5Illinois 60 - 70 25Wisconsin
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Wisconsin goes for seventh straight win

Jan 10, 2008 - 2:43 PM Illinois (8-7) at No. 21 Wisconsin (12-2) 9:00 pm EST

MADISON, Wisconsin (Ticker) - Wisconsin goes for its seventh straight win when they host struggling Big-10 rival Illinois on Thursday.

The 21st-ranked Badgers (12-2, 2-0 Big-10) are coming off a 64-51 victory over Iowa on Saturday to begin 2-0 in the conference for the third consecutive year.

Wisconsin only has two players who average in double figures, including senior Brian Butch, who leads the team at 13.7 points per contest. The center had 22 points in Saturday's victory and also leads the team in rebounding at 7.8 per contest.

The Fighting Illini (8-7, 0-2) come in losers of three straight, and are hoping to avoid a rare four-game losing streak.

Illinois has not lost four straight games since losing seven in a row during the 1998-99 campaign. That season also was the last time the Illini began 0-3 in the Big-10 as they lost their first seven games.

Illinois has lost both conference games at home, including a 68-64 setback to Penn State on Sunday.

Shaun Pruitt leads the team with 12.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

Wisconsin swept the two-game season series last season, including a 53-41 victory in the Big-10 tournament.






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