The Wisconsin Badgers extended their win streak to seven games with an 84-69 win over USC on Saturday.
That streak dates back to the team’s Dec. 14 win over Butler. It has included five straight conference triumphs — 116-85 over Iowa, 75-63 over Rutgers, 80-59 over Minnesota, 79-68 over Ohio State and Saturday’s victory. It has moved the team’s record up to an impressive 15-3 overall and 5-2 in Big Ten play.
Related: Takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s road win over USC
Wisconsin has predictably surged in both traditional standings and predictive rating metrics during its winning stretch. It is up to No. 20 in KenPom (No. 13 offensive efficiency, No. 47 defense), still the fifth-highest-ranked team in the Big Ten. It is also nearing the top tier of the conference standings. Only 1 1/2 games separate it from the top-seeded Spartans:
Updated Big Ten Standings
1. Michigan State Spartans (15-2, 6-0 Big Ten)
2. Purdue Boilermakers (15-4, 7-1 Big Ten)
3. Michigan Wolverines (13-4, 5-1 Big Ten)
4. (tie) Illinois Fighting Illini (13-4, 5-2 Big Ten)
4. (tie) Wisconsin Badgers (15-3, 5-2 Big Ten)
6. Indiana Hoosiers (14-5, 5-3 Big Ten)
7. Oregon Ducks (15-3, 4-3 Big Ten)
8. (tie) Maryland Terrapins (13-5, 3-4 Big Ten)
8. (tie) Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-8, 3-4 Big Ten)
8. (tie) UCLA Bruins (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten)
8. (tie) USC Trojans (11-7, 3-4 Big Ten)
8. (tie) Iowa Hawkeyes (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten)
13. (tie) Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-5, 2-4 Big Ten)
13. (tie) Northwestern Wildcats (11-6, 2-4 Big Ten)
15. (tie) Penn State Nittany Lions (12-6, 2-5 Big Ten)
15. (tie) Ohio State Buckeyes (10-8, 2-5 Big Ten)
17. (tie) Washington Huskies (10-8, 1-6 Big Ten)
17. (tie) Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-9, 1-6 Big Ten)
Wisconsin is back on the court on Tuesday at UCLA. Another victory could cement the Badgers as a conference contender and potential top-four seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
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