Wisconsin Badgers Defeat Iowa 84-71, Enhance NCAA Tournament Resume

The No. 24 Badgers improve to 19-8 overall and 11-5 in Big Ten play with the home victory.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 84-71 at the Kohl Center on Sunday, improving their record to 19-8 overall and 11-5 in Big Ten play. The win keeps the Badgers in sixth place in the Big Ten standings and adds a key Quad 1 victory to their NCAA Tournament resume. Wisconsin trailed by as many as nine points in the first half but rallied in the second half to pull away for the victory.

Why it matters

This win is an important boost to Wisconsin's NCAA Tournament hopes, as the Badgers continue to build an impressive resume with key victories over ranked opponents. The Badgers have now won 19 games on the season, continuing their streak of 25 seasons with at least 19 wins in 28 years dating back to 1998-99.

The details

Wisconsin was led by a near triple-double performance from graduate student Nick Boyd, who finished with 27 points, 9 rebounds, and a career-high 10 assists. Nolan Winter added 18 points, while John Blackwell and Austin Rapp also scored in double figures. The Badgers shot 53.8% from the field, including 10-of-24 from three-point range, and 90% from the free throw line.

  • Wisconsin trailed by as many as nine points in the first half before rallying to win.
  • The Badgers have now won 19 games on the season, continuing their streak of 25 seasons with at least 19 wins in 28 years dating back to 1998-99.

The players

Nick Boyd

A graduate student who tallied 27 points, 9 rebounds, and a career-high 10 assists, coming just one rebound short of the 4th triple-double in school history.

Nolan Winter

A player who scored 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting, adding 5 rebounds. He has now scored in double figures in 22 games this season and 39 for his career.

John Blackwell

A junior who finished with 13 points, going a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. He has now scored in double figures in 13 straight games, the longest such streak of his career.

Austin Rapp

A sophomore who scored 14 points, going 4-for-5 from 3-point range. He has scored in double figures 10 times this season and 34 times in his career.

Greg Gard

The Wisconsin head coach who improved his overall record to 232-125 (.650) and his Big Ten record to 128-82 (.610), ranking 18th on the conference's all-time wins list.

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What they’re saying

“Quick Recap: Nick Boyd helped No.24 Wisconsin get its swagger back, as the senior's flirting with a triple-double helped the #Badgers pull away from Iowa in the second half in an 84-71 victory.”

— Benjamin Worgull (Twitter)

The takeaway

This win over a ranked Iowa team is a significant boost to Wisconsin's NCAA Tournament resume, as the Badgers continue to prove they are one of the top teams in the Big Ten. The strong all-around performance, led by Nick Boyd's near triple-double, shows the Badgers have the talent and depth to make a deep postseason run.