State last game. He’ll need to continue to attack the basket for Duke and could also see some time defending Sam Dekker in this one. If he can play well then the Blue Devils could be holding a trophy come Monday night.