Can the Badgers make it six straight on Tuesday?
The Wisconsin Badgers, who re-appeared in the AP Top 25 poll at no. 24 on Monday, look for their third-straight conference victory when they take on the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Kohl Center. Tip-off is scheduled for Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. on Peacock.
Despite falling behind 15-5 early in the first half, the Wisconsin Badgers took a one-point halftime lead and dismantled a hapless Minnesota Golden Gophers team, 80-59 last Friday. Steven Crowl, an Eagan, Minnesota native who has never lost to the Gophers, had his second-consecutive game 18-point outing.
What should Badger fans know about this year’s Ohio State Buckeyes squad?
Opponent Preview
First-year head coach Jake Diebler comes into Tuesday’s game with a 10-6 overall record and a 2-3 record in Big Ten Play., Diebler took over as interim head coach after Chris Holtmann was fired on February 14th after last year’s Badger win over Ohio State. Two notable changes Diebler implemented are a faster pace of play and a higher three-point percentage. The Buckeyes’ adjusted tempo increased from 251st in the country last year to 157th in 2025. Ohio State’s 37.8 percent three-point percentage is tied with Michigan for third in the Big Ten, whereas last year they were 10th at 34.5 percent.
Third-year guard Bruce Thornton has been the Buckeyes’ MVP this season. Thornton has started all 16 games for the Buckeyes and leads the team with 17.1 points and 4.4 assists per game. Both of those numbers are among the top 10 in the Big Ten. Thornton and freshman John Mobley Jr. were Big Ten co-Players of the Week on December 23rd after their impressive 20-point win over then-no. 4 Kentucky at Madison Square Garden.
San Diego State guard Micah Parrish has been a nice role player for the Buckeyes. In 15 starts, Parrish is fourth on the team with 10.2 points and 1.7 assists while grabbing 4.4 rebounds per game, tops among Buckeye guards.
Forward Devin Royal is the most improved player among the Buckeyes starters. Royal’s scoring average has improved from 4.7 points to 13.9 points per game in 12 starts this season. Royal comes into this game as Ohio State’s top rebounder with 7.4 rebounds per game and the second-leading Buckeye scorer.
Duke transfer Sean Stewart turned in his best game as a Buckeye against Oregon, where he came one rebound shy of a double-double, scoring 14 points in the Buckeyes’ recent loss to no. 15 Oregon.
Score Prediction
Wisconsin is starting to get rolling in conference play, so they are playing with momentum, while Ohio State dropped two of their last three Big Ten games. The Badgers have won four of the previous five games against the Buckeyes, and given Ohio State’s struggles on the road so far this season; I expect that trend to continue.
Prediction: Wisconsin 79-71.