Wisconsin Badgers
Milwaukee
Five Things to Know: Badgers vs. Milwaukee
December 27, 2025 | Men's Basketball
UW rounds out regular season non-conference slate
MADISON, Wis. –The Wisconsin men’s basketball takes on Milwaukee in their final non-conference matchup of the season on Tuesday at the Kohl Center.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., with live coverage on BTN for fans unable to make it to Madison, as Chris Vosters and Bruce Weber call the action. The game will also be available on the Badger Radio Network, with Matt Lepay and Brian Butch on the call from Madison.
LAST TIME OUT
The Badgers got back to winning form to round out the fall semester, toppling Central Michigan, 88-61, last Monday at the Kohl Center. UW put together a 23-3 second-half run, bolstered by Austin Rapp’s 15 points in the period. Nolan Winter led Bucky with a game-high 18 points, and 8 boards. He’s now led the Badgers in rebounding in every contest but one. Wisconsin’s offense had its most efficient night of the season, while shooting 29-of-54 from the field for a 53.7 clip - its best shooting percentage all year.
BENCH MOB
The UW bench poured in 44 points last Monday, the most since at least the 2006-07 season. Rapp led the way, finishing with 18 thanks to four three-pointers. The bench accounted for 10 of UW’s 13 three-point makes in the win, including three from Braeden Carrington, and two from Zach Kinziger for his first-career buckets. In total, eleven players scored for UW, tying a 97-72 win against Northern Illinois for most scorers this season.
STREAKING
Entering Tuesday’s non-conference showdown, Wisconsin has won its last 18 non-conference home games, dating back to Nov. 17, 2023, win over Robert Morris. That streak is tied for second in the Big Ten conference, trailing Indiana by one victory. It’s also the sixth-longest streak in school history, with only four spurts eclipsing the 20-game mark, all-time. Notable victories during the active run include a 103-88 win over No. 9 Arizona last season, and a 75-64 win over No. 3 Marquette in the 2023-24 campaign.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
Separated by just 82 miles, the Badgers and Panthers naturally have several connections. UWM Special Assistant to the Head Coach Julian Swartz appeared in 17 games for the Badgers during their 1999-2000 Final Four run. On the Badgers’ side of the bench, head coach Greg Gard was an assistant at Milwaukee between 1999-2001. Badger assistant Sharif Chambliss earned his first Division I stint as an assistant at Milwaukee from 2012-16, before moving to Wright State, and ultimately Madison.
The Panthers come into Tuesday's meeting at 6-6 on the campaign. All six wins came against Quad IV, or lower, opponents, while they’ve suffered setbacks at Indiana, Texas Tech and Wichita State. Toledo transfer Seth Hubbard leads the way for UWM, averaging 16.6 points per game. Milwaukee native Danilo Jovanovich holds down the front court with 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, shooting an efficient 64.2-percent.
UP NEXT
Following Tuesday’s matchup, the Badgers will resume Big Ten play with a pair of tilts at the Kohl Center. UW will take on No. 5 Purdue on Saturday at 7 p.m. before hosting UCLA on Tuesday at 8 p.m. Tickets for both games are available on UWBadgers.Com.
