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Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin basketball after its loss to Iowa

ben kenney
·3 min read
5

Wisconsin basketball’s 2023-24 season is at a crossroads.

The team has shown the ability, at times, to play like a top-10 team. It even was ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll entering February, until the wheels came off and the team lost five of six.

Now, five Big Ten Conference games remain: home vs. Maryland, at Indiana, vs. Illinois, vs. Rutgers and at Purdue.

Related: Which Big Ten football team has the toughest conference schedule in 2024?

Yes, the Badgers are 9-6 in conference play and don’t have much of a shot to take home the regular season title.

But there’s a reason seasons are only remembered by the month of March. If Wisconsin ends the regular season strong, plays well in the Big Ten Tournament and parlays that into a Sweet 16 or Elite Eight run, fans will forget the struggles during early February.

For that all to happen, Wisconsin must get a win against Maryland on Tuesday night.

As we enter that contest, here are ESPN BPI’s game-by-game predictions for the rest of Wisconsin’s regular season:

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Feb. 20 vs. Maryland

Jan 27, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Kevin Willard reacts during the first half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Kevin Willard reacts during the first half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Matchup predictor: 83.2% Wisconsin wins (down from 83.4%)

Maryland BPI Rank: No. 56

Maryland 2023-24 record: 14-12 (6-9 Big Ten)

Feb. 27 at Indiana

Jan 19, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (14) sets a screen as Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) is fouled by Indiana Hoosiers guard Trey Galloway (32) during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (14) sets a screen as Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) is fouled by Indiana Hoosiers guard Trey Galloway (32) during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

Matchup predictor: 71.1% Wisconsin wins (down from 79.7%)

Indiana BPI Rank: No. 101

Indiana 2023-24 record: 14-11 (6-8 Big Ten)

March 2 vs. Illinois

Feb 13, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr.(0) gets a hand from teammates during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr.(0) gets a hand from teammates during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Matchup predictor: 52.3% Wisconsin wins (down from 53.3%)

Illinois BPI Rank: No. 10

Illinois 2023-24 record: 19-6 (10-4 Big Ten)

March 7 vs. Rutgers

Feb 10, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights center Clifford Omoruyi (11) dunks the ball against Wisconsin Badgers forward Steven Crowl (22) and forward Tyler Wahl (5) during the second half at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights center Clifford Omoruyi (11) dunks the ball against Wisconsin Badgers forward Steven Crowl (22) and forward Tyler Wahl (5) during the second half at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Matchup predictor: 88.7% Wisconsin wins (same as last week)

Rutgers BPI Rank: No. 86

Rutgers 2023-24 record: 14-11 (6-8 Big Ten)

March 10 at Purdue

Feb 4, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Chucky Hepburn (23) dribbles the ball against Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Chucky Hepburn (23) dribbles the ball against Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

Matchup predictor: 13.3% Wisconsin wins (up from 12%)

Purdue BPI Rank: No. 2

Purdue 2023-24 record: 23-3 (12-3 Big Ten)

Overall

Feb 13, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard looks on during the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard looks on during the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

BPI Rank: 20

Projected W-L: 20.1-10.9 (12.1-7.9 Big Ten)

% Chance Wisconsin wins Big Ten: 0.3

Remaining Strength of Schedule Rank: No. 36

Story originally appeared on Badgers Wire