Gameday Central | No. 13 Illinois at Wisconsin; Noon, BTN

Mar. 2—Sign up for our daily basketball newsletter here

I had a thought as I drove from my hotel in Middleton, Wis., to the Wisconsin campus this morning. Had Illinois actually won every other Big Ten road game this season? Literally alternated wins and losses away from State Farm Center?

A quick perusal of the schedule as I made the short walk from the parking garage to the Kohl Center confirmed that my memory has not yet failed me four months shy of my 37th birthday.

It's kind of incredible:

* Rutgers — Win

* Purdue — Loss

* Michigan — Win

* Northwestern — Loss

* Ohio State — Win

* Michigan State — Loss

* Maryland — Win

* Penn State — Loss

Does that mean a win is coming this afternoon at Wisconsin? That pattern would suggest yes. The Badgers' record at home — just two losses to Tennessee and Purdue — might suggest otherwise. Both those teams were ranked in the top 10 when they won at the Kohl Center. Illinois is just outside that mark at No. 13 in this week's Associated Press Top 25.

It's not an absurd thought to think the Illini can pick up another road win in Madison. They've won their last six games against Wisconsin, including three straight on the Badgers' home court.

So we'll see if Illinois can do it again. Odds are, if it happens, it will be because the Illini outscored the Badgers. Might be time to face facts. Illinois is in the midst of arguably its best offensive season ever (by the metrics) with a defense that's ... not quite there.

First to 100 again today?

Follow along all afternoon — before, during and after the game — for comprehensive coverage from Madison:

Tweets by srrichey