Wisconsin basketball returned to the win column emphatically on Thursday, defeating Northwestern 70-63 in the second round of the 2025 Big Ten Tournament.
The Badgers had limped to the finish line to close the regular season. They dropped three of their final five games, including an inexplicable closing loss at home to Penn State. While the absence of starter Max Klesmit played a major role, significant questions surrounded the team entering postseason play.
Thursday's win did not answer every question. The team is still working to return to the top offensive form that saw it defeat Purdue and Illinois as part of a critical five-game win streak in February.