Basketball:

Wisconsin basketball is fresh off their 77-60 ACC/Big Ten Challenge victory over a ranked Syracuse Orange team, followed by a strong second half push that propelled the Badgers to a 90-70 win over the Oklahoma Sooners, gaining revenge from last year’s defeat.

With less than a month until conference play starts, the Badgers still have a major game looming on their schedule that a good chunk of the state circles on their calendars every year.

On Wednesday, the Badgers will welcome in the Idaho State Bengals to the Kohl Center. Wisconsin is 5-0 this year at home and although heavily favored, the Badgers have learned in recent years they should not take buy-games lightly. The Bengals come in at just 1-7, having played over half of their games on the road.

Then comes the big one on Saturday.

Wisconsin will hop on Interstate 94 and head east about 70 miles to Milwaukee to take on their in-state rival- Marquette Golden Eagles.

The series has been pretty even of late, with the teams splitting their last 14 games at seven wins a piece. The Golden Eagles won last year’s matchup in Madison, led by freshman phenom Henry Ellenson, defeating Bo Ryan and the Badgers 57-55. Wisconsin leads the overall series 66-56.

Marquette currently sits at 6-2 on the season. Wisconsin will be their first ranked opponent of the year and the only one of their non-conference slate.

The Wisconsin women’s basketball team will also take on Idaho State and Mississippi Valley State before hosting Marquette on Sunday.