MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin wraps up a busy three-game week on Saturday by hosting Illinois at the Kohl Center. The Badgers have won eight of the last 10 home games against the Fighting Illini.

Wisconsin Athletics is encouraging fans to "Stripe Out" the Kohl Center by wearing red or white, depending on their section.

Sections wearing RED: 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327

Sections wearing WHITE: 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 202, 204, 206, 210, 212, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328

Before the Badgers tip, here is the Starting Five:

1. LAST TIME OUT: Freshman Connor Essegian led the Badgers with a career-high 19 points at Maryland, shooting 4-for-6 from 3-point range, but Wisconsin suffered a 73-55 loss on Wednesday at XFinity Center.  Tyler Wahl scored 13 points, while Steven Crowl tallied 11 points.

2. CAN'T STOP CONNOR:  Essegian is shooting 45.2% from 3-point range this season, ranked sixth in the Big Ten and seventh in the nation among freshmen. He already ranks sixth in school history for most 3-point field goals by a freshman, just three shy of tying Aleem Ford who recorded 45.



3. DEFENSE!: UW is allowing just 63.4 points per game, which ranks fourth for scoring defense in the Big Ten. The Badgers have held 17 of 19 foes below their scoring average, including four to season-low point totals.

4. BIG STEVE: Crowl has scored in double figures 10 of the last 13 games, including three 20+ point games. In Big Ten play, Crowl is averaging a team-best 13.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. This season, the 7-footer ranks second for the Badgers averaging 2.7 assists per game.

5. LAST MEETING: Saturday marks the second meeting this season between Wisconsin and Illinois, after the Badgers fell, 79-69, in Champaign. In this season's first meeting, Crowl posted his first-career double-double with 20 points and a career high 12 rebounds, while Chucky Hepburn led the Badgers with 22 points and tallied a career-high 7 assists.