USC Heads to Madison for Big Ten Test vs. Red-Hot Wisconsin
The Trojans are heading into hostile territory this weekend as USC Men's Basketball (14-5, 3-5 Big Ten) travels to Madison to take on a surging Wisconsin squad (14-5, 6-2 Big Ten) at the Kohl Center. Tipoff is set for Sunday, Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. PT, with the game streaming on Peacock.
This will be the sixth all-time meeting between the two programs, with USC trailing the series 2-3. The last time these teams met, it wasn’t pretty for the Trojans-an 84-69 loss on Jan. 18, 2025, that left plenty of room for improvement.
What Happened Last Time Out
USC is looking to bounce back after a tough 74-68 loss to Northwestern. The Trojans came out strong, building a seven-point lead in the first half and keeping their turnovers in check with just six giveaways all game. But they couldn’t contain the Wildcats in the paint, surrendering 44 points down low-ultimately the difference in a game that slipped away late.
Freshman guard Jordan Marsh was the bright spot, scoring all 19 of his points in the second half. He was aggressive and efficient, going a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line and injecting life into the offense with a fastbreak layup that cut the deficit to one with five minutes to go. Ezra Ausar added 17 points and three assists, while Chad Baker-Mazara also chipped in with double figures.
Scouting the Badgers
Wisconsin comes into Sunday’s matchup on a heater. Winners of five straight, the Badgers are sitting sixth in the Big Ten and playing like a team with serious postseason aspirations.
Their signature win of the season came earlier this month when they handed then-undefeated No. 2/3 Michigan its first loss of the year.
That game was a statement. Wisconsin erased a 14-point deficit and torched the Wolverines from deep, hitting 15 of 33 from beyond the arc-the most threes made on the road by any Big Ten team this season.
The Badgers are led by a dynamic backcourt duo in Nick Boyd and John Blackwell. Boyd is averaging a team-high 19.4 points per game, good for fifth in the Big Ten, and has scored in double digits in all 19 games this season.
Blackwell isn’t far behind at 18.5 points per game and already has 15 career 20-point games under his belt. Together, they’ve become one of the most lethal scoring tandems in the conference.
Wisconsin’s most recent outing was a 98-71 dismantling of Penn State. The team shot nearly 51% from the field and got a big lift from forward Nolan Winter, who posted 13 points and 10 rebounds-his ninth double-double of the season. Winter’s 8.8 rebounds per game ranks fifth in the Big Ten, and his presence on the glass has been a key factor in Wisconsin’s ability to control tempo and dominate second-chance opportunities.
Offensively, the Badgers are humming. They’re putting up 82.6 points per game, second-best in the Big Ten, and they’re deadly from the free-throw line, shooting 80.6%-also second in the conference.
Head coach Greg Gard is in his 11th season at the helm and has built a consistent winner in Madison. A two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year and 2022 Naismith Coach of the Year finalist, Gard has guided the Badgers to back-to-back conference title game appearances and has a career record north of .640.
Trojan Watch: Cofie Holding It Down
For USC, one of the most consistent presences this season has been freshman forward Jacob Cofie. One of just two Trojans to start all 19 games, Cofie has been a force defensively over the last five contests, averaging 8.4 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals.
His performance against No. 5 Purdue was especially impressive-he notched his fourth double-double of the season and pulled down a career-high 15 boards.
Cofie’s rebounding and rim protection will be critical against a Wisconsin team that thrives on second-chance points and interior scoring.
Perimeter Defense: USC’s Silent Strength
If there’s one area where USC has quietly excelled this season, it’s defending the three-point line. The Trojans are holding opponents to just 29.5% shooting from beyond the arc, which ranks 20th nationally per BartTorvik.com and places them in the 95th percentile on CBB Analytics. That’s not just good-it’s elite.
That perimeter defense will be tested in a big way Sunday. Wisconsin’s ability to get hot from deep, as they showed against Michigan, could be a game-changer. If USC can close out on shooters and force the Badgers to win inside, they’ll give themselves a real shot to steal one on the road.
The Bottom Line
This is a classic Big Ten clash between two teams with postseason hopes but very different recent trajectories. Wisconsin is rolling, while USC is searching for consistency.
But the Trojans have the talent to compete-they’ve shown flashes of it all season. If they can limit turnovers, control the paint, and continue their strong perimeter defense, Sunday could be a turning point.
One thing’s for sure: with Boyd and Blackwell lighting it up, and Cofie anchoring the Trojans’ defense, this one has all the makings of a high-stakes midseason battle.