Though it seemed as if Wisconsin had squandered any chance at a share of the Big Ten regular season title with Sunday’s senior day loss to Purdue, a win Thursday night in East Lansing would put the Badgers just a single win and an Indiana loss from the crown.
Winning in East Lansing, however, is easier said than done. After winning his first two career games at the Breslin Center, head coach Bo Ryan has seen his team come up empty on seven consecutive trips dating back to 2004. The Spartans knocked off UW 49-47 in Madison Jan. 22 and, having lost three straight games, are no doubt going to come out hungry.
There was a point not too long ago when the Badgers were dominating this series. But after four straight Spartan victories from 2007-’08, Wisconsin is just 2-7 against MSU, losing its last four dating back to an 82-56 win in Madison back on Super Bowl Sunday 2011.
Though the winner of Thursday night’s matchup will have an inside track to the conference title should Indiana slip up Sunday in Ann Arbor, the loser will be in grave danger of falling outside the all-important top four in the Big Ten standings, which would mean losing a first-round bye in next week’s Big Ten Tournament.
Wisconsin has never finished outside the top four in 11 seasons under Ryan. Without a victory against the Spartans, the Badgers will need a victory Sunday over Penn State coupled with losses by either Michigan or Ohio State in order to keep the streak alive.
