College Basketball: Breaking down the Wisconsin-Marquette rivalry

Future of the rivalry

Both programs are extremely young entering this next season. Star players Markus Howard (Marquette) and Ethan Happ (Wisconsin) are going to be the key contributors on both teams entering this season. For 2017-18, the hope is that both the Badgers and the Golden Eagles can return to the NCAA Tournament. They face off against each other on Dec. 9 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Looking further into the future, both teams have some great recruiting classes coming in. Wisconsin’s class of 2017 is ranked 33rd in the country by 247Sports while Marquette’s is ranked at #59.

For 2018, both programs have jump-started their classes with outstanding recruits. Tyler Herro, the #37 ranked recruit in the country has signed with Wisconsin. Joey Hauser, brother of current Marquette player Sam, committed to Marquette over Wisconsin earlier this summer in a major recruiting battle for the #34 recruit in the country.

Over the next several years, these players will surely be a part of some great battles between these two programs.

Next: Revisiting the 2003-04 college basketball season

Marquette and Wisconsin have developed an awesome rivalry over the years, with some spectacular head-to-head games as well as major tournament runs. Here’s to hoping that that tradition continues for the in-state rivals. College basketball needs more rivalries, and seeing Wisconsin against Marquette during every nonconference season is always a treat.