MADISON – Growth. That is what Wisconsin has a chance to show tonight. The Badgers men’s basketball team gets a second crack at Illinois after falling to the Illini, 86-80, at Assembly Hall on Dec. 10 . Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. at the Kohl Center. The first game was marked by the play Illinois standout freshman Kaspars Jakucionis , who finished with 24 points and five assists, and junior guard Tre White , who came off the bench and scored a season-high 23 points. (White attended Milwaukee Washington as a freshman and helped it to a state runner-up finish in 2019.) UW also was beat on the boards and paid for its turnovers. The Badgers were minus-11 in rebounding with Illinois’ 15 offensive rebounds leading to 16 second-chance points. The Illini also scored 14 points off turnovers. In a two-possession loss those mistakes proved costly for the Badgers, who are ranked No. 11 in both major polls. “I think both ends we’ve grown,” UW coach Greg Gard said. “I think it’s going to be a challenge for us and a good measuring stick to see where we’ve come from in early December.” Here is what you need to know about the game.
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