Illinois is coming off a loss, but their 20-4 record and impressive NET ranking of 4 have them well-positioned for a high seed in the tournament. Wisconsin, on the other hand, is solidly in the field with a 43 NET ranking, but a win at the State Farm Center would be a significant boost to their resume. The Badgers have struggled in Quad 1 games, going 1-5, and this matchup against Illinois falls into that category. A victory would not only be a notable upset but also a Quad 1 win, which could help them climb the seeding ladder.
Illinois Has Dominated Wisconsin in Recent Meetings
CHD Scout Prediction
Wisconsin
69
Illinois
86
The CHD Scout prediction has Illinois winning by 16.8 points, with a 91.3% win probability, and it's hard to argue with those numbers given the Fighting Illini's dominant performance at home. Illinois has a strong quad record, with a 6-4 mark in Quad 1 games and a perfect 7-0 record in Quad 4 games. Wisconsin, meanwhile, has been decent in Quad 2 games, going 5-2, but they'll need to bring their A-game to keep up with Illinois.