The Cornhuskers entered the matchup on a six-game losing streak, the latest result a 28-point defeat at the hands of the Wisconsin Badgers. The team ended its losing skid emphatically with an 80-74 overtime triumph over the Fighting Illini.

A recovery mission was underway late Thursday after a utility-task vehicle broke through the ice on Elizabeth Lake in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, leaving a man in the water. The 70-year-old man remained unaccounted for Thursday evening after ending up underwater in Elizabeth Lake.

Tonje, a sixth-year shooting guard who spent his first four seasons at Colorado State and last winter at Missouri, racked up game highs in both points (23) and 3-pointers (five) and grabbed six rebounds for Wisconsin. But the Terps (17-5, 7-4 Big Ten) emerged with a 76-68 victory thanks to double-digit production from all five of their starters.

Wisconsin men's basketball fell to Maryland, 76-68, on Wednesday. The team's second loss in three games halted the momentum built during the seven-game win streak. The defeat drops the Badgers to 16-5 (6-4 Big Ten).

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said he was in close contact with former Wisconsin coaches Paul Chryst and Jim Leonhard during the recent winter transfer window.

BOTTOM LINE: Northwestern hosts No. 17 Wisconsin after Jalen Leach scored 23 points in Northwestern's 79-72 loss to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Wildcats are 10-2 on their home court. Northwestern is 2-2 in games decided by less than 4 points.

People across southern Wisconsin, including Milwaukee, reported seeing a bright streak of matter shooting across the sky Tuesday night.

The Badgers have shot 48% and hit 32 three-pointers in the last two games, marksmanship that has helped the team start Big Ten play 6-3.

Wednesday’s matchup is a clear Quad 1 game for both teams. The winner will rise closer to the top tier that Purdue (NET No. 9) and Illinois (NET No. 10) currently occupy. The victor will almost assuredly jump up to a No. 3-seed in most NCAA Tournament bracket projections.

Former Wisconsin head coach took a shot at Jim Harbaugh over his move to the NFL. That followed an update to Michigan's sign-stealing scandal

The 18th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini hit the road looking to emerge from a recent funk with a Thursday night Big Ten matchup with the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Maryland hosts Wisconsin on Wednesday! Let's continue our College Basketball odds series with a Wisconsin-Maryland prediction and pick.