The Wisconsin Badgers pulled off another thrilling victory on Friday, edging out the Illinois Fighting Illini 91-88 in an overtime battle to secure their spot in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
This game was a rollercoaster from start to finish. The Badgers burst out of the gate with an early lead, only to be hit by a 23-3 run from the Illini, leaving them trailing by 15 in the first half. Yet, the Badgers showed resilience, clawing back to trim the deficit to six by halftime.
The second half mirrored the first, with Wisconsin finding themselves in another hole as Illinois stretched their lead to 15 midway through. But if there’s one thing we know about this team, it’s their ability to rally from double-digit deficits. Nick Boyd and John Blackwell were the heroes of the night, combining for an impressive 69 points to push the game into overtime.
In the extra period, Wisconsin came out strong, securing their second overtime victory on the road against the Illini. This win propels them into the semifinals, where they’ll face the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines.
Before the tournament, the Badgers were generally pegged as a six seed by most Bracketologists. Their 85-82 triumph over the Washington Huskies on Thursday didn’t shake up their seeding much, but Friday’s win was a game-changer.
With the Badgers’ victory and teams like the Tennessee Volunteers stumbling, Wisconsin has climbed to a No. 5 seed in most Bracketology forecasts. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi placed them as a No. 5 seed on Saturday morning, ranking them as the No. 20 overall seed, sharing the seed line with Arkansas, St. John’s, and Texas Tech.
USA Today echoed this sentiment, also moving Wisconsin up to a No. 5 seed. However, CBS Sports remained cautious, keeping them at a No. 6 seed on Saturday morning.
The Badgers have a golden opportunity to further bolster their resume against the Michigan Wolverines. While a significant jump in seed lines might be unlikely given the depth of talent among top teams this year, Wisconsin’s momentum is undeniable.