Wisconsin @ Nebraska preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 29, 2018 ) Nebraska 74, Wisconsin 63

After building a solid early resume with a 10-1 showing against a challenging non-conference slate and rebounding from a tough start to Big Ten play, Nebraska appeared poised to enjoy one of its most successful seasons in program history as recently as two weeks ago. The Cornhuskers' fortunes have taken a dramatic turn for the worst since then, and they will be forced to play the rest of the way without one of their linchpins starting Tuesday when they host Wisconsin.

Nebraska rebounded from a 1-3 start in league action by beating Penn State and Indiana, but a 70-64 loss to No. 5 Michigan State on Jan. 17 ended a school-record 20-game home winning streak. A setback at Rutgers followed four days later, but the Cornhuskers' once-promising campaign might have reached a crossroads when senior forward Isaac Copeland was lost for the season to a torn left ACL during Saturday's 70-60 home loss to Ohio State. The resumption of conference play did not agree with the Badgers, as Wisconsin dropped three of four to begin the month. The Badgers ended that forgettable run by handing No. 6 Michigan its first loss on Jan. 19 and earned their third straight win Saturday, riding Ethan Happ's second triple-double of the season to a 62-46 triumph over Northwestern

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT WISCONSIN (14-6, 6-3 Big Ten): Happ (18.9 points, 10.4 boards, 5.2 assists) finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists while adding two blocks and two steals against the Wildcats. "He's a nightmare … he's like a point guard at the center position. He brings it up, he can drive you from the perimeter, he can get you from the low-post, he's a terrific passer, he's great on the offensive glass, he's great defensively, he's got great instincts and hands for steals and blocked shots. … He is a phenomenal player and he impacts winning in so many ways," Northwestern coach Chris Collins said. Sophomore guards Brad Davison (10.7 points) and D'Mitrik Trice (14.2) took full advantage of the defensive attention Happ drew Saturday, tying for game-high scoring honors with 18 points apiece.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (13-7, 3-6): Copeland was the Cornhuskers' second-leading scorer (14.0 points), rebounder (5.4) and shot blocker (0.9); he will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by former offensive line recruit Tanner Borchardt, who has never scored more than eight points or logged more than 25 minutes in a game. The absence of Copeland figures to place even more pressure on James Palmer Jr. (19.4 points, second in the Big Ten) and Glynn Watson Jr. (13.5 points), who combined for 37 points on 12-of-27 shooting Saturday while their teammates totaled 23 points on 9-for-31 from the floor. After posting a career-high 22 points and a season-high four blocks against Penn State on Jan. 10, junior forward Isaiah Roby has totaled 28 points and five blocks in the four games since.

TIP-INS

1. Wisconsin owns an 8-4 edge in the series since Nebraska joined the conference in 2011-12, but the Cornhuskers have won three of the last four meetings.

2. Happ, who is the only player in the country averaging at least 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, is responsible for two of the three triple-doubles in school history (Josh Gasser, Jan. 23, 2011).

3. Since Big Ten play resumed on Jan. 2, the Cornhuskers have been outrebounded by at least nine in five of the seven games.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 62, Nebraska 57