On Tuesday night, the Wisconsin Badgers head to Champaign for a Big Ten clash with the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Wisconsin enters the matchup at 16-7 overall and 8-4 in Big Ten play, tied with Iowa for seventh in the conference standings. The Badgers are coming off an overtime loss at Indiana on Saturday after closing January with back-to-back wins over Minnesota and Ohio State. Offensively, Wisconsin has been one of the more efficient teams in the league, averaging 83 points per game and ranking among the nation’s best free-throw shooting teams at 78.1 percent.
February presents a demanding stretch for Greg Gard’s group. After Tuesday’s game, Wisconsin hosts Michigan State on Friday, then travels to Ohio State. The Badgers close the month with a home game against Iowa and road trips to Oregon and Washington.
Illinois, meanwhile, sits at 20-4 overall and 11-2 in Big Ten play and is ranked eighth in the latest AP poll. The Fighting Illini are also coming off an overtime loss, falling at Michigan State, which snapped a long winning streak that dated back to mid-December. Even so, Brad Underwood’s team has been battle-tested away from home, with recent road wins at Purdue and Nebraska.
Following this contest, Illinois remains at home to host Indiana on Sunday before heading west for road games at USC and UCLA. The Illini finish the month back in Champaign against Michigan on February 27.
Wisconsin vs. Illinois: Where and when
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Location: State Farm Center, Champaign, Illinois
Wisconsin vs. Illinois: How to watch or stream
TV: Big Ten Network
Streaming: FuboTV
Wisconsin vs. Illinois: Betting odds
Spread: Illinois -10.5 | Wisconsin +10.5
Moneyline: Illinois -565 | Wisconsin +525
Total: 153.5
Projected starting lineups
Wisconsin Badgers
- Nick Boyd, G – 20.0 ppg
- John Blackwell, G – 18.5 ppg
- Nolan Winter, F – 14.3 ppg
- Andrew Rohde, G – 6.5 ppg
- Aleksas Bieliauskas, C – 4.4 ppg
Illinois Fighting Illini
- Keaton Wagler, G – 17.8 ppg
- Andrej Stojakovic, G – 13.7 ppg
- David Mirkovic, F – 12.6 ppg
- Tomislav Ivsic, C – 10.0 ppg
- Jake Davis, F – 5.3 ppg
Key note: Kylan Boswell made 18 starts and is averaging 14.3 points per game but is out with an injury.
Big Ten showdown
This one sets up as a classic February Big Ten battle. Wisconsin faces a tall task against an Illinois team that is deep, physical, and dangerous offensively, especially at home. Both teams are coming off overtime losses, but the Illini will be motivated to respond in front of the Champaign crowd.
It’s February, the games matter more, and the margin for error is shrinking. Two teams firmly in the postseason picture meet under the lights, with conference positioning and momentum very much on the line.