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Wisconsin Basketball: Three toughest conference games remaining

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:34 p.m. ET

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Fansided, Trevor Jossart/FanSided via Badger of Honor

The Wisconsin Badgers will enter perhaps their toughest stretch off the season.

Winners of seven straight, the Wisconsin Badgers now hold possession of first place in the Big Ten Conference. As Nigel Hayes pointed out following the team’s 65-60 victory, the bullseye on their back is now bigger and every team in the conference is chasing them.

“The scary thing is the smaller that number is next to your name, the harder things get,” said Hayes, who had a double-double against the Hoosiers. “It’s always tough, but I think it’s something that you enjoy, beating the best. No one wants to play in 20-point blowouts night in and night out, so the competition in close games is something we look forward to.”

In our last edition of the Badgers’ toughest remaining games, Wisconsin has gone 2-0 against our list so far, defeating Indiana at home on Sunday (No. 5), and winning in overtime in Minneapolis over the Minnesota Golden Gophers (No. 1).

With the Badgers the team to beat, every game remaining is tough, but we narrow it down to three.

3. February 16: at Michigan Wolverines

There are a couple of factors that make the Badgers’ next road game after Thursday’s matchup with Nebraska rather intriguing.

The Michigan Wolverines had the Badgers beat in their earlier visit to the Kohl Center and if it were not for a Bronson Koenig mini-run to end the game, Wisconsin would be sitting with two losses right now and the Wolverines would have their signature win they have been searching for all season.

A talented and veteran group, Michigan will be fighting and scrapping every game to get their senior class to the NCAA Tournament. Currently sitting on the bubble, the Wolverines are running out of opportunities to improve their resume. While they still have the likes of Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Indiana, and Purdue on their schedule, a home win over the No. 7 (or higher) Badgers would be sure to give them an edge in the NCAA Tournament discussion.

Wisconsin’s last visit to Ann Arbor was a 69-64 overtime thriller that fell to the Badgers’ advantage. Expect another close one this time around.

2. February 26: at Michigan State Spartans

Staying in the state of Michigan, the Badgers will have one matchup against the under-performing Michigan State Spartans this season. Like Michigan, the Spartans will also be battling for an NCAA Tournament spot.

Although in a much better spot in terms of a tournament berth than a lot of Big Ten teams, the Spartans have been hot as of late, just like every Tom Izzo team it seems. A rough start that has been plagued by injuries, and still is in some spots, the Spartans are starting to gel together- winners of two straight over Michigan and Nebraska.

Wisconsin has not won at Michigan State since the 2001-02 season. The Spartans snapped the Badgers’ seven-game win streak last season in East Lansing, controlling the entire game and eliminating Wisconsin’s chances from the get-go defeating the Badgers 69-57. Wisconsin’s win streak during that time began with a 77-76 victory over then No. 4 Michigan State.

Time and network of the game has not been deciding, but with it being on a Sunday, it is likely we will be fortunate enough to get a noon game on CBS.

1. February 19: vs Maryland Terrapins

The Terrapins continue to prove the world wrong, winning close game after close game and remaining atop the Big Ten. Thanks to a Purdue win on the road in Maryland, the Badgers are now in sole possession of first place, but are only a game above the Terps and two games above Northwestern and Purdue.

February 19th’s meeting between the Badgers and Terrapins in Madison could very well be a Big Ten championship deciding game if things stay to par up until then. The Terps knocked off the Badgers as a top five team last year in Madison when Melo Trimble hit a game winning three with seconds remaining to escape with a victory. Wisconsin then returned the favor when they ended Maryland’s long conference home win streak later in the season.

Maryland is 9-2 in games decided by six points or less, a quality attribute of a championship team. The Terrapins and Badgers play on a Sunday so it will likely be an early afternoon game on CBS as well.

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