The Wisconsin Badgers must travel to Champaign, Illinois tonight to take on a difficult #8 Illinois Fighting Illini team that has been dominant.
Sitting at 16-7 on the season, Wisconsin has been an interesting team this season in the Big Ten Conference between a win over Michigan to a loss to TCU. The Badgers have struggled with consistency this season and those issues have only continued to be present in games against Indiana, USC, and Minnesota. With the clock now ticking and just a handful of games remaining, Wisconsin needs to pull-out as many wins as possible.
Last season, Wisconsin snapped a nine-game losing streak against Illinois after securing a blowout 95-74 win against a far different team. Between the roster changes and the current 10.5-point line in favor of the Fighting Illini, the Badgers likely will not fight to the exact same outcome. However Wisconsin could give Illinois plenty of trouble and potentially secure a massive win in the process if the defense is felt in Champaign.
Wisconsin Badgers Visit #8 Illinois Fighting Illini After Heartbreaking Defeat
During the last game for Wisconsin, the Badgers dropped the contest in overtime against Indiana after mounting an impressive comeback in regulation. A costly foul on Andrew Rohde allowed the Hoosiers to tie the game and a questionable call on John Blackwell gave the Hoosiers a chance to win the game at the foul line.
Wisconsin would love to get a win back from the game against Indiana, especially considering the upcoming schedule. The Badgers have eight games remaining this season and currently are projected to win three of those contests (Iowa, Maryland, Oregon). Three more wins this season would put Wisconsin at 19-12 heading into the Big Ten Conference Tournament which would likely alter the projected ninth-seed slot in the NCAA Tournament.
The Badgers hope to turn the tides against a strong Illinois team in order to add to potentially secure a better seeding come March.
Illinois has been one of the strongest teams in the conference this season, dropping two Big Ten to Nebraska and Michigan State. The Fighting Illini played Michigan State on February 7th and lost, 85-82, despite playing solid defense throughout the game. What sank the team was a problematic 26-for-71 shooting night from the field and an inability to slow down guard Jeremy Fears Jr.
For the Wisconsin Badgers, the keys to a potential win will involve closing off the perimeter while forcing Illinois to play at a different tempo. The Badgers have been an excellent up-tempo team this season and that could play in their favor against a program that is going to work both the paint and the shot clock.
Perhaps one of the most important keys of the game for Wisconsin will involve slowing down the dangerous freshman phenom Keaton Wagler. The guard has been dominant this season with an average of 27-plus points per game across his previous four games. Against Michigan State, however, Wagler went 2-for-16 from the field while managing to still score 16 points.
Completely shutting down Wagler is not necessarily in the cards, and slowing down Wagler does not mean the Fighting Illini offense will be stopped either. However, the guard offers versatility and elite scoring skills to the team that are difficult to replace. If there is one person the Badgers need to watch during the game, Wagler would certainly be that player.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter (X) @JarrettGuerrera, and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on all things Wisconsin sports, click here
