Wisconsin vs. Illinois Basketball Preview: Can the Badgers Stun No. 8 Illini?
Can the Wisconsin basketball team shake off the disappointing loss at Indiana and shock one of the hottest teams in the country on the road?
The Wisconsin basketball team faces its toughest road test of the season tonight as they head into the “Orange Krush” at the State Farm Center. After a heartbreaking one-point overtime loss to Indiana on Saturday, Greg Gard’s squad needs a signature win to climb back into the top tier of the Big Ten standings.
Game Info
Matchup: Wisconsin Badgers (16-7, 8-4 B1G) vs. No. 8 Illinois Fighting Illini (20-4, 11-2 B1G)
Time: 7:00 PM CST
Location: State Farm Center – Champaign, IL
TV: Peacock
Radio: Badger Radio Network
The Line: Illinois -11.5 | Total: 154.5
Players to Watch
Wisconsin: Nolan Winter (F, 7’0”)
Winter is playing the best basketball of his career. Coming off a 26-point, 12-rebound performance against Indiana, he has recorded double-doubles in consecutive games. His ability to stretch the floor and hit from deep (3-of-3 from 3pt last game) will be vital to pull Illinois’ seven-footers away from the rim.
Illinois: Keaton Wagler (G, 6’6”)
The freshman sensation is a legitimate Big Ten Player of the Year candidate. Averaging 17.8 PPG, Wagler is the engine of the nation’s most efficient offense. If the Badgers allow him to find his rhythm early from the perimeter, it’s going to be a long night in Champaign.
Storylines to Watch
The Bounce Back: Wisconsin is coming off a game where a controversial late whistle essentially handed Indiana the win. Coach Greg Gard noted they can’t “brush off the learning experience.” Watch the Badgers’ mental toughness—do they come out with a chip on their shoulder, or let the frustration linger?
Battling the Twin Towers: Illinois rotates two 7-foot-plus giants in Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic. While Wisconsin has size with Winter (7’0”) and Bieliauskas (6’10”), the Illini’s rebounding margin (+10.6) is elite. The Badgers must limit second-chance points, an area where they struggled in Bloomington.
The Guard Duel: Nick Boyd (20.0 PPG) and John Blackwell (18.5 PPG) form one of the highest-scoring backcourts in the country. With Illinois starter Kylan Boswell confirmed out tonight, the Badgers have a massive opportunity to win the battle at the point..
Prediction
The Badgers have the offensive firepower to hang around, but they have recently struggled with slow starts. They cannot afford to fall into a hole against an Illinois team that has won six straight at home.
Illinois has won 9 of the last 10 in this series, but Wisconsin notably blew them out in their last meeting in Madison. Expect a high-scoring affair, but the Illini’s depth and the “Orange Krush” crowd might be just enough to edge out a Badger team still feeling the sting of the Indiana loss.
Final Score: Illinois 84, Wisconsin 74
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February in the Big Ten is where efficiency meets reality. After a scorching 7-1 run through January that saw the Wisconsin basketball team climb to 16-6 (8-3 B1G), Greg Gard’s squad finds itself at a crossroads.
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