WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – On Thursday, Wisconsin's top two players were recognized with All-Big Ten accolades, but in Friday's opening match of the 2017 Big Ten Tournament, it was the Badgers' depth that carried them to victory. Using singles victories from their No. 3, 4 and 5 players, fourth-seeded Wisconsin knocked off No. 5 Northwestern, 4-2, and advanced to the semifinals in West Lafayette, Indiana.

"That's been our theme all year," head coach Danny Westerman said. "We're a true team and we can count on everybody to find a way to win. It's not the same guys week-in-and-week-out. Different guys can step up and clinch. Our top half has led us all season, but our bottom half can get it done too. This shows the depth of our entire lineup."

By taking down the 23rd-ranked Wildcats (20-10), Wisconsin recorded its first Big Ten tournament win since 2011 and advanced to its first tournament semifinals since 2010. The Badgers also tallied their second top-25 win of the season and improved to 5-4 against top-50 opponents on the year.

The 31st-ranked Badgers (17-6) will now face top-seeded and No. 2 in the nation Ohio State on Saturday. First serve at the Schwartz Tennis Center in West Lafayette, Indiana is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. (CT).

After UW's All-Big Ten duo, Lamar Remy and Josef Dodridge, suffered quick defeats at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, the Badgers found themselves in a 2-1 hole on Friday. That's when Chema Carranza and Osgar O'Hoisin picked up their teammates and swung the momentum back in UW's favor.

Carranza (27-8) tallied a 6-4, 6-4 win over second-team All-Big Ten pick Sam Shropshire to square the match. Moments later, O'Hoisin pushed Wisconsin into the lead with what might have been the biggest win of his career.

A month ago in UW's first match against Northwestern, O'Hoisin dropped a straight-set match to NU's Dominik Stary, a second-team All-Big Ten selection. After stumbling to a 0-6 first set on Friday, O'Hoisin settled down a battled back to win the final two dramatic sets, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

"Northwestern might have the best spot in the Big Ten with Stary at the four, he's that good," Westerman explained. "The fact that Osgar could pull this out showed his growth. That was the most important moment of the match. Everyone knew that whoever won that match would be in the driver's seat. That's a big win individually and he did it in an important team setting."

With a 3-2 lead, all eyes turned to UW's Chase Colton on court 5. The freshman delivered, pulling out a three-set win, 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-1, to clinch the win for Wisconsin.

The Badgers started fast on Friday, racing to win the doubles point in quick fashion. UW's top duo of Dodridge and Carranza recorded one of their best wins of the season, taking down NU's 58th-ranked tandem of Shropshire and Konrad Zieba, 6-2. On court three, UW's O'Hoisin and senior John Zordani finished even quicker with a 6-1 victory over Chris Ephron and Michael Lorenzini.

Dodridge and Carranza improved to 18-8 on the season, including an impressive 8-2 record against Big Ten opponents.

"I think this is the best we've started in doubles all season long," Westerman said. "We got a great jump at 1 and 3 and that's a great way to set the tone for the match. The doubles point between even teams is so important and that gave us confidence."

The Badgers will look to keep that confidence rolling against the conference's top team, Ohio State, on Saturday. UW dropped a 4-0 match in Columbus, Ohio earlier this season, but Westerman couldn't hide the team's excitement for another shot.

"We're pumped to get another shot at Ohio State. When we lost to them a few weeks ago, our guys walked away feeling like we could play with them. There's no fear in our guys and that's the next level for our program. We want to play the best and see where we're at."

#31 Wisconsin 4, #23 Northwestern 2
April 28, 2017  |  Big Ten Tournament Second Round
Schwartz Tennis Center  |  West Lafayette, Ind.

SINGLES
1. #37 Strong Kirchheimer (NU) def. Lamar Remy (UW), 6-4, 6-4
2. #71 Konrad Zieba (NU) def. Josef Dodridge (UW), 6-3, 6-2
3. Chema Carranza (UW) def. Sam Shropshire (NU), 6-4, 6-4
4. Osgar O'Hoisin (UW) vs. Dominik Stary (NU), 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
5. Chase Colton (UW) def. Ben Vandixhorn (NU), 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-1
6. Daniel Soyfer (UW) vs. Jason Seidman (NU), 3-6, 6-2, 3-4, unfinished

DOUBLES
1. Dodridge/Carranza (UW) def. #58 Zieba/Shropshire (NU), 6-2
2. Remy/Colton (UW) vs. #59 Stary/Kirchheimer (NU), 4-4, unfinished
3. O'Hoisin/Zordani (UW) def. Ephron/Lorenzini (NU), 6-1