Tag: Iowa

Wisconsin basketball upcoming opponent notches signature victory, ends losing streak

Wisconsin basketball upcoming opponent notches signature victory

Wisconsin’s game against the UCLA Bruins on Tuesday looks like a tougher test after Friday’s action.

That result: UCLA demolished Iowa 94 to 70. The game was over by halftime, as the Bruins built an insurmountable 57-24 lead.

Related: Updated win-loss predictions for Wisconsin basketball schedule entering West Coast road trip

The victory is an important step forward for a UCLA team that had lost four straight conference games entering Friday’s contest — 66-58 to Nebraska, 94-75 to Michigan, 79-61 to Maryland and 75-68 to Rutgers. That slide readjusted the team’s expectations after it was a popular pick to contend for the conference entering the season.

In the words of head coach Mick Cronin, the Bruins were struggling with the Big Ten’s ‘physical game’ and still working to acclimate to the new conference dynamic.

Friday’s result may begin to switch the team’s momentum. For Wisconsin, that couldn’t come at a worse time.

The Badgers face USC on Saturday afternoon before staying in Los Angeles, California for Tuesday’s matchup against the Bruins. Wisconsin enters the West Coast road trip on a six-game winning streak, one which has elevated the team near the Big Ten’s top tier.

Wisconsin matches up well with both teams on paper. It presents the size and scoring ability required to succeed in the Big Ten. Both USC and UCLA have struggled to defend that formula at times this season.

But the Bruins rounding into form would change the outlook Tuesday’s matchup. ESPN win probability now favors the home team (59.1%), with Wisconsin entering as the clear underdog (40.9%). Those numbers shifted significantly after UCLA’s win over Iowa.

The glass half-full outlook: Wisconsin gets a chance for another Quad 1 victory, which would move it further into Big Ten contention.

The glass half-empty view: The Badgers may be playing the Bruins at the worse possible time.

Wisconsin has already benefitted from some schedule breaks, including Rutgers superstar freshman Dylan Harper battling an illness when the two teams met on Jan. 6. Those breaks tend to swing in the opposite direction eventually, unless a team has a season like Indiana football’s 2024.

Wisconsin and UCLA are set for a 9:30 ET, 8:30 CT tip-off on Tuesday. The game will be broadcast exclusively on Peacock. Stay tuned over the next few days for a more extensive matchup preview and prediction.

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USC takes down Iowa with historic offensive outburst

USC built on the Illinois win with another impressive performance versus Iowa.

Make it two victories in a row for the USC men’s basketball team. Coming off a huge upset of No. 13 Illinois on Saturday, the Trojans returned to the Galen Center for the program’s first home game since the Southern California wildfires began last week. USC arrived with an offensive onslaught that Iowa was unable to withstand, and the Trojans prevailed by a final score of 99-89.

The 99 points were the most USC scored in a conference game that did not go to overtime since 2004.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of USC’s performance was how the Trojans spread the wealth around. Four Trojans finished the game with at least 18 points: Desmond Claude with 25, Saint Thomas with 24, Wesley Yates III with 21, and Chibuzo Agbo with 18.

With two straight victories, USC now sits at 11-6 overall and 3-3 in Big Ten play. The Trojans will continue a stretch of four out of five games at home when they host Wisconsin on Saturday at noon local time.

Where Wisconsin ranks in USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll after Iowa win

Where Wisconsin ranks in USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll after Iowa win

Wisconsin basketball (11-3, 1-2 Big Ten) remains outside the top 25 of the USA TODAY Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll. The latest edition was released on Jan. 6, three days after the Badgers’ statement win over Iowa.

Wisconsin was in the receiving votes category, tallying just three voting points. That total has the team tied for 36th most votes.

Related: Big Ten basketball power rankings (Jan. 6): Illinois, Indiana surge in first week of 2025

The Badgers are winners of three straight after an early-December losing streak to Michigan, Illinois and Marquette. The last game was a record-breaking 116-85 victory over a strong Iowa team. That stretch of strong performances has the team up to No. 26 in KenPom, though it wasn’t enough to approach the coaches’ top 25.

Wisconsin played just one game from Dec. 14 to Jan. 3, which could be a reason for the lack of consideration. Fast-rising Memphis (No. 20), West Virginia (No. 23) and Utah State (No. 25) all have multiple notable results in the last few weeks. The Badgers will need a run of Big Ten wins in short order to reenter the ranking.

Tennessee leads the latest coaches poll after improving to 14-0. The Volunteers are followed by Auburn (13-1), Iowa State (12-1), Duke (12-2) and Alabama (12-2).

Big Ten teams in the top 25 are Michigan State (No. 14), Illinois (No. 15), Oregon (No. 17), Purdue (No. 19), UCLA (No. 21) and Michigan (No. 24). Maryland, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Indiana received votes.

Here is the coaches’ full top 25 as of Jan. 6:

Ranking Team Record Points Change
1 Tennessee 14-0 765 (21) –
2 Auburn 13-1 749 (10) –
3 Iowa State 12-1 711 –
4 Duke 12-2 670 –
5 Alabama 12-2 651 +1
6 Marquette 13-2 581 +2
7 Kentucky 12-2 560 +4
8 Florida 13-1 529 -3
9 Texas A&M 12-2 488 +3
10 UConn 12-3 461 +3
11 Houston 10-3 454 +3
12 Kansas 10-3 438 -5
13 Mississippi State 13-1 372 +3
14 Michigan State 12-2 350 +1
15 Illinois 11-3 300 +5
16 Oklahoma 13-1 287 -6
17 Oregon 13-2 284 -8
18 Gonzaga 12-4 246 +1
19 Purdue 11-4 228 +3
20 Memphis 12-3 192 +5
21 UCLA 11-3 147 -3
22 Ole Miss 12-2 119 +1
23 West Virginia 11-2 110 +14
24 Michigan 11-3 98 +5
25 Utah State 14-1 73 +5

Wisconsin is back on the court on Monday night against Rutgers. While the Badgers are slight favorites in the contest, they must overcome their recent struggles at the Rutgers Athletic Center. Tip is set for 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. CT on Fox Sports 1.

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Photos of Lady Vols’ win against Iowa in Brooklyn

PHOTOS: Lady Vols defeat Iowa to remain undefeated in Kim Caldwell’s first season as head coach

Tennessee (7-0) defeated No. 20 Iowa (8-1), 78-68, on Saturday in the Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic. The game was contested at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Rankings reflect the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll.

The Lady Vols remain undefeated in Kim Caldwell’s first season as head coach.

Talaysia Cooper led Tennessee in scoring with 23 points. She converted 10-of-22 field goal attempts and 3-of-3 free throw attempts. Cooper also tied for a team-high six rebounds against Iowa, while also leading Tennessee in assists (3).

The Lady Vols totaled 21 bench points, 44 points in the paint, 42 points off turnovers, 11 second chance points and 17 fast break points.

Below are photos of Tennessee’s win against Iowa at Barclays Center.

Wisconsin falls behind Minnesota in ESPN SP+ after loss to Iowa

Wisconsin falls behind Minnesota in ESPN SP+ after loss to Iowa

Wisconsin continued its sharp fall in rating metrics after its 42-10 loss to Iowa on Saturday.

ESPN SP+ accurately depicts the Badgers’ current descent. The team was ranked No. 20 just two weeks ago entering the Penn State matchup. Now, the Badgers are down to No. 41 in the nation (No. 86 offense, No. 22 defense) after back-to-back losses.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 10: Ohio State returns to prominence

With that drop, Wisconsin is now down to the No. 10 team in the Big Ten, behind Ohio State at No. 1, Oregon at No. 5, Penn State at No. 9, Indiana at No. 11, Iowa at No. 17, USC at No. 23, Michigan at No. 30, Washington at No. 31 and Minnesota at No. 35.

The most notable on that list is Minnesota, which continued its steep ascent with a road victory over Illinois.

Wisconsin’s three remaining games are against Oregon (No. 5), Nebraska (No. 45), and Minnesota (No. 35). Given the Badgers’ current form and trajectory, none of those matchups look like clear victories. The team needs just one win in those final three games to extend its bowl streak to 23 seasons.

The Badgers are idle in Week 11 before a marquee matchup with No. 1 Oregon on Nov. 16. While Wisconsin’s outlook looks bleak after the blowout loss to Iowa, a win over Oregon would do a lot to turn the tide.

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Wisconsin continues to dive in ESPN FPI after blowout loss to Iowa

Wisconsin continues to dive in ESPN FPI after blowout loss to Iowa

Wisconsin continued its steep slide in ESPN FPI after a 42-10 loss to Iowa on Saturday.

The Badgers dropped six spots from No. 31 to No. 37 with the loss — down 12 slots from the team’s No. 25 ranking entering the Penn State matchup.

Related: Major takeaways from Wisconsin Badgers’ worst loss to Iowa since 1968

The loss continues to dim Wisconsin’s rest-of-season outlook. FPI now projects the team’s final record at 6.3 — 5.7, with a 82% chance of reaching bowl eligibility.

The Badgers move forward with matchups against Oregon (No. 7 in FPI), Nebraska (No. 55) and Minnesota (No. 31). Oregon and Minnesota are on the rise after continued strong play, while Nebraska has plummeted after three consecutive losses.

It goes without saying that Luke Fickell’s team needs to improve upon its recent form to reach the six-win threshold required for postseason eligibility — let alone to have a chance at defeating top-ranked Oregon.

The Badgers are idle in Week 11 before hosting the Ducks on Nov. 16. The bye week could be much-needed for a team and program currently on the ropes.

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RECAP: Wisconsin crushed in Iowa City, lose to Hawkeyes 42-10

RECAP: Wisconsin crushed in Iowa City, lose to Hawkeyes 42-10

The Iowa Hawkeyes delivered a dominant 42-10 win over the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

The Badgers defense forced a punt on Iowa’s opening possession. They followed that with a 12-play, 59-yard drive that ended with a 38-yard Nathanial Vakos field goal. That 3-0 advantage was the only lead Wisconsin would hold in the contest.

Iowa went on to miss a 56-yard field goal on its next drive, continuing to hand momentum to Wisconsin. But that momentum quickly turned when Badgers quarterback Braedyn Locke threw the first of two interceptions.

Quarterback Brendan Sullivan and running back Kaleb Johnson finished off back-to-back drives with rushing touchdowns as Iowa took a 14-3 lead into halftime.

The Hawkeyes kept the momentum going following the break, scoring touchdowns on all four of their possessions in the second half — two by RB Kaleb Johnson.

Braedyn Locke and C.J. Williams finally connected for a 14-yard score with 14:12 in the fourth quarter, Wisconsin’s first touchdown of the evening. That narrowed the margin to 28-10, which was the closest Wisconsin would get down the stretch.

Iowa out-gained Wisconsin 422-261 in total, churning out an eye-popping 329 rushing yards in the contest. Running back Kaleb Johnson turned 24 carries into 135 yards and three touchdowns, while fellow backs Kamari Moulton and Jaziun Patterson combined for 130 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Additionally, quarterback Brendan Sullivan completed seven of 10 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown while also adding 58 yards and a score on the ground.

For Wisconsin, quarterback Braedyn Locke completed 15 of 29 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown while throwing two interceptions in the loss. He has now thrown eight picks in six starts in 2024. Running back Tawee Walker was limited to just 52 yards on 16 carries while backfield mate Darrion Dupree had 52 yards on seven totes.

It was just the fourth time ever that Wisconsin allowed 40-plus points to Iowa — the first since 1975.

The Hawkeyes improved to 6-3 on the season and 4-2 in Big Ten play with the victory. Wisconsin, on the other hand, drops to 5-4 on the season and 3-3 in conference play.

The Badgers will be idle in Week 11 before they’ll host No. 1 Oregon at Camp Randall Stadium on Nov. 16.

Wisconsin vs. Iowa injury report: Pair of Badgers LBs listed as ‘questionable’

Wisconsin vs Iowa injury report

The Wisconsin Badgers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) continue their 2024 season on Saturday with a primetime showdown against the Iowa Hawkeyes (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten).

Wisconsin has released its final status report with less than two hours remaining before the 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

The Badgers will again be without WR Tyrell Henry, amongst others in Week 10. Notably, interior linebackers Tackett Curtis and Jaheim Thomas were added to the injury report, both of whom are questionable to play. Bryson Green is also questionable for the second week in a row as he looks to return to the field for the first time since Oct. 5 versus Purdue.

Iowa, meanwhile, will be without quarterbacks Cade McNamara and Marco Lainez, while starting tight end Luke Lachey is questionable to play with an undisclosed injury. Brendan Sullivan will take over at QB, but if Lachey can’t go, that’s a significant loss for the Hawkeyes.

[lawrence-related id=88368]

Here is the full injury report entering Saturday’s Week 10 game between Wisconsin and Iowa:

Iowa injury report

  • Questionable: TE Luke Lachey
  • Out: John Nestor, Marco Lainez, Cade McNamara, Reece Vander Zee, Addison Ostrenga

Wisconsin injury report

  • Questionable: WR Bryson Green, LB Jaheim Thomas, LB Tackett Curtis, TE J.T. Seagraves
  • Out: Chez Mellusi, Tyler Van Dyke, Joseph Griffin, Kamo’i Latu, Tyrell Henry, Cole LaCrue, Tamer Dalloul, Evan Brown, Leyton Nelson, Rob Booker, James Thompson Jr.

Wisconsin WR Bryson Green injury update

Green suffered a knee injury in Week 6 against Purdue and has yet to return to the field. He was considered a game-time decision in Week 9 against Penn State, but he was ultimately ruled out. If he’s unavailable again, C.J. Williams will once again see an expanded role at wideout.

Wisconsin LB Jaheim Thomas injury update

Thomas recorded nine total tackles (five solo) in the team’s 28-13 loss to Penn State in Week 9, but he appears to have potentially picked up an injury in the contest or during practice this week. With Tackett Curtis also questionable, the Badgers could be down to Jake Chaney and Christian Alliegro at interior linebacker versus the Hawkeyes.

Iowa TE Luke Lachey injury update

Lachey was a late add to the injury report for the Hawkeyes and it’s unclear what is ailing him. The tight end is a big part of Iowa’s success in both the passing and running games on offense and his absence would be a big blow for Kirk Ferentz and his squad.

Wisconsin leads Iowa in a key statistic that often decides the Heartland Trophy

Wisconsin leads Iowa in a key statistic that often decides the Heartland Trophy

Games in the storied rivalry between the Wisconsin Badgers and Iowa Hawkeyes are often defined by toughness, running the football and field position.

It’s no grand proclamation to say that the winner of Saturday’s matchup between the two teams will be the one that dominates the trenches and controls the game. Any fan of the sport can recognize that.

Related: Ranking the biggest storylines entering Wisconsin’s rivalry battle with Iowa

But there is one other stat that has decided every Wisconsin vs. Iowa game over the last four years — one that also points to a Badger victory in the 2024 edition.

That stat: punting average.

The team with the higher-ranked punter has won every matchup since 2019 — when Wisconsin won 24-22 despite P Anthony Lotti ranking near the bottom of the Big Ten with 39.7 yards per punt.

If the parameters are not clear, here is the result of the last four meetings in the rivalry, paired with where each team’s punter ranks in the Big Ten in season-long punting average:

  • 2020: Iowa 28-7 win. Iowa P Tory Taylor had a season-long average of 44.1 yards per punt (3rd in Big Ten), while Wisconsin P Andy Vujnovich had a mark of 41.7 (10th in Big Ten)
  • 2021: Wisconsin 27-7 win. Wisconsin P Andy Vujnovich at 46.4 (2nd in Big Ten), with Iowa P Tory Taylor at 46.1 (4th in Big Ten)
  • 2022: Iowa 24-10 win. Iowa P Tory Taylor at 45.4 yards per punt (2nd in Big Ten), with Wisconsin P Andy Vujnovich at 43.9 (9th in Big Ten)
  • 2023: Iowa 15-6 win. Iowa P Tory Taylor at 48.2 (1st in the Big Ten), with Wisconsin P Atticus Bertrams at 41.3 (13th in the Big Ten)

The winner of every meeting, as shown, has boasted the punter with the greater season-long punting average. Iowa great Tory Taylor tipped these scales with his All-American-caliber play, which coincided with the Hawkeyes winning three of four meetings.

Entering the 2024 matchup, the Badgers have this trend going in their direction. P Atticus Bertrams enters Saturday with a season-long punting average of 46.3 (4th in the Big Ten). Iowa P Rhys Dakin, meanwhile, is down at 44.8 (7th in the Big Ten).

There are better ways to evaluate punters than by their average. Some combination of punts inside the 10 yard-line, punts inside the 20, punting net (yards-minus-returns) and overall average paint a better picture.

Regardless, this exercise should show that Bertrams and Dakin are at least close in overall production — a reality that Wisconsin could rarely boast during Taylor’s storied career.

If more evidence was needed on Bertrams’ current form, take it from Penn State coach James Franklin in his postgame press conference after a 28-13 win over the Badgers:

“Starting field position, that was the difference in the game, especially early on. That’s why it was so challenging. I think their punter is really good.”

Bertrams notched 257 total yards and a 51.4 average on five punts, plus took a fake punt for a 15-yard rush and a first down. He had a dominant evening, and was far from the reason the Badgers lost.

That form could give Wisconsin the punting advantage on Saturday, which is a key factor in what projects to be a hard-fought game decided by field position.

If trends are any indication, that advantage will lead to a victory.

For more on the upcoming matchup and the Badgers’ possible advantages, check out our ranking of the game’s biggest storylines and the Badgers’ updated two-deep depth chart entering the big matchup.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Wisconsin plummets in ESPN SP+ after loss to Penn State

Wisconsin plummets in ESPN SP+ after loss to Penn State

Wisconsin dropped significantly in ESPN SP+ after its 28-13 loss to Penn State on Saturday.

The Badgers entered the week ranked No. 20 in the metric with a 12.0 overall rating, plus the nation’s No. 63-ranked offense and No. 11-ranked defense.

Those updated numbers: No. 30 overall ranking (9.7) with the nation’s No. 73-ranked offense and No. 14-ranked defense.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 9: Penn State makes a statement

The drop comes after Penn State outgained Wisconsin 419-298 in its Week 9 victory. The Nittany Lions held the Badgers to only 81 rushing yards on 27 carries (three yards per carry), plus tallied 173 rushing yards of their own.

The loss was a reality check for Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin program. While it has made clear forward steps after Fickell’s rocky debut season in 2023, it remains far from the Big Ten’s elite.

ESPN SP+ reflects that. The Badgers are now the eighth highest-ranked Big Ten team, behind Ohio State (No. 2), Oregon (No. 4), Penn State (No. 8), Indiana (No. 13), Iowa (No. 18), USC (No. 19) and Michigan (No. 27).

The Badgers still have remaining games against Iowa (No. 18), Oregon (No. 1), Nebraska (No. 41) and Minnesota (No. 35). They need one more win for bowl eligibility, and several more to maintain a strong standing in the conference.

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