Wisconsin Badgers vs Penn State Lady Lions Picks and Predictions March 8th 2025

No. 12 Wisconsin Angles for Higher Seed, Faces Lowly Penn State

The Wisconsin Badgers have one more shot at improving their Big Ten Tournament seeding when they host Penn State in their regular-season finale on Saturday in Madison, Wis.

Wisconsin (23-7, 13-6 Big Ten) is tied for third place in the conference but needs a win and some help to secure a top-four seed and a coveted double bye in next week’s Big Ten Tournament.

Meanwhile, Penn State (15-15, 5-14 Big Ten) has already been eliminated from tournament contention in the league’s first season with 18 teams.

Wisconsin Controls What It Can in Big Ten Seeding Race

The Badgers took care of business Wednesday, rallying from a 55-53 deficit in the final seven minutes to pull out a 74-67 victory at Minnesota.

John Blackwell led the charge with a 25-point, 11-rebound double-double, while John Tonje added 18 points as Wisconsin bounced back from a 71-62 loss at then-No. 8 Michigan State last Sunday.

“It’s obviously an important game for us, first and foremost, for what we’re still chasing,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said after the Minnesota win.

The Badgers enter Saturday tied for third place with Maryland and Purdue, but only four teams earn the double bye to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.

Wisconsin needs a win over Penn State and a Purdue loss to Illinois on Friday to secure that top-four finish.

Badgers’ Defense and Free Throws Are Key

Wisconsin continues to dominate defensively, holding opponents to 70.4 points per game. The Badgers are an astounding 33-1 when allowing 70 points or fewer dating back to last season, including 16-1 this season.

The defense has been particularly strong down the stretch, holding nine of its last 11 opponents below 45 percent shooting. The Badgers are 8-3 during that span.

Offensively, Wisconsin leads the nation in free-throw percentage at 83.4 percent, an area that has given them an edge in close games. The Badgers have made more free throws (499) than their opponents have even attempted (352).

Against Minnesota, they converted 21-of-24 from the line, reinforcing how valuable their efficiency at the stripe has been all season.

Penn State Playing for Pride After Missing Big Ten Tournament

For Penn State, this game marks the final opportunity to finish the season on a high note after being mathematically eliminated from the conference tournament last weekend.

The Nittany Lions fell 68-64 at home to then-No. 16 Maryland last Saturday, sealing their fate and adding to a brutal stretch in which they’ve lost nine of their last 11 games.

“Yeah, it stinks,” Penn State coach Mike Rhoades said about missing the tournament. “It stinks, but it’s reality.”

Still, Rhoades is challenging his team to finish strong.

“We have one week left as a team, as this group together,” Rhoades said. “Let’s have a week where we are about the right stuff, be great teammates and go on the road and play a really good Wisconsin team and see what happens.”

Key Players to Watch

For Wisconsin:

• John Tonje leads the team with 19.1 PPG and is shooting 91.8% from the free-throw line.
• John Blackwell contributes 15.5 PPG and has been clutch down the stretch.
• Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter anchor the frontcourt, combining for 19 points and 11 rebounds per game.

For Penn State:

• Ace Baldwin Jr. leads a balanced attack with 14.2 PPG.
• Yanic Konan Niederhauser averages 12.8 PPG and 6.2 RPG, providing inside scoring.
• Nick Kern and Zach Hicks each contribute 11.5 PPG, with Hicks leading the team with 71 three-pointers (40.6%).

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What’s at Stake?

For Wisconsin, the goal is simple: Win and hope Purdue loses to Illinois to secure a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament.

For Penn State, it’s about ending a frustrating season on a high note and spoiling Wisconsin’s shot at a top-four seed.

With Wisconsin’s defense locking in and Penn State already eliminated from tournament play, expect the Badgers to come out focused and determined to handle business at home.