Can the Badgers get revenge on Illinois at home?
The Wisconsin Badgers, who rose to eleventh in Monday’s new AP Poll, look to end a nine-game losing streak to the Illinois Fighting Illini at the Kohl Center. Tip-off is at 7:30 P.M. CT on Fox Sports 1, and Wisconsin is a 3.5-point favorite.
Last Saturday, Wisconsin pulled off its biggest win of the season. The Badgers went into Mackey Arena and defeated the seventh-ranked Purdue Boilermakers 94-85. The Badgers were tremendous in the second half, scoring 58 points. John Tonje led the Badgers in scoring with 32 points, 22 of which came in the second half.
On December 10th, the Badgers lost to Illinois 86-80 at the State Farm Center, where Tre White had a career day, connecting on 6-of-8 shots for 23 points. What has happened to the Fighting Illini since that game?
Opponent Preview
Brad Underwood’s Illini team has remained steady in the Big Ten standings, where they currently sit seventh. Illinois has gone 10-7 since their win over Wisconsin, including an impressive 105-77 win at ninth-ranked Oregon. Coming into this game, the Illini past Iowa as the Big Ten’s highest-scoring offense with 84.3 points per game and is the conference leader in rebounds per game with 44.3.
Illinois is coming off a 79-65 loss at home to Michigan State, which gave Spartan coach Tom Izzo the most wins all-time in Big Ten play. In that game, the Illini lost starting forward and leading shot blocker Morez Johnson Jr. to a broken wrist.
Kasparas Jakučionis, who was the only Illini player named to the Naismith Player of the Year, leads the Illini with 16 points and 5.0 assists per game. Jakučionis and Johnson Jr. led the Illini with 17 points in their recent loss to Michigan State. Tomislav Ivisic leads the Illini in rebounding with 8.5 rebounds per game and is tied for 30th in the nation with nine double-doubles.
Score Prediction
Illinois has been a major thorn in Wisconsin’s side the last six seasons and is more than capable of winning again at the Kohl Center. However, the Illini have lost three of their last five road conference games. For Wisconsin to end their losing streak to Illinois, they must contain Jakučionis, who scored 24 points in their last meeting. It’s better said than done, but it has to happen.
Illinois has had the Badgers number, but Wisconsin is riding with momentum, which is why I’m taking the Badgers going away.
Prediction: Wisconsin 88-79.