No. 24 Wisconsin moves back into Top 25 by displaying a knack for beating Big Ten's best teams

The Wisconsin men's basketball team entered 2026 lacking quality wins and needing to upgrade its NCAA Tournament resume in a hurry. The Badgers (18-7, 10-4 Big Ten) responded by becoming the first team this season to beat three top-10 teams, an achievement that has them back in the Top 25 for the first time since November as they prepare for a Tuesday visit to Ohio State (16-9, 8-6). No. 24 Wisconsin’s return to the poll follows a week in which the Badgers won 92-90 in overtime at then-No. 8 Illinois on Tuesday before returning home to trounce then-No. 10 Michigan State 92-71 on Friday, their most lopsided win over a top-10 team in school history.

By STEVE MEGARGEE