If you’re checking the scores from a snowy Madison or just trying to keep up with the local buzz, the big news is that the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team just handled business at the Kohl Center. Honestly, if you’ve been watching this team lately, they are starting to look like a group that’s figured something out. They took down Rutgers 96-87, and while the score might look close-ish, the game felt like a statement for a program that’s now on a four-game heater.
Who won in wisconsin today and how the Badgers pulled it off
The hero of the afternoon was undoubtedly Nick Boyd. He went off for 32 points and dished out nine assists. It wasn't just that he was scoring; it was the way he controlled the flow of the game. He was 14-of-15 from the charity stripe. That’s how you close out Big Ten games.
Wisconsin moved to 13-5 overall and 5-2 in the conference. After that wild road win against Minnesota and the upset over Michigan last week, people were wondering if they’d have a "hangover" game against the Scarlet Knights. They didn't. They led by as many as 26 points in the second half. Rutgers tried to make it interesting with a late run led by Harun Zrno, but the Badgers had too much cushion.
Breaking down the box score (The stuff that matters)
It wasn't just the Nick Boyd show. John Blackwell put up 19, and Nolan Winter chipped in 18. When Wisconsin gets three guys scoring like that, they are incredibly tough to beat at home.
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The Badgers shot 53% from the floor. That’s efficient. They also hit 8-of-15 from deep in the first half alone. Usually, when the Kohl Center gets loud and the shots are falling like that, the visiting team is basically toast by halftime.
Beyond the court: Other wins across the state
It wasn't just basketball. If you’re a fan of the broader Wisconsin sports scene, there’s been plenty of action.
The men’s track and field team had a solid showing today as well. They wrapped up the Indiana Invitational, picking up some key individual wins in the 300 and 800 meters. Meanwhile, the men's tennis team was down in Dallas taking on SMU. Patrik Meszaros looked sharp in his singles match, taking it 6-2, 6-2.
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But it hasn't been a clean sweep for every team in red. The men's hockey team had a rougher weekend, getting swept by Michigan State. That's a tough pill to swallow for a team that's been ranked as high as No. 2 recently. It just goes to show how brutal the Big Ten can be regardless of the sport.
What’s happening in Wisconsin politics and community?
If you were looking for election results today, you can breathe easy for a minute. There wasn't a major statewide vote today, January 17, 2026. However, the deadline for candidates to file for the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election passed recently.
We know it's going to be Maria Lazar vs. Chris Taylor in April. Since there are only two candidates, there won't even be a primary in February. So, if you were looking for a winner in the political arena today, the "win" is mostly for the campaigns getting their ground game ready for the spring.
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Local festivals and events
In the "win" column for community events, today was a massive day for local festivals.
- Beer & Cheese Fest 2026 in Madison was basically the place to be if you like... well, beer and cheese.
- Bald Eagle Watching Days in Sauk Prairie saw hundreds of people heading to the overlook at Prairie du Sac. The DNR reported that bald eagle pairs are nesting in all 72 counties now—a pretty cool win for conservation.
- The Waukesha JanBoree kicked off its Saturday events, including a geocaching tournament and the JanBoree Food Tour.
Looking ahead: What this means for the Badgers
This win over Rutgers keeps Wisconsin in the hunt for a double-bye in the Big Ten tournament. If they keep playing this brand of high-efficiency basketball, they’re going to be a nightmare come March. They seem to have found a rotation that works, and Boyd is playing with the kind of confidence that transforms a "good" team into a "dangerous" one.
If you're following the Milwaukee Bucks, they've had a bit of a rocky stretch lately, including a loss to the Spurs a couple of days ago. They’re hovering around that .500 mark (17-23), which isn't where anyone expected them to be. Fans are starting to get a little restless, especially with the trade deadline looming in a few weeks.
To stay on top of things, keep an eye on the injury reports for the Badgers' next outing. If Blackwell and Boyd stay healthy, this win streak could easily stretch into February. For those in Sauk Prairie or Waukesha, enjoy the tail end of the winter festivals—it's about as "Wisconsin" as it gets.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check the updated Big Ten standings to see where the Badgers landed after today's win. If you're local to Madison, ticket availability for the next home game usually drops on the official athletic site 48 hours after a weekend win. Also, if you’re planning to head to any winter festivals tomorrow, check the wind chill—Madison is expected to stay brisk through the evening.