The Illini (20-4, 11-2 Big Ten) hope to shrug off their first loss of 2026 and reset back at home against the Badgers (16-7, 8-4)
Illinois wasn't going to stay unbeaten until the end of the cosmos, so if defeat was inevitable, a loss at Michigan State to end a 12-game win streak was about as satisfactory a way to take the hit as any.
Almost nothing went the Illini's way Saturday in East Lansing, yet they still pushed the Spartans to overtime in a three-point thriller that offered no indication they can't pick up where they left off starting Tuesday back at home against Wisconsin . Of course, the Illini won't just fall out of bed and beat the Badgers . If Saturday proved anything, it's that No. 8 Illinois must either dominate the boards or hit threes – and, ideally, both. But ifcomes to pass, the Illini are vulnerable. And because Wisconsin has good size, has held its own on the boards against Big Ten competition and excels at shutting down opposing three-point shooters , that automatically makes the Badgers a threat. is likely out for this one, but he seems to be nearing a return. The Illini are 5-1 without him, but they could have used Boswell against the Spartans, and Illinois is obviously a better and more flexible team with him healthy and in the lineup.Illinois annihilated Northwestern 84-44 last Wednesday, but Michigan State ended its 12-game win streak Saturday in an 85-82 overtime Spartans win in East Lansing. Wisconsin had a week off before facing Indiana on Saturday in Bloomington, where the Hoosiers eked out a 78-77 win.The Illini lead the all-time series 119-90, but the Badgers snapped a nine-game skid against Illinois in the teams' most recent meeting, a 95-74 manhandling in Madison last Feb. 18. Before the Illini's long stretch of dominance, Wisconsin had won 15 straight in the series. The Badgers have a bag full of tricks on offense, working pick-and-roll from the wings, using and slipping out of dribble handoffs with their bigs, attacking matchups strategically and bombing from three-point range when shooters get their chances. John Blackwell and Nick Boyd are UW's most dynamic scorers, but 7-footer Nolan Winter can pound you inside or burn you from long range. For more on the Badgers – on both sides of the ball – check outJason Langendorf has covered Illinois basketball, football and more for Illinois on SI since October 2024, and has covered Illini sports – among other subjects – for 30 years. A veteran of ESPN and Sporting News, he has published work in The Guardian, Vice, Chicago Sun-Times and many other outlets. He is currently also the U.S. editor at BoxingScene and a judge for the annual BWAA writing awards. He can be followed and reached on X and Bluesky @JasonLangendorf.
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