Wisconsin

10-15 (3-9)

Illinois

12-12 (2-9)

Game Coverage

Thursday, Feb. 8  |  8 p.m. (CT)  |  State Farm Center

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MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin travels to Champaign, Illinois on Thursday looking for its 13th-consecutive win over Illinois. The Badgers topped the Illini, 75-50, three weeks ago in Madison. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. on BTN.

Up next, UW plays four of its final five games at home, beginning Sunday, Feb. 11, in the season's only regular-season meeting with Michigan.
 

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW: ILLINOIS

1. GARD IN CONTROL: With a record of 52-33 (.612), Greg Gard owns the third-highest win percentage in school history (min. 60 games) behind Hall of Famers Bo Ryan (.737) and Walter Meanwell (.712).
2. BADGERS DOZEN: Wisconsin has now won 12 consecutive games against Illinois dating back to 2011, the second-longest all-time win streak against the Illini (Purdue won 13 straight from 1967-75). UW's streak includes five wins in Champaign, trailing only Purdue's 6-game road win streaks at Illinois from 1968-75 and 1995-2000.
3. FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH: Wisconsin has one of the least experienced rosters in college basketball. The average experience level is 1.01 years. Only 20 of the 351 teams in the nation are younger. The Badgers' talented freshman class has accounted for 42.6% of the team's scoring this season, combining for 29.1 points per game.
4. HAPP HAVING HIS WAY: All-American Ethan Happ is the only player to rank among the Big Ten's top 10 in points (6th at 17.4 ppg), rebounds (4that 8.5 rpg) and assists (9th at 3.9 apg). He is also the only major conference player averaging at least 16.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 3.0 apg.
5. FORD FEELING IT: Redshirt freshman Aleem Ford has gone 8-for-11 from 3-point range over UW's last two games. Overall, he leads the Badgers and ranks fourth in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 48.6% (36-74). His mark of 48.6% ranks second among all NCAA freshmen.

ALL-TIME vs. ILLINOIS

Tuesday marks the 198th meeting between UW and Illinois in a series dating back to 1906. The Illini lead the all-time series, 110-87, including a 68-26 edge in Champaign.

• Wisconsin has won 12 straight over Illinois, the second-longest all-time win streak vs. the Illini. Purdue holds the longest streak with 13 consecutive wins from 1967-75.
• The Badgers have won five straight games in Champaign. Purdue is the only team to own a longer win streak at Illinois, winning six in a row on two occasions (1968-75 and 1995-00).
• After UW's 12-game win streak, the Big Ten's next-longest active win streak over Illinois is four (Maryland)
• Dating back to 2007, UW has won 19 of the last 23 meetings with Illinois
• Reaching 60 points has been an incredible indicator in this series. The first team to score 60 points is 29-1 over the last 14 seasons. The only loss was UW's 71-64 comeback win on Jan. 20, 2007 (Illinois led 60-57 with 5:07 left).
• Wisconsin has held Illinois to 70 or fewer points in each of the last 25 matchups
• A native of Milan, Illinois, junior Ethan Happ is averaging 14.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.3 blocks and 2.8 steals per game in four meetings against Illinois. Happ tallied 14 points and 13 rebounds in UW's last trip to Champaign. Happ has posted a double-double in each of his last three games against the Illini, including 16 points and 10 boards earlier this season on Jan. 19.

LAST TIME OUT

MARYLAND 68, WISCONSIN 63
Feb. 4, 2018 | Xfinity Center | College Park, Md.

Welcome back to the win column, ??!@TerrapinHoops held off Wisconsin, 68-63, to snap a three-game skid. pic.twitter.com/uCu2koiCoj

— Maryland On BTN (@MarylandOnBTN) February 4, 2018

• In a game with eight ties and 12 lead changes, Wisconsin fell at Maryland on Sunday. The Badgers battled back from a 10-point halftime deficit to tie the game at 60-60 with 2:00 remaining. However, the Terps scored on their final four possessions to close out the win.
• UW out-rebounded UMD, 29-28, including a 12-to-6 advantage on the offensive glass, and turned it over just nine times
• The Badgers shot 53.6% in the second half, but just 31.0% in the first half
• Junior Ethan Happ tallied a team-high 18 points, including 13 in the second half. He added nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
• Freshmen accounted for 37 of UW's 63 points, including a career-high 13 points from Nate Reuvers, 12 points (4-5 3FG) from Aleem Ford and 12 points from Brad Davison
• Ford is now 8-for-11 from 3-point range over the last two games

COMPLETE GAME NOTES