- Matchup: Wisconsin Badgers vs Illinois Fighting Illini
- Date: Friday, March 13, 2026
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL
- Broadcast: BTN
- Betting Lines: Wisconsin (+9)
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The Wisconsin Badgers (22-9) are set to clash with the Illinois Fighting Illini (24-7) at United Center this Friday in the Big Ten Tournament. The Illini are favored by 9 points. The over/under for the game is established at 155.
In their most recent outing, the Wisconsin Badgers secured a thrilling victory over Purdue, finishing at 97-93. Wisconsin committed 19 fouls, while Purdue recorded 18. The Badgers made 11 of 25 attempts from beyond the arc, while Purdue managed 73.7% from the free-throw line, hitting 14 of 19 shots. Purdue gathered a total of 29 rebounds (12 offensive, 17 defensive) with no blocked shots. They also provided 20 assists and secured 5 steals. Defensively, Wisconsin struggled at times, allowing Purdue to shoot 50.7% from the field on 34 of 67 attempts. Wisconsin complemented their effort with 19 assists, forced 7 turnovers, and made 4 steals. On the boards, they collected 17 rebounds, including 4 offensive. From the charity stripe, Wisconsin converted 21 of 24 attempts, achieving an impressive 87.5% success rate. The Badgers concluded the game with a 55.8% field goal percentage (29 of 52) and triumphed with 18 out of 34 attempts from three-point range.
John Blackwell was instrumental in the victory, scoring 25 points on 7 of 13 shooting. He played 38 minutes, gathered 4 rebounds, and tallied 1 assist, exhibiting a solid 53.8% shooting accuracy.
Wisconsin approaches this game boasting a 22-9 season record. They average 9.0 turnovers per game and commit 17.2 fouls. The Badgers average 35.9 rebounds per game and have dished out 493 assists this season, ranking 92nd in Division 1. In shooting statistics, Wisconsin connects on 36.3% of their three-point attempts (359 of 990) and boasts a free-throw success rate of 78.2%. Their offensive output averages 83.3 points per game, placing them 35th in Division 1, while shooting 45.3% from the floor.
Defensively, the Badgers are forcing 10.2 turnovers per game while drawing 17.6 fouls. They rank 164th in Division 1 for assists allowed, having allowed 416 this season. Opponents are shooting 44.5% against them (833 of 1,871), and they give up an average of 34.2 rebounds per game. Additionally, they have limited opponents to a 33.6% success rate from beyond the arc, ranking 230th in points allowed per game (75.6).
In their last game, the Illinois Fighting Illini triumphed over Maryland, winning 78-72. In terms of rebounds, Illinois allowed Maryland to grab a total of 23 (6 offensive). They managed 30.0% from three-point territory, hitting 9 of 30 attempts, while converting 11 of 15 free-throw attempts (73.3%). Maryland hit 26 of 56 shots from the field, totaling a shooting percentage of 46.4%. Illinois recorded 26 for 55 from the field, translating to a 47.3% shooting percentage. The Fighting Illini made 5 out of 24 three-point attempts, reaching 20.8%. They had a successful free-throw shooting rate of 80.8%, making 21 of 26 attempts. Maryland committed 20 personal fouls, sending Illinois to the free-throw line 26 times. The Fighting Illini forced Maryland into 7 turnovers while securing 5 steals and gathering 27 rebounds (18 defensive and 9 offensive).
David Mirkovic played a key role for the Fighting Illini, achieving 22 points with 9 out of 13 shooting (69.2%) and securing 11 rebounds in 36 minutes, along with 3 assists.
Illinois boasts a record of 24-7 this season. On average, the Fighting Illini tally 13.1 personal fouls per game and shoot an impressive 79.3% from the free-throw line. They issue 14.6 assists per game (ranked 126th in college) while averaging 9.0 turnovers. Illinois has scored a total of 2,612 points, averaging 84.3 per game, and they also grab an average of 40.8 rebounds per game. Their field goal percentage stands at 46.1%, placing them 126th in Division 1.
Defensively, Illinois allows an average of 69.1 points per game, ranking 59th in college basketball. They force 7.8 turnovers each game, allowing opponents to shoot 41.0% (35th in college basketball). The Illini concede 31.7% on three-point attempts (258 of 813) and opponents succeed 72.6% of the time from the charity stripe. They give up an average of 13.2 assists and 30.9 rebounds per game, ranking them 172nd and 20th, respectively, in college basketball.
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s NCAA match-up against the spread?
Pick: Choose Wisconsin (+9)
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