The immediate source of meaning and importance for Sunday’s game against the Ohio State Buckeyes is obvious for the Wisconsin Badgers: Avoid a two-game losing streak. Avoid losing a fourth game in five outings. Avoid undoing the good work done against Michigan State. Avoid a downward slide which — if continued — could risk the team’s likely NCAA Tournament bid.
The Badgers have been good about bouncing back from rough moments and stinging disappointments all season long. This team plays well when challenged. It responds when thrown into a crisis. Wisconsin’s problem has not been its response to adversity; the Badgers haven’t responded well to prosperity. They let down their guard after a win and have struggled to stack together consecutive quality performances this season. Remember: All but one of Wisconsin’s Big Ten losses this season have come after a win. The exception was the Iowa loss, and that was a game in which UW played far better than in its previous game against Purdue.
One aspect of this Ohio State game is different from the other games Wisconsin has played so far this season. This detail makes Sunday’s game unique, and imbues it with meaning which is symbolic, not just bubble-related. That detail: Wisconsin can sweep a Big Ten opponent in a two-game series for the first time in 2020.
Wisconsin has previously played one Big Ten opponent twice: Michigan State. However, because UW lost the first of the two meetings with the Spartans, it never had a chance to sweep MSU. This game against Ohio State on Sunday is UW’s first sweep opportunity of the season.
The game against the Buckeyes therefore begs the question: Can Wisconsin play two good games against the same opponent? We haven’t yet seen evidence UW can do precisely that. However, this game is at home. Wisconsin already attained the harder part of a two-game sweep by winning in Columbus on Jan. 3. If Wisconsin can sweep an Ohio State team which — in December — was talked about as a possible No. 1 seed, the Badgers will take a notable step forward in their evolution.
The value of this game is real… and also symbolic… for Wisconsin.