MSU basketball at Wisconsin prediction, preview, TV info, betting line

Last updated: February 12, 2026, 4:25 p.m. Eastern Time

Coen Carr of Michigan State and John Blackwell of Wisconsin battle for possession of the ball in the second half of their game on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

• Event: Michigan State vs. Wisconsin

• Time: 8 p.m. ET on Friday

• Venue: Kohl Center, Madison, Wisconsin

• Broadcast: FOX (TV) / Spartan Sports Network (Radio), accessible on WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM; SiriusXM Channel 195 for MSU and Channel 84 for Wisconsin

• Standings/Ratings: Michigan State holds an overall record of 20-4, with a 10-3 mark in the Big Ten. They are currently ranked 10th in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches polls, 11th in the NCAA tournament selection committee’s NET rankings, and 10th according to Kenpom.com. Wisconsin’s overall record is 17-7, including 9-4 in Big Ten play, and they are not featured in the AP or Coaches polls. The Badgers are ranked 37th in the NET rankings and 36th by Kenpom.

• Odds: MSU -1.5

• Head Coaches: Michigan State — Tom Izzo boasts a 757-306 record in his 31st year leading the Spartans. Wisconsin — Greg Gard holds a 230-124 record in his 11th year at the helm for the Badgers.

• Head-to-Head: Michigan State holds an 86-69 historical advantage. Last season, the teams split their matchups, with MSU securing a victory at Breslin and Wisconsin triumphing in the Big Ten tournament.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT: Spartan Speak Podcast: Following the Illinois victory, what’s next for MSU basketball?

Anticipated Starting Rosters

MSU

C (15) Carson Cooper (6-11) 10.0

PF (0) Jaxon Kohler (6-9) 12.8

SF (55) Coen Carr (6-5) 11.4

SG (6) Jordan Scott (6-7) 5.4

PG (1) Jeremy Fears Jr. (6-2) 15.1

Wisconsin Badgers

C (31) Nolan Winter (7-0) 13.9

PF (32) Aleksas Bieliauskas (6-10) 4.5

SF (7) Andrew Rohde (6-6) 6.4

SG (25) John Blackwell (6-4) 18.7

PG (2) Nick Boyd (6-3) 20.2

• Michigan State News: The Spartans recently secured their most crucial victory of the season, triumphing 85-82 in overtime against Illinois last Saturday. This win broke a two-game losing streak and reversed a trend of inconsistent performances, re-inserting MSU into contention for the Big Ten title, though they will require external assistance to reclaim the championship. A win against Wisconsin on Friday in Madison would boost their prospects, followed by home games against UCLA and Ohio State next week, which could potentially elevate their record to 23-4 overall and 13-3 in the Big Ten. This precedes a challenging four-game conclusion to the regular season, featuring road games at Purdue and Indiana, a home game against Rutgers, and an away game at Michigan.

According to Kenpom’s efficiency ratings, MSU fields the fourth-strongest defense in college basketball. The Spartans are also recognized as the top rebounding squad nationally, ranking first in defensive rebounds and fifth in offensive rebounds. Jeremy Fears Jr., the team’s point guard, tops the nation with an average of 9.1 assists per game. The absence of guard Divine Ugochukwu for the season due to a broken foot raises questions about Fears’ backup. Coach Tom Izzo stated on Wednesday his confidence in Denham Wojcik to fill this role, with freshman Jordan Scott expected to step in as point guard during unforeseen circumstances.

ADDITIONAL READING: Couch: Michigan State’s triumph against Illinois suggests the Spartans are evolving into formidable contenders.

• Wisconsin News: The Badgers have secured two of the most impressive victories in collegiate basketball this season: an overtime win against Illinois on Tuesday and a January 10th triumph at Michigan. They remain the sole team to have defeated the Wolverines this season. A consistent factor in both wins was their prolific three-point shooting, with Wisconsin converting 16 of 36 attempts against Illinois and 15 of 33 against Michigan. These long-range displays are typical for them; the Badgers have recorded 14 or more successful three-pointers in eight games this season. While Wisconsin connects on a respectable 35% of their perimeter shots—similar to MSU—a significant 50.8% of their total field goal attempts come from beyond the arc, compared to just 36.6% for MSU. This season, six Wisconsin players have each made 25 or more three-pointers.

• Game Breakdown: Wisconsin features one of college basketball’s premier backcourts, comprising San Diego State transfer Nick Boyd and junior John Blackwell, a Bloomfield Hills local whom Tom Izzo regrets not pursuing more aggressively. Boyd is a swift guard adept at penetrating defenses to create opportunities and shooting from long range. Blackwell, in my estimation, is a future professional; he’s a versatile guard with impressive length, strength, and athleticism, capable of scoring both at the rim and from beyond the arc, and he’s also a skilled passer. Essentially, with Blackwell and Boyd, Wisconsin fields two primary ball-handlers, making them a formidable opponent. Their appeal as a matchup is further enhanced by their array of long-range shooters, including their larger players: seven-footer Nolan Winter has made 25 of 76 attempts from deep, 6-foot-10 Austin Rapp is 33 of 99, and 6-10 Aleksas Bieliauskas is 16 of 49.

Wisconsin’s strategy for victory hinges on connecting on three-pointers and free throws—where the Badgers collectively boast over 80% accuracy from the stripe in Big Ten contests—and minimizing turnovers better than any other team in the conference. They also excel at preventing opponents from grabbing offensive rebounds. This combination forms their core game plan. Furthermore, their backcourt duo is arguably the strongest in the league. However, it’s worth noting that in many other statistical categories, they range from average to subpar.

This Wisconsin squad isn’t averse to an up-tempo game, yet they prioritize defensive transition over pursuing offensive rebounds. The key question will be whether the Spartans can exploit this by succeeding in transition, which will largely depend on their defensive ability to force missed shots from the Badgers. John Blackwell presents Jordan Scott with his second consecutive challenging defensive assignment, and Jeremy Fears must be vigilant to avoid foul trouble while guarding Boyd.

ALSO SEE: Couch: Jeremy Fears Jr. of Michigan State risks having his reputation shaped by his behavior.

• Forecast: Throughout the season, MSU has generally performed as the superior team. However, the Spartans have yet to demonstrate strong play in challenging road venues, having only faced such environments against Nebraska, Rutgers, and Minnesota. Until they prove otherwise, it’s difficult to favor them in an away game, particularly against a potent and in-form Wisconsin squad.

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