Wisconsin Badgers Face Northwestern Wildcats in Crucial Big Ten Showdown

EVANSTON, Ill. — The No. 17 Wisconsin Badgers (16-5, 6-4 Big Ten) will face the Northwestern Wildcats (12-9, 3-7 Big Ten) in a pivotal Big Ten Conference matchup at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Saturday at 1 p.m. Central Time.

Wisconsin, coming off a 76-68 road loss to Maryland, has dropped two of its last three games after a seven-game winning streak. Despite their recent struggles, the Badgers remain one of the nation’s top offensive teams, averaging over 80 points per game and leading the NCAA in free throw shooting.

Northwestern, meanwhile, is looking to rebound from a 79-72 home loss to Rutgers. The Wildcats have struggled in conference play, winning just three of their 10 Big Ten games. However, they have been strong at home, securing three conference victories at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

John Tonje has been a bright spot for Wisconsin, averaging 24.7 points over his last three games and hitting 16 of 26 three-point attempts. The Badgers lead the all-time series against Northwestern 124-67, including a 44-40 edge in Evanston. Wisconsin has won the last two meetings between the teams.

The game will be broadcast on Channel 81 for Wisconsin viewers and Channel 372 for Northwestern fans. Odds for the game are available as of Saturday morning.

Both teams are in need of a win to bolster their conference standings. Wisconsin aims to avoid a third straight road loss, while Northwestern seeks its second victory over a ranked opponent this season.