Greg Gard finally has his team clicking. If you were looking for the uw madison basketball score today, you actually have to look back just about 24 hours to Saturday, January 17, when the Badgers dismantled Rutgers 96-87 at the Kohl Center. There isn’t a men's game on the schedule for Sunday, January 18, 2026, but the ripples from that high-scoring affair are still being felt across the Big Ten landscape.
Honestly, it wasn't as close as that nine-point margin suggests.
Wisconsin absolutely detonated in the first half, heading into the locker room with a massive 51-29 lead. For a program often stereotyped as a "slow-down, grind-it-out" outfit, putting up 50+ in a single half is a loud statement. They are currently 13-5 overall and 5-2 in conference play, riding a four-game winning streak that has completely flipped the narrative of their season.
The Nick Boyd Show and the Rutgers Fallout
Most people get the Badgers' identity wrong. They think it's all about defense and burning the shot clock. But yesterday, Nick Boyd proved that this iteration of Wisconsin basketball can play downhill. Boyd was the story of the afternoon, dropping a career-high 32 points and dishing out nine assists.
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The way he attacked the paint was relentless. He wasn't just settling for jumpers; he was forcing the Scarlet Knights to foul him, evidenced by his 14-of-15 performance from the free-throw line. It’s rare to see a Badger guard dominate the game's rhythm so completely.
- Nick Boyd: 32 points, 9 assists, 14/15 FT
- John Blackwell: 19 points, 5 rebounds
- Nolan Winter: 18 points (a perfect 6-of-6 from the field)
Rutgers did make a late run, shooting 66.7% in the second half to keep things interesting. Greg Gard noted afterward that while the first 20 minutes were essentially "perfect basketball," the second-half defensive lapses are something they need to clean up before they head to State College.
Why the uw madison basketball score today leads to Penn State
The Badgers are off today, but the focus has already shifted to their next road test. They travel to face Penn State on Thursday, January 22. This four-game winning streak isn't just a fluke of the schedule. Before beating Rutgers, Wisconsin pulled off a dramatic 91-88 upset over No. 2 Michigan and a gritty 78-75 win against Minnesota thanks to a John Blackwell buzzer-beater.
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You've got to appreciate the efficiency. The team shot 89.7% from the charity stripe against Rutgers. In close Big Ten games, that is usually the difference between a top-four seed in the tournament and a Thursday night exit in Chicago.
While the men are resting, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team is actually in action today. They host the Oregon Ducks at the Kohl Center with a 3:00 PM CST tip-off. That game is being broadcast on the Big Ten Network. If you showed up at the arena today expecting the men, you’d find a very different, but equally desperate, Badger team trying to snap a three-game losing streak.
Looking Ahead at the Big Ten Standings
The win over Rutgers kept Wisconsin firmly in the hunt for a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament. With a 5-2 record in the league, they are currently trailing only the top-tier elites like Purdue.
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What’s interesting is the internal shift Nolan Winter mentioned after the game. He talked about how the loss to Purdue earlier in January "flipped a switch." Instead of taking the first punch and retreating, they’re now the ones delivering the blow. You can see it in the way they’ve started games lately—fast, aggressive, and surprisingly high-scoring.
Actionable Next Steps for Badger Fans
- Watch the Replay: If you missed the offensive clinic against Rutgers, catch the condensed highlights on the Big Ten Network or the official Badger YouTube channel to see Boyd’s career day.
- Monitor the Rankings: Expect Wisconsin to climb in the AP Top 25 this Monday. Their win over Michigan and the clinical win over Rutgers should see them jump several spots.
- Check the Thursday Schedule: The Badgers tip off against Penn State at 6:00 PM CST on January 22. That game will be on FS1.
- Support the Women's Team: If you're looking for live hoops right now, the Oregon vs. Wisconsin women's game is the only live "uw madison basketball score today" that will be updating in real-time.
The Badgers are finally playing like the veteran-led team many hoped they would be in the preseason. The defense still has moments of "looking at the tape," as Gard puts it, but when you have a backcourt capable of putting up 96 points, you have a margin for error that hasn't existed in Madison for quite some time.