Player of the Week: Jason Bohannon
The sophomore guard scored 15 points at Illinois and led UW in scoring at Ohio State with 16 points, as the Badgers went 2-0 on a tough two-game road trip. Bohannon hit 6-of-8 threes in the two games combined and is shooting 51 percent from behind the arc in his last five.
But it might be his recent ability to get the basket that has opened up shots for the second-year player. Bohannon struggled at times early in the season to get open looks - 88 of his 144 field goal attempts have come during conference games.
As if his recent hot streak was not enough, Bohannon has hit 33-straight free throws, just two shy of the school record. He hasn't missed one since Jan. 19 against Northwestern.
On Deck: No. 15 Michigan State
The Spartans (10-4 Big Ten, 22-5 overall) happen to play in two of the biggest games this week, as they travel to the Kohl Center Thursday before hosting Indiana Sunday.
The Badgers survived their stretch of three games on the road in four contests by going 4-0, which salvaged a chance at the Big Ten title after they fell at home to Purdue Feb. 9. Now the Badgers must protect their home court against the team that was predicted to win the conference in the preseason.
UW fans probably remember last year's late-season contest when Wisconsin needed a Kammron Taylor 3-pointer with three seconds left to top Michigan State at the Kohl Center.
It should be noted that the Spartans are only 2-4 on the road in conference play this season, including three straight losses.
Game of the Week: No. 12 Indiana at No. 15 Michigan State, Sunday 1 p.m.
The Badgers get the weekend off, but they surely will have their eyes on this game, as an Indiana loss would knock the Hoosiers (13-2, 24-4) out of their current tie with Wisconsin for first place in the Big Ten.
Michigan State has not lost in the Breslin Center all season and will be looking to avenge an 80-61 loss at Indiana Feb. 16.
Another game of note: Ohio State at Minnesota, Saturday 4 p.m.
The Buckeyes (8-7, 17-11) have picked the worst time of the season to hit the skids, but Ohio State badly needs a win after losing three straight games and five of its last seven. It is hard to fault them for losing to Michigan State, Wisconsin and Indiana all in a row, but the Buckeyes do not have a single win against any of the top four Big Ten teams.
That's not exactly the résumé the NCAA Selection Committee is looking for.
With Purdue and Michigan State coming to Columbus in Ohio State's last two games, this is a must-win.
Meanwhile, the Gophers (7-7, 17-11) are still clinging to their dim NCAA Tournament hopes. Unfortunately, this is their last home game of the season as they finish at Indiana and Illinois and play at Purdue Wednesday.
If Minnesota can make a deep run in the Big Ten Tournament, then it possibly could make the tournament, but the Gophers will have to finish 3-1, and that means winning three road games when they only have three conference road wins all season.
