Nebraska @ Wisconsin preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 15, 2019 ) Nebraska 62, Wisconsin 66

Wisconsin has spent the better part of January knocking off some of the Big Ten's better teams, largely making up for its relatively poor showing in non-conference action over the first two months of the season. After going 3-1 against four ranked foes this month, the Badgers hope for similar execution Tuesday when they host a Nebraska team still searching for its first road victory under first-year coach Fred Hoiberg.

A 1-4 stretch that contributed to a 5-5 start appeared to be an indication Wisconsin would have little chance of making another visit to the Big Dance after qualifying for 20 of the previous 21 NCAA Tournaments. The Badgers have used the first two-plus weeks of the new year righting the wrongs of November and December, picking up road wins versus then-ranked Ohio State and Penn State as well as a two-point home victory against No. 17 Maryland before falling 67-55 at No. 9 Michigan State on Friday. The Cornhuskers have two surprising conference wins at home but have not been overly competitive away from Lincoln so far in 2019-20, losing three of their five true road games by double figures. Nebraska lost for the fourth time in five games following Saturday's 82-74 home setback against Indiana.

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: Big Ten Network

ABOUT NEBRASKA (7-11, 2-5 Big Ten): Sophomore guard Cam Mack (12.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists) extended his double-digit scoring streak to 11 games with 20 points in Saturday's defeat and added nine assists - the sixth time this season he has tallied at least eight. Junior guard Thorir Thorbjarnarson (8.1 points, 4.4 boards) leads the team in 3-point accuracy (45.9 percent) and narrowly missed registering his first career double-double against Indiana, finishing with 13 points and a season-high-tying nine rebounds. "Thor, he plays very well off of (Mack), he cuts well off of him, he knows when to slash, he does a good job slipping out of screens to create open shots and he’s a great cutter to the basket," Hoiberg said.

ABOUT WISCONSIN (11-7, 4-3): Nate Reuvers (14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 blocks) has nearly doubled his scoring average from a season ago and played well for the most part this month, netting 17 points versus the Buckeyes and the Terrapins and 19 against the Spartans. The Badgers' improved play has coincided with the return of fellow junior forward Micah Potter (9.4 points, 5.9 boards), who averaged 17 points over the previous three contests before finishing with four against Michigan State. Sophomore guard Kobe King (10.6 points) has been the team's top scorer during conference play with 14.9 points per game, shooting almost 22 percent better against Big Ten foes (59.2) than against non-league opponents (37.3).

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Wisconsin has surrendered an average of 57.7 points in 14 meetings since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011.

2. The Cornhuskers are one of only three teams in the country with a rebound margin of minus-10 or worse (minus-10.4).

3. The Badgers are 133-26 in Big Ten home games over the last 15 seasons - the best mark in the conference.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 64, Nebraska 52