Illinois Blows Lead to Wisconsin Again, NCAA Tournament Seed in Doubt

CHICAGO — Wisconsin delivered a painful dose of déjà vu to Illinois on Friday night, rallying from a 15-point second-half deficit to defeat the ninth-ranked Fighting Illini 91-88 in overtime in the quarterfinals of the Huge Ten Tournament. The victory, secured at the United Center, mirrors a recent result for the Badgers, having overcome a 12-point deficit to win in Champaign just a month prior.

No. 23 Wisconsin (24-9) advances to the tournament semifinals, where they will face No. 3 Michigan on Saturday. Illinois (24-8) now awaits its fate in the NCAA Tournament, entering the bracket with a concerning late-season slump.

The Badgers’ comeback was fueled by a dominant performance from guard Nick Boyd, who poured in a career-high 38 points. He was ably supported by John Blackwell, who added 31 points, giving Wisconsin’s backcourt a combined 69 points on the night. Boyd’s performance also set a Wisconsin record for most points in a Big Ten tournament game.

Illinois appeared to be in control for much of the second half, building a lead as large as 15 points. However, Wisconsin chipped away, capitalizing on a late surge and outscoring the Illini 25-9 at the free-throw line. The Badgers finished 25-for-30 from the line, while Illinois struggled, shooting just 9-for-15, including a dismal 3-for-7 after halftime.

The game remained tight in overtime. With the score tied at 80, Boyd scored in the paint and Austin Rapp hit a crucial three-pointer to give Wisconsin a five-point lead with 2:33 remaining. Illinois managed to close the gap to within two points in the final seconds, but a missed three-pointer by Keaton Wagler at the buzzer sealed the Badgers’ victory.

While Illinois received strong performances from Wagler and David Mirkovic, who both scored 19 points, it wasn’t enough to overcome Wisconsin’s late-game execution. Andrej Stojakovic contributed 17 points off the bench for the Illini.

Wisconsin’s victory came despite shooting just 10-for-41 from three-point range. They compensated by dominating the boards, outrebounding Illinois 37-36, and securing 13 second-chance points on 11 offensive rebounds. Despite the absence of center Nolan Winter, the Badgers managed to hold their own in the paint.

The loss is a significant blow to Illinois’ momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament. The Illini have now lost five consecutive Quad 1 games and have demonstrated a troubling inability to close out games when facing top competition. Their recent struggles raise concerns about their potential for a deep tournament run, and they are likely to fall from a projected No. 2 seed.

Illinois’ veterans, Tomislav Ivisic and Kylan Boswell, failed to make a significant impact on Friday night. Boswell, in particular, found himself in early foul trouble, limiting his effectiveness. Ivisic, meanwhile, shot just 3-for-8 from the field and grabbed only two rebounds.

The Illini led for over 30 minutes of the game, but Wisconsin’s relentless pressure and Boyd’s exceptional performance ultimately proved too much to overcome. The Badgers’ ability to capitalize on free throws and control the boards proved to be the difference in a tightly contested contest.

Illinois will learn its NCAA Tournament draw on Sunday, with the selection display airing at 5 p.m. CT on CBS. The team’s recent form suggests they may face a challenging matchup in the Round of 32, potentially against a fellow top-25 team like Iowa State.