After pulling out yet another gritty overtime win-this time against Northwestern-Rutgers basketball is gearing up for a major test on the road: a Saturday showdown with a red-hot Wisconsin squad riding a three-game win streak.
The Badgers have been rolling lately, stacking impressive wins over UCLA, No. 4 Michigan, and Minnesota.
That win over Michigan? A 91-88 thriller that turned heads across the Big Ten.
At 12-5 on the season, Wisconsin has proven they can hang with the best. Three of their five losses came against ranked opponents, with the others coming against TCU and a Villanova team just outside the Top 25.
What makes Wisconsin so dangerous is their offensive versatility. They’ve got a trio of scorers who can light it up on any given night.
Leading the charge is guard Nick Boyd, who’s averaging 19.2 points per game and setting the tone as both a scorer and a playmaker-he also leads the team in assists at 3.4 per game. Right behind him is John Blackwell, another guard who’s putting up 18.6 points per game and anchoring the defense with a team-high 1.3 steals.
Then there’s forward Nolan Winter, who’s not only adding 14.1 points per contest but also dominating the boards with 8.9 rebounds a night.
And while those three are the headliners, don’t sleep on Austin Rapp. The forward is averaging 9.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, though his status for Saturday is uncertain after missing recent action.
As a unit, Wisconsin is putting up 82.8 points per game while pulling down 37.1 rebounds and dishing out 15.7 assists. That’s a well-rounded offensive profile that can wear down opponents over 40 minutes. By contrast, Rutgers is averaging 69.8 points, 36.2 rebounds, and 10.7 assists-a noticeable gap, especially in offensive production and ball movement.
For Rutgers, the challenge is clear: they’ll need to find a way to keep pace with one of the Big Ten’s most efficient scoring teams. When Tariq Francis is locked in, the Scarlet Knights can hang with just about anyone.
But when he’s off, the offense tends to sputter. Unlike Wisconsin, who can lean on multiple scorers to carry the load, Rutgers doesn't have that same margin for error.
This matchup also marks the beginning of a tough stretch in the Scarlet Knights’ schedule. They won’t face a team in their weight class again until mid-February, which makes every possession-and every opportunity to steal a win-that much more important.
Still, there’s reason for optimism. Rutgers has shown resilience, especially in their recent wins over Oregon and Northwestern.
If they can bring that same energy and tighten up defensively, they might just make this a game. But they’ll need to be nearly flawless to keep up with Wisconsin’s scoring depth.
Tip-off is set for Saturday, January 17 at 2 p.m. ET, with coverage on the Big Ten Network.
It’s a chance for Rutgers to prove they can hang with the conference’s elite-or for Wisconsin to keep flexing their offensive muscle. Either way, it’s one to watch.