Penn State Vs. Wisconsin Preview: Badgers Ride Hot Streak to State College

Wisconsin brings an unbeaten Big Ten record to Penn State for a late start at the Bryce Jordan Center.

What happens when you "lose contact with the scoreboard?" Penn State learned that at Purdue on Saturday. The Boilermakers lapped Penn State during a 31-5 first-half run, leading to an easy 95-78 Big Ten victory at Mackey Arena. For Penn State men's basketball coach Mike Rhoades, it was another lesson for his raw team.

"Sometimes you have to learn over and over again," Rhoades told reporters in State College during his weekly availability Monday. "As a coach, you hope it only takes one time, but in reality it doesn’t. Sometimes you have to go through it."

The Lions are going through it now, as they seek to end a two-game Big Ten losing streak when Wisconsin visits the Bryce Jordan Center on Tuesday night. Home has been favorable for the Nittany Lions this season. Can that continue?

Penn State (8-9, 2-4) vs. Wisconsin (13-3, 5-0)

When: 9 p.m. ET Tuesday

Where: Bryce Jordan Center

TV: Big Ten Network

Streaming: FuboTV (start your free trial)

Betting line: Wisconsin is a 7-point favorite, according to DraftKings

Series history: Wisconsin leads 44-11

Last meeting: Wisconsin 79-74 (OT) in February 2023

Streaks: Wisconsin has won 5 straight vs. the Lions

KenPom rankings: Penn State is No. 114; Wisconsin is No. 9

NCAA NET rankings: Penn State is No. 125; Wisconsin is No. 11

About the Nittany Lions: Penn State has entered the thicket of its Big Ten schedule, playing its second straight game against a ranked opponent. And the Lions aren't built to keep pace with physical Big Ten teams if they can't shoot from the outside. That's been a season-long issue for Penn State, which ranks 12th in the Big Ten in shooting percentage (43.2 percent) and 3-point percentage (29.9 percent). After the Lions went 3-for-17 from 3-point range against Northwestern, Rhoades said he wanted to see some "swag" from his shooters. "Shooters don’t mind being lonely, especially when they go in," Rhoades said. "... We have some guys who are learning that as we go through this the hard way." One bonus: The game is at home, where the Lions are 7-2.

About the Badgers: Wisconsin brings a six-game win streak to Penn State, with solid victories over Nebraska, Ohio State and Northwestern. The Badgers also sit atop the Big Ten standings at 5-0. They field the Big Ten's most efficient offense behind Purdue, with a 10-game streak of 70+ points. That's the nation's longest, and one that Penn State's pressure defense has to stymie. Guard Max Klesmit is coming off a huge week, averaging 21 points in a pair of wins and scoring a season-high 24 against Northwestern. This is balanced offense, with six players averaging at least 8 points but no one above 15. AJ Storr paces the Badgers at 14.8 ppg. Watch Wisconsin's shooting percentage. The team is 10-0 when shooting 45 percent or better and 3-3 when below that rate.

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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.