There’s a pretty good logjam near the top of the Big Ten Conference and first place could be up for grabs tonight.
Michigan State has a 1-game lead on Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio State. Purdue is just a half-game further behind. The 11th ranked Badgers host Illinois at the Kohl Center and Purdue goes to East Lansing to face a Michigan State team that has lost two in-a-row. In all, five teams are within a game and a half of each other at the top of the league.
AUDIO: Bo Ryan on logjam atop the Big Ten :12
If Purdue can knock off the Spartans and the Badgers can win on the home court against Illinois tonight, the Badgers would then share the Big Ten lead.
Bo Ryan’s Badgers enter the game with the #1 ranked defense in the Big Ten and 5th ranked overall.
AUDIO: Bo Ryan on his teams defense :19
Wisconsin is 18-5 overall, 8-3 in the Big Ten Conference. Illinois is 16-8 overall, 8-3 in league play.
Wisconsin is also 5-2 while playing without big man Jon Leuer. He may not be back until just before the Big Ten Tournament.
