The Wisconsin Badgers tip off their 2026 Big Ten Conference schedule on Saturday night with a marquee home showdown against No. 5 Purdue.

A lot of people are tuning in to watch Purdue basketball this year. The Boilermakers are among the 10 most-watched teams in the sport through two months.

In 13 games, Purdue has had six different players lead the team in scoring, two of them doing so off the bench. While Smith assisted on only one of Benter's seven made shots, it still showed the luxury of offensive weapons Smith and the Boilermakers have at their disposal.

Until Puryear put together her best quarter of basketball of her college career. Puryear scored a career high 20 points including 12 points in the final period but it wasn't enough for Purdue as it fell to Illinois 83-73 at home to reopen Big Ten Conference play.

The Nebraska women's basketball team didn't ring in the New Year on a positive note, dropping its second-straight defeat since starting the season 12-0. In a g

Purdue last played on Dec. 21, a blowout win over Auburn. This is Kent State's first game this season against a power conference team.

The Boilermakers head to Wisconsin, which had an X-factor in last season's meeting, and poses a different challenge as Big Ten play resumes.