After a pair of statement wins over top-10 opponents, Wisconsin men’s basketball is back in the national spotlight - and back in the rankings.
The Badgers have climbed to No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 24 in the AP Poll, marking their return to the national conversation for the first time since mid-November. And they didn’t sneak in quietly - they kicked the door down with signature wins that turned heads across the college basketball landscape.
It started with a gritty road win over then-No. 7 Illinois, followed by a dominant 21-point takedown of then-No.
10 Michigan State at the Kohl Center - the largest margin of victory Wisconsin has ever posted against a top-10 team. That’s not just a bounce-back; that’s a statement.
With those two wins, the Badgers became the first program this season to notch three victories over top-10 opponents. It's a testament to a team that’s finding its rhythm at the right time, especially in a deep and unforgiving Big Ten.
Wisconsin now sits at 18-7 overall and 10-4 in conference play, good for fifth in the Big Ten standings. That’s no small feat in a league currently dominated by heavyweights.
Just take a look at the Coaches Poll: Michigan holds the top spot, with Purdue (No. 7), Nebraska (No.
9), Illinois (No. 10), and Michigan State (No. 15) all ahead of the Badgers. That’s five Big Ten teams in the top 15 - and Wisconsin’s already taken down two of them.
It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster for Greg Gard’s squad. The Badgers opened the season with promise, earning a spot in both polls back in November.
But a lopsided 28-point loss to then-No. 10 BYU on Nov. 21 knocked them out of the rankings and left plenty of questions in their wake.
Since then, though, Wisconsin has done more than just steady the ship - they’ve started to build momentum. The defense has tightened up, the offense is sharing the ball, and the team is showing the kind of toughness that’s long been a hallmark of the program.
With six regular-season games remaining, the Badgers have a chance to keep climbing. Next up is a road trip to Ohio State on Feb. 17, followed by a return to the Kohl Center to host Iowa on Feb.
- The Hawkeyes, once ranked No. 25 in the Coaches Poll, have since fallen out - but in this conference, every matchup is a battle.
Wisconsin’s re-entry into the rankings isn’t just about numbers next to their name - it’s about timing, trajectory, and belief. This team is peaking when it matters most, and with March looming, they’re starting to look like a squad no one will want to face.