Wisconsin basketball concluded its 2024-25 non-conference slate with a 76-53 victory over Detroit Mercy on Sunday at the Kohl Center.
The win improved the Badgers’ record to 10-3 on the season. More importantly, it boosts team morale as a long break approaches. The Badgers are now on an 11-day bye and return to the field on Jan. 3 to continue their Big Ten schedule.
After a three-game skid against Michigan, Marquette and Illinois, UW fell significantly in both KenPom and ESPN BPI. The well-deserved Dec. 14 win over Butler stabilized Wisconsin in the mid-30s — a spot it maintains after defeating Detroit Mercy in the final home game before the holiday.
As of December 23, here is where the Badgers stand in both metrics:
-
KenPom: No. 33 (same position after win over Butler on Dec. 14), with the No. 15 offense and No. 79 defense in the country.
-
IPB: No. 36 (down from No. 34), with a projected 20.0-11.0 record and a 4.6% chance of winning the Big Ten.
The Badgers are the No. 9 ranked team in the Big Ten in both metrics. Maryland, ranked No. 11 in KenPom and No. 14 in ESPN BPI, has the most impressive conference resume at this point in the season.
Wisconsin begins its Big Ten challenge at home against Iowa on January 3. After that, the team travels to Rutgers for a matchup on January 6 before hosting rival Minnesota at the Kohl Center on January 10.
