Game Coverage
Tuesday, March 9 | 4 p.m. CT | Bankers Life Fieldhouse | Imndianapolis, Ind.
MADISON, Wis – No. 13-seed Wisconsin (5-18, 2-18 B1G) opens the Big Ten Tournament on Tuesday, taking on 12th-seeded Illinois (4-17, 2-16) in first-round action. Tip time is 4 p.m. CT from Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game airs live on the Big Ten Network.
Wisconsin is 15-27 in Big Ten tournament play. The Badgers are 2-3 against the Fighting Illini, including a 71-55 first-round win in 2020. The 12th-seeded UW lost to fifth-seeded Rutgers, 63-55, in the second last year.Here are five things to know before tuning in.
1. B1G TIME EXPERIENCE: Junior forward Imani Lewis comes into the 2021 Big Ten tournament with by far the most experience in one of the toughest conference's championship fight. Luckily for Wisconsin, Lewis has been playing some of her best basketball as of late. Finishing with at least 15 points in five out of the last seven games, Lewis's dominance and ability to take over a game alongside her post-season experience and leadership for Wisconsin may be exactly what it needs to do well in the post season. Lewis ended the Badger's regular-season finale at Michigan State on Saturday with 18 points and eight rebounds.
2. FRESHMEN FIRE: In Wisconsin's last time out, the Badgers saw above average play from freshmen Kate Thompson and Brooke Schramek. Both Thompson and Schramek will make their post-season debuts on Tuesday as the freshman come off a game where they both scored eight points at Michigan State. Thompson also added a career-high six rebounds while Schramek contributed two blocks and two steals defensively.
3. LAST TIME VS. THE ILLINI: The last time Wisconsin and Illinois faced off was back in late January where the Badgers left the Kohl Center victorious, 69-57, behind stand out games from both Imani Lewis, scoring 22, and Sydney Hilliard, scoring 18. Shutting down most of the Illini's offensive attack, one person Wisconsin couldn't seem to contain was Illinois point guard Jeanae Terry, who put up 28 points on the Badgers. Moving into the post season, any player has the chance to break open a game, but if Wisconsin can stick to the same all-around fundamental defense they had in its first face off with Illinois, the Badgers will be in a good position to advance in the tournament.
4. DOWN THE ROAD: As Wisconsin progresses through the single elimination Big Ten tournament, a win against the Illini would earn them a matchup against fifth-seeded Northwestern on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. If the Badgers continue to advance, they would see fourth-seeded Michigan on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. The Big Ten Tournament lasst all the way though the week, with the championship game held on Saturday at 1 p.m.
5. HOW TO WATCH: Tuesday tip-off is schedule for 4 p.m. CT with all Big Ten Tournament games available on the Big Ten Network. A radio stream will also be available at U-100.9 FM or anywhere using the iHeartRadio app with live stats that can be found at BigTenStats.com. As always, following @BadgersWBB is the best all-around place to find coverage from the Big Ten Tournament.
