Wisconsin Blows Past Penn State, Extends Win Streak to Five
There was only one game on the Big Ten slate Thursday night, and it didn’t take long to see how it was going to unfold. Wisconsin came into the matchup with momentum and confidence - and left with both fully intact after dismantling Penn State on the road.
Let’s break it down.
Coming into the night, the two teams were heading in opposite directions. Wisconsin had won four straight and six of its last seven, the lone blemish coming against conference heavyweight Purdue.
Penn State, meanwhile, was stuck in a rut. The Nittany Lions were sitting at .500 (9-9), had dropped five in a row, and hadn’t beaten a team ranked in the KenPom top 175 all season.
On paper, this was Wisconsin’s game to lose - the only real question was whether the Badgers would stumble away from home.
They didn’t.
In fact, they didn’t even flinch.
Wisconsin came out firing and never looked back. By the midway point of the second half, the game was all but wrapped up, with the Badgers holding a lead north of 30 points. It was a statement win, the kind that reinforces a team’s identity and builds confidence heading into the heart of conference play.
Freshman big man Nolan Winter had himself a night, delivering a double-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists. He was active on both ends of the floor and looked increasingly comfortable in his role.
John Blackwell continued his strong run of form with 17 points, five assists, and three rebounds, while Braden Carrington gave the Badgers a spark off the bench, also dropping 17. It was a balanced, efficient performance from a team that’s starting to look like a serious contender in the Big Ten.
With the win, Wisconsin improved to 14-5 overall and 6-2 in conference play. That’s five straight victories now - three of them coming on the road - and the Badgers have climbed to 35th in the KenPom rankings, a 10-spot jump from just a month ago.
This is a team that’s finding its rhythm at the right time. If the current trajectory holds, they’ll be a problem come March.
As for Penn State, the struggles continue. The Nittany Lions fell to 9-10 overall and remain winless in Big Ten play at 0-8.
Earlier this month, they showed flashes of competitiveness against Michigan and Purdue, but that fire was missing Thursday night. With a tough schedule still ahead, the road doesn’t get any easier.
While postseason hopes are all but gone, there’s still time to build something positive over the final stretch of the season - even if it’s just about pride and player development at this point.
Next up, Wisconsin returns home to face USC on Sunday, looking to keep the momentum rolling. Penn State, meanwhile, will try to regroup on the road against Ohio State on Monday.