Wisconsin @ Rutgers preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 28, 2017 ) Wisconsin 61, Rutgers 54

After surprising starts for both schools during non-conference action, it is back to business as usual for Wisconsin and Rutgers - a good development for the former and a bad one for the latter. The Badgers eye a sixth straight victory Friday when they visit the Scarlet Knights, who hope to avoid their longest losing streak of the season.

Wisconsin fell three games below .500 for the first time since the start of the 2001-02 campaign following a 19-point setback to Marquette on Dec. 9, but the Badgers have rallied from their 4-7 start with five straight wins - the last of which came in a 71-61 decision over Indiana at home Tuesday. After struggling at times during his team's uncharacteristic open to the season, junior forward Ethan Happ is averaging 19 points per game on 66 percent shooting during Wisconsin's winning streak. Rutgers raced out to a 6-0 start and handed No. 21 Seton Hall one of its two losses to improve to 10-3 on Dec. 16, but second-year coach Steve Pikiell's squad followed that signature win by getting beat at home against Stony Brook and Hartford. The Scarlet Knights took their third double-digit defeat in as many conference games Wednesday, suffering their largest margin of defeat this season while getting blown out 82-51 at No. 12 Purdue.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT WISCONSIN (9-7, 2-1 Big Ten): Happ erupted for a season-high 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting Wednesday for the shorthanded Badgers, who learned about 90 minutes before tipoff they would be without starting guard Brevin Pritzl due to a head injury. The sophomore is just the latest injury casualty to a Wisconsin backcourt missing D'Mitrik Trice (foot), Kobe King (knee; out for the season) and asking freshman Brad Davison (11.9 points), who has scored at least 14 points in five of his last six outings, to play through a shoulder injury. Freshman forward Aleem Ford (6.6) has seen his playing time spike with all of the attrition in the backcourt, averaging 11 points per game while shooting 14-for-21 beyond the arc over the last five contests.

ABOUT RUTGERS (10-6, 0-3): The Scarlet Knights registered a minus-16 in rebounding margin in their two losses following the upset of Seton Hall before getting pounded 45-27 on the glass during Wednesday's rout. A pair of freshmen managed to show well offensively against the Boilermakers, however, as guard Geo Baker had 11 points and was one of two Scarlet Knights to reach double figures, while Mamadou Doucoure chipped in eight points in nine minutes before fouling out. Deshawn Freeman (11.6 points, 8.2 rebounds) managed only nine points and two boards versus Purdue, but the 6-7 senior forward collected a season-high four steals for the second straight game and ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 1.6.

TIP-INS

1. Wisconsin is averaging 79.4 points on 53 percent shooting - including 44 percent beyond the arc - during its winning streak (66.1, 44 and 33 over its first 11 games, respectively).

2. The Scarlet Knights are 29-for-57 from the foul line during their losing streak.

3. Happ is the only major-conference player averaging at least 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists. He is also the only player in the conference leading his team in all three categories.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 68, Rutgers 59