Date: Sunday January 26th, 2025

Tipoff: Noon (CT).

Arena: Kohl Center (Madison, Wisconsin)

Radio: Sunday’s game will be carried on the Huskers Radio Network with Kent Pavelka and Jake Muhleisen on the call, including KLIN (1400 AM) in Lincoln, KXSP (590 AM) in Omaha and KRVN (880 AM) in Lexington. The pregame show begins an hour before tipoff and will also be available on Huskers.com and the Huskers app.

TV/Online: Sunday’s game will be on BTN with Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo on the call. It will also be available online on the Fox Sports app.

Jarek’s Pre-tipoff Thoughts: Ok, eventually Nebraska has to win a game in the conference again, right? This will be a big game for Connor Essegian, the former Badger who gets to play against his old team at his old home. The rest of the Huskers will have to match his intensity levels, as it is a different breed of animal to face a former team. If, and it’s a big if, they can do that, Nebraska just might have a chance. Nebraska’s last road game, which was Maryland, was a much better performance on the road than any other this season. Hopefully that momentum continues. Having said all of that, I just don’t see Nebraska winning, making the Conference losing streak 6 games. Prediction: Wisconsin 91 Nebraska 76.

Women’s Basketball

The style of play used by the Buckeyes – a full court press and pressure defense has flustered the Huskers in their most recent matchups. The Buckeyes try to take their opponent out of the game early and has an offense that comes at you from every position on the floor.

Can the Huskers stay composed and handle the early punches from the Buckeyes? Will they be in position to pull off one of their patented fourth quarter surges?

RV/25 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. 12/12 Ohio State Buckeyes
Sunday, January 26, 2025, 2 p.m. (CT)
Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, Nebraska
Special Event: Pack PBA
Giveaway: ”For Three” Roller Banners (500)
Live TV: B1G+
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (1:30 p.m.)Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)Lincoln (107.3 FM), Huskers.com, Huskers App
Live Stats: Huskers.com (statbroadcast – public)

RV/25 Nebraska Cornhuskers (15-4, 6-2 Big Ten)

12 – Jessica Petrie – 6-2 – So. – F – 5.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg
40 – Alexis Markowski – 6-3 – Sr. – C/F – 14.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg
2 – Logan Nissley – 6-0 – So. – G – 7.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg
14 – Callin Hake – 5-8 – Jr. – G – 6.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg
23 – Britt Prince – 5-11 – Fr. – G – 13.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg

Off the Bench

5 – Alberte Rimdal – 5-9 – Sr. – G – 6.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg
44 – Petra Bozan – 6-3 – Fr. – F/C – 5.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg
33 – Amiah Hargrove – 6-2 – Fr. – F – 4.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg
15 – Kendall Moriarty – 6-1 – Sr. – G – 3.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg
32 – Kendall Coley – 6-2 – Gr. – F/G – 2.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg
22 – Natalie Potts [Out] – 6-2 – So. – F – 14.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg
3 – Allison Weidner [Out] – 5-10 – RJr. – G – 3.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg
4 – Kennadi Williams – 5-4 – Fr. – G – Redshirt

Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998) Ninth Season at Nebraska (152-115); 18th Season Overall (345-224)

12/12 Ohio State Buckeyes (18-1, 7-1 Big Ten)

32 – Cotie McMahon – 6-0 – Jr. – F – 16.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg
1 – Ajae Petty – 6-3 – Gr. – F – 10.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg
2 – Taylor Thierry – 6-1 – Sr. – G/F – 10.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg
21 – Chance Gray – 5-9 – Jr. – G – 15.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg
22 – Jaloni Cambridge – 5-7 – Fr. – G – 15.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg

Off the Bench

5 – Ava Watson – 5-8 – Fr. – G – 5.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg
22 – Kennedy Cambridge – 5-8 – RSo. – F – 4.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg
12 – Elsa Lemmila – 6-6 – Fr. – C – 4.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg
0 – Madison Greene – 5-8 – Gr. – G – 4.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg
55 – Eboni Walker – 6-0 – Gr. – F – 2.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg

Head Coach: Kevin McGuff (St. Joseph’s, Ind., 1992) 12th Season at Ohio State (216-107); 22nd Season Overall (471-206)

Associated Press

Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-7, 2-6 Big Ten) at Wisconsin Badgers (15-4, 5-3 Big Ten)

Madison, Wisconsin; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Badgers -7.5; over/under is 151.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 18 Wisconsin faces Nebraska after John Tonje scored 24 points in Wisconsin’s 85-83 loss to the UCLA Bruins.

The Badgers are 10-1 on their home court. Wisconsin is sixth in the Big Ten scoring 82.5 points while shooting 47.1% from the field.

The Cornhuskers have gone 2-6 against Big Ten opponents. Nebraska is 0-3 in one-possession games.

Wisconsin makes 47.1% of its shots from the field this season, which is 5.7 percentage points higher than Nebraska has allowed to its opponents (41.4%). Nebraska averages 5.3 more points per game (76.4) than Wisconsin gives up (71.1).

The Badgers and Cornhuskers match up Sunday for the first time in conference play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Max Klesmit is averaging 10.4 points for the Badgers. John Blackwell is averaging 17.7 points over the last 10 games.

Brice Williams is scoring 18.5 points per game with 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Cornhuskers. Juwan Gary is averaging 13.9 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 42.5% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Badgers: 7-3, averaging 82.1 points, 31.6 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 4.5 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.0 points per game.

Cornhuskers: 5-5, averaging 73.2 points, 32.6 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 7.1 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.4 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Wisconsin will look to bounce back after failing to sweep its games out west with a home game on Sunday afternoon against a spiraling Nebraska squad. 

The Badgers have asserted themselves as one of the best teams in the Big Ten this season, and with that comes taking care of business against the likes of a bottom feeding team in the conference like the Cornhuskers. 

Can Wisconsin return home and win in a big way? 

Let’s find out below.

Spread

Moneyline

Total: 151.5 (Over -105/Under -115)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Nebraska

Brice Williams: The veteran forward has struggled to shoot in Big Ten play, down to 32% after flirting with 40% shooting from behind the three-point line in non conference play. While he is a consistent scorer, it hasn’t been as efficient which has coincided with the Cornhuskers overall Big Ten struggles.

Wisconsin

John Tonje: One of the best newcomers to any team in the country, Tonje responded to his quiet effort against USC last weekend in which he scored zero points to pour in 24 points on six three-point makes against one of the best defenses in the nation in UCLA. While it was a loss, Tonje is the straw that stirs the drink for the Badgers high octane offense. 

Nebraska has struggled on both sides of the floor in Big Ten play, and I don’t see it getting better in this matchup against Wisconsin. 

The Cornhuskers compact defense yields the three-point shot, allowing opponents to post a near-49% three-point rate this season that ranks in the top 10 in the country. However, this plays right into the hands of Wisconsin, a fantastic three-point shooting team (85th in the country) on a top 40 rate in the nation. 

With the ability to run its preferred offense, the Badgers should dictate the terms of this one while also contending nicely on the defensive side of the floor. The Cornhuskers’ three-point shooting is limited and is reliant on getting to the rim, but that’s tough to come by on the Badgers, who rank top 80 in the country in average shot proximity, per Haslametrics. 

Nebraska has been competitive despite being mired in a five game Big Ten losing streak, losing its last three games by five points or less, but the matchup edges side with Wisconsin that I can’t look past laying it with the home team. 

PICK: Wisconsin -7.5

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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