Five things to know: Nebraska and Illinois

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Five things to know: Nebraska and Illinois

February 06, 2018 | Wrestling

No. 21 Wisconsin is set to host No. 16 Nebraska and hit the road against No. 15 Illinois

MADISON, Wis.- After having a two-week break, Wisconsin wrestling is preparing to finish out the final four duals on its schedule over the next two weeks. This week No. 16 Nebraska makes a visit to Madison for a conference dual. Action is set to begin at 7 p.m. (CT) inside the UW Field house, with tickets being available at the door. The squad will then hit the road for a battle against No. 15 Illinois, with the Sunday dual slated to start at 1 p.m. The conference duals will be available to stream through Flowrestling and BTN2Go.

All U.S. military members and veterans will receive free admission for themselves and one guest, plus a free Bucky Coupon Book, at our Military Appreciation Night this Friday! https://t.co/93LjlexAfY pic.twitter.com/FT2FiMWDLo
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) February 5, 2018

1. LAST TIME ON THE MAT: The Badgers were last in action against conference rival Indiana on Jan. 26. The squad was looking up at an early 12-3 deficit after the first three matches, but tech falls by Cole Martin (149) and No. 6 Evan Wick (165) helped in the 24-19 victory.

2. LOOKING AHEAD: Wisconsin wrestling has two tests this weekend, beginning this Friday when No. 16 Nebraska steps its way into the UW Field House. The Huskers are currently 6-2 in Big Ten conference play and have won their last five of six. They were last in action this past Sunday when they defeated Michigan State, 35-6. The Badgers will then hit the road for their final away conference dual of the season when they face No. 15 Illinois (7-3, 6-2 Big Ten) in a competition that will feature marquee ranked matchups at the 157, 165 and 184-pound weight classes

3. ROBERTSON'S WEEKEND WAR 184: Wisconsin senior Ricky Robertson is on a tear this season, standing in as the ninth-ranked wrestler in the country at 184 pounds with a 20-4 record. Two top-10 matchups will be awaiting Robertson this weekend as he's slated to have rematches against Nebraska's freshman phenom and seventh-ranked Taylor Venz on Friday and sixth-ranked Emery Parker of Illinois on Sunday. Robertson and Venz met earlier in the season when the Husker was unranked and was in the midst of a dominating stretch, defeating Robertson by an 8-3 decision at the Cliff Keen Invitational. Ricky met Emery Parker at the Roadrunner Open back in mid-November, handing Parker his only loss of the season in a 3-1 sudden victory final.

4. WICK'S WEEKEND WAR AT 165: A group of big matches are coming up for freshman and sixth-ranked Evan Wick as the regular season comes to a close. After not facing any ranked conference opponents thus far, he will get his biggest conference opponent yet this weekend in Nebraska's No. 12 Isaiah White (18-4) and Illinois' No. 2 Isaiah Martinez (10-0) at 165 pounds. Wick is currently 18-2 in his first year starting for the Cardinal and White with a 4-0 mark in conference action.

5. SCOUTING NEBRASKA AND ILLINOIS: The dual on Friday against the Huskers is almost guaranteed to be a thriller as both squads have ranked talent and as of a result, create big matchups that can factor in to if this dual will be decided by bonus points. Nebraska is 8-4 in dual action on the season, with a 6-2 mark in the conference. Illinois is very similar to Nebraska in the talent it has and the results it has seen. The Illini are currently 7-3 in dual competition on the season and are also 6-2 in the conference. Illinois has also won four-straight duals, as well as six of the last seven.

#21 Wisconsin Probables (6-2, 3-2 B1G)

125: Johnny Jimenez (Sr./ 1-5)
133: Jens Lantz (RS-Jr./ 15-9)
141: Eli Stickley (RS-So./ 15-6)
149: Cole Martin (RS-So./ 13-8)
157: #19 Andrew Crone (RS-Sr./ 20-7)
165: #6 Evan Wick (RS-Fr./ 18-2)
174: Ryan Christensen (RS-Jr./ 16-9)
184: #9 Ricky Robertson (RS-Sr./ 20-4)
197: Hunter Ritter (RS-So./ 18-7)
285: Ben Stone (RS-So./ 5-12)

#15 Illinois Probables (7-3, 6-2 B1G)

125   #18  Travis Piotrowski (14-5, 7-3), So.
133   Dylan Duncan (14-6, 7-3), r-Fr.
141   #12 Mike Carr (13-4, 7-2), r-Fr.
149   Eric Barone (8-11, 2-8), r-So.
157    #20 Kyle Langenderfer (10-7,5-5),r-Sr.
165    #2 Isaiah Martinez (10-0,10-0), r-Sr.
174    David Riojas (2-12, 1-8), Fr.
184    #6 Emery Parker (17-1, 9-0), r-Jr.
197     Andre Lee (9-10, 4-6), r-Jr.
HWT   Deuce Rachal (9-12, 3-7), r-Jr.

#16 Nebraska's Projected Starters (8-4, 6-2 B1G)
Wt.        Name                                          Yr.            Hometown                            17-18
125         Mitchell Maginnis Sr.            Grand Island, Neb.           15-12
133         #19 Jason Renteria Fr.            Chicago, Ill.                           4-1
OR            Brian Peska                           Jr.             Omaha, Neb.                        6-8
141         #13 Chad Red Jr.                RFr.         Indianapolis, Ind. 16-7
149         #10 Colton McCrystal     Sr.            Sergeant Bluff, Iowa        15-3
OR            Collin Purinton                   So.           Banks, Ore.                            14-5
157         #8 Tyler Berger                    Jr.             Prineville, Ore.                  17-5
165         #12 Isaiah White So.           Chicago, Ill.                           18-4
174         Beau Breske RFr.         Hartford, Wis. 9-9
184         #7 Taylor Venz                    RFr.         Farmington, Minn. 18-5
197         Eric Schultz                            RFr.         Tinley Park, Ill.                    14-6
HWT.      David Jensen                       So.           Mobridge, S.D.    8-8