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Wisconsin Seeks Revenge Against Illinois
Fresh off a major road win over Purdue, No. 11 Wisconsin aims to keep its momentum rolling and settle a score with Illinois on Tuesday night in Madison.
The Badgers (20-5, 10-4 Big Ten) stunned then-No. 7 Purdue 94-84 on Saturday, led by John Tonje’s career-high 32 points. Meanwhile, Illinois (17-9, 9-7) is looking to bounce back after a brutal 79-65 home loss to Michigan State, in which the Illini missed their final 19 shots and surrendered a 15-0 run to close the game.
The First Meeting: Illinois Dominated Wisconsin
Illinois has won nine straight against Wisconsin, including a decisive 86-60 victory on Dec. 10. The Badgers have responded by going 12-2 since that loss, and they enter this rematch riding a four-game winning streak.
Wisconsin, which was picked to finish 12th in the Big Ten preseason poll, has defied expectations and now sits in the top tier of the conference standings. The Badgers are 12-1 at home this season and begin a three-game homestand with this high-stakes matchup.
Wisconsin’s Offensive Explosion
The Badgers have been scorching on offense, averaging 81.5 points per game—their best scoring pace since 1970-71. They have topped 80 points 14 times this season and torched Purdue by shooting 61.5 percent from the field, including 72 percent in the second half (18-of-25 shooting).
Against Purdue, Max Klesmit added 17 points, Nolan Winter had 12, and John Blackwell and Jack Janicki each scored 11. The Badgers finished with 18 assists and only three turnovers, a near-flawless performance.
“We’re a really good team and I think we’re getting better,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. “That’s the exciting part. They know there’s a lot more left to come, and that starts with our next game.”
Key Players:
- Wisconsin:
- John Tonje – 19.2 PPG
- John Blackwell – 15.2 PPG
- Max Klesmit – 10.4 PPG
- Nolan Winter – 10.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG
- Illinois:
- Kasparas Jakucionis – 16.0 PPG (Freshman record 10 20-point games)
- Tomislav Ivisic – 12.7 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 9 double-doubles
- Tre White – 9.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG
Illinois’ Rebounding Dominance
Illinois leads the Big Ten in rebound margin and ranks second nationally in total rebounds per game (44.3). In their first meeting, the Illini outrebounded Wisconsin 40-29, including 15-11 on the offensive glass.
That dominance might be tested this time, as Illinois will be without freshman Morez Johnson Jr. after he broke his wrist blocking a shot against Michigan State. Johnson was averaging 7.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game.
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The Matchup
Both teams need this win—Wisconsin to stay in the Big Ten title hunt and Illinois to stabilize its season. The Badgers are on fire offensively and have a strong home-court advantage, but Illinois’ rebounding and defensive physicality have given Wisconsin fits in recent seasons.
Can the Badgers finally snap their losing streak against the Illini, or will Illinois continue its dominance? Expect an intense battle with Big Ten implications.
