The Wisconsin Badgers are closing in on March looking like one of the best teams in the Nation. Wisconsin is currently on a five-game winning streak, hold an 11-4 record in conference, and 21-5 overall record.
Not only that, but Wisconsin’s last two wins have come over #7 ranked Purdue (at the time) and Illinois. Two teams vying for positioning in the Big Ten Tournament and March Madness.
The Badgers’ latest win had some good fortune behind it.
Breaking: Badgers’ Basketball Gets Big News After Huge Win Over Illinois (Report)
In Madison, Wisconsin, Illinois’ basketball team was no match for Wisconsin’s No. 11 team on Tuesday.
Despite coming within five points of winning in the second half, the Illini wilted the rest of the way as Wisconsin guard John Tonje put up a game-high 31 points to clinch the 95-74 victory:
That snapped the Illini’s nine-game win streak in the all-time series on a night when they were without key player Morez Johnson Jr. (broken wrist) and got only 7 points and 3 rebounds from another, Tomislav Ivisic, who was battling illness.
The Illini fell behind by 13 late in the first half, but whittled it down to just six by halftime.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (team-high 17) rushed to the rim for an offensive rebound and putback to bring Illinois back within 45-39 with 65 seconds left in the half.
But Wisconsin re-opened a 13-point lead as Tonje put away another 3 with 7:34 left in the game. He netted 21 of his 31 points in the second half, and finished 10 of 12 from the free throw line, nearly matching the entire Illini team effort (12 of 14).
Wisconsin got even more good news following the game:
Wisconsin is now 3rd place in the Big Ten
Wisconsin has climbed all the way to third place in the Big Ten. A far cry from where they were just a month or so ago.
Here is a look at their remaining schedule:
- Vs Oregon (2/22)
- Vs Washington (2/25)
- @ #14 Michigan State (3/2)
- @ Minnesota (3/5)
- Vs Penn State (3/8)
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