Preview: Villanova Wildcats at Wisconsin Badgers MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — Two teams looking to build momentum before conference play begins will meet Friday afternoon when the Villanova Wildcats face the Wisconsin Badgers in a nonconference men’s basketball showdown at Fiserv Forum. The Wildcats (8-2) enter having won three of their last four, most recently a 79-61 home victory over Pittsburgh on Dec. 13. Villanova’s offense has been potent, averaging 79.8 points per game, but it suffered a notable 89-61 road loss at Michigan on Dec. 9. Villanova is led by forward Duke Brennan, who is coming off a dominant 24-point, four-assist performance against Pittsburgh. Brennan has averaged 14.5 points over his last four games, providing a consistent interior presence for the Wildcats. He is complemented by guards Bryce Lindsay and Acaden Lewis, who each added 24 and 11 points, respectively, in the win over Pittsburgh. The Wisconsin Badgers (7-3) seek to rebound from a 90-60 road defeat at Nebraska on Dec. 10. Prior to that loss, Wisconsin had won three straight, including an impressive 96-76 victory over in-state rival Marquette. The Badgers average 82.1 points per game but have shown vulnerability on the road, with all three losses coming away from home. Guard Nick Boyd is the engine for Wisconsin’s offense. Boyd is averaging 20.2 points over his last five games, including a 36-point, seven-assist outburst against Providence on Nov. 27. His ability to score and facilitate will be crucial against Villanova’s perimeter defense. This matchup pits Villanova’s efficient scoring against a Wisconsin team that thrives at home, where it is 5-0 this season and winning by an average margin of 29.2 points. The game at Fiserv Forum, while a home game for Wisconsin, is not on the Badgers’ usual campus home court in Madison. The outcome could hinge on which team controls the tempo. Villanova will aim to leverage its balanced attack, while Wisconsin will look to Boyd to ignite its offense and capitalize on its home-court advantage to secure a resume-building win before hosting Central Michigan on Dec. 22. Villanova travels to face Seton Hall on Dec. 23. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. CST Friday.