Wisconsin Badgers Riding High After Back-to-Back Top-10 Wins

Greg Gard's squad is the only team in the country with three wins over AP Top 10 teams this season.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team is flying high after consecutive victories over top-10 opponents Michigan State and Illinois. Head coach Greg Gard is already looking ahead to the next challenge, but his players are savoring the moment after a "pretty decent few days" that included a 21-point blowout of the Spartans. With elite guard play, the ability to erase large deficits, and a high-powered offense, the Badgers believe they have the pieces to make a deep NCAA Tournament run this March.

Why it matters

Wisconsin's impressive wins over top-10 teams have elevated the program's national profile and raised expectations for a team that has struggled to find postseason success in recent years under Gard. The Badgers are proving they have the talent and toughness to compete with the best teams in the country, which could pay dividends come tournament time.

The details

In the span of just four days, Wisconsin recorded back-to-back overtime wins against No. 8 Illinois and a 21-point blowout of No. 10 Michigan State. The Badgers led the Spartans by as many as 24 points and were up by double digits for the final 23:48 of the game, blowing it open with a 15-0 run in the first half. Wisconsin shot the lights out, making 15 3-pointers and scoring 91.6 points per game in their three wins over top-10 teams this season.

  • On February 14, 2026, Wisconsin defeated No. 10 Michigan State by 21 points.
  • On February 10, 2026, Wisconsin upset No. 8 Illinois 92-90 in overtime.

The players

Greg Gard

The head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team.

Dick Bennett

A former head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team who provided advice to Gard.

Nick Boyd

A star guard for the Wisconsin Badgers who scored 29 points in the win over Michigan State.

John Blackwell

The second-leading scorer for the Wisconsin Badgers, who was limited to just 9 minutes in the Michigan State game due to foul trouble.

Tom Izzo

The head coach of the Michigan State Spartans, who acknowledged that Wisconsin was the better team on the night.

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What they’re saying

“He (Bennett) goes, 'If I have one regret, I lamented way longer, way harder, and way deeper on losses than I ever enjoyed wins.' But it's human nature. We're on to next…In this profession, I don't think you get to this point if your switch goes off. Maybe we turn down the volume a little bit, but the switch doesn't go off.”

— Greg Gard, Head Coach (on3.com)

“That was a good, old-fashioned ass-kicking, to be honest with you. We've played everybody good. From Duke to Michigan. We've played everybody good. Tonight, we got beat by a team that I think is a little better than us, but a team that I think played a lot better than us.”

— Tom Izzo, Head Coach (on3.com)

“When we shoot like that, ain't nobody that can beat us. It's too much. I don't even know. It's too much.”

— Nick Boyd, Guard (on3.com)

What’s next

The Badgers will face Ohio State on Tuesday as they continue their quest for a deep NCAA Tournament run.

The takeaway

Wisconsin's impressive wins over top-10 opponents have proven that the Badgers have the talent and toughness to compete with the best teams in the country. With their high-powered offense, ability to erase large deficits, and experienced backcourt, the Badgers are poised to make a deep March Madness run if they can maintain this level of play.