Losses are piling up for the Illini more than Brad Underwood would like, especially after Saturday's home L to Michigan State on Terrence Shannon jersey retirement night, dropping Illinois to 9-7 in Big Ten play. Lately, three-point shooting has fluctuated wildly, including Saturday's 7 for 33 against the Spartans and 6 for 28 on February 5 in a loss at Rutgers. As for the Badgers, they've won and covered their last four and now stand 10-2 vs. the spread in their last twelve The offense blitzed Purdue on Saturday with 61% FG shooting in a 94-84 win, as hot G John Tonje scored 32. Note the Illini win way back on December 10 at Champaign-Urbana was before Wiscy shifted gears. Play Wisconsin.

Badgers have won 12 of 14, shattering preseason expectations. They probably cover this and have covered 12 of the last 15, but Illinois getting a little desperate so playing it safe. Badgers have won six in a row at home, and only home loss vs. Michigan. Illinois continues to be committed to analytics and throws up way too many three-point shots even though they aren't very good behind arc. Its the best 3-point team in the Big 10 vs. the worst. Illinois is 3-6 ATS in its past nine and has some bad road losses (Rutgers). Badgers seem intent on getting a bye in conference tourney and Illinois seem intent on blowing a top-four seed. Illinois has dominated this series but Badgers will be ready.

Illinois has lost a key piece for multiple weeks in freshman Morez Johnson Jr. as he was injured in Saturday's pretty stunning 14-point home loss to Michigan State. The Illini have been wildly inconsistent for a few weeks due to injuries and illness, so this won't help. The 6-foot-9 Johnson averages 7.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game and had been starting of late. The Badgers were incredibly impressive Saturday in their fourth straight win, 94-84 at No. 7 Purdue. Wisconsin has reached 80 points in 14 games, most since 1970-71 (15 times), yet also ranks among Big Ten defensive leaders. And this is the home payback-type of game we love as UW lost at Illinois by six on Dec. 10.