Wisconsin’s Shocking Drop in KenPom and ESPN’s BPI After Nebraska Upset Raises Alarming Questions About Their Season

Well, if there’s one thing you can say about the Wisconsin Badgers this season, it’s that they sure know how to make headlines—just unfortunately not for the reasons they’d like. Wednesday night’s 90-60 blowout at the hands of the No. 23 Nebraska Cornhuskers was more than just a loss; it was a wake-up call that echoed louder than any buzzer-beater ever could. I mean, topping their recent 28-point drubbing by BYU to become arguably the least competitive squad under Greg Gard? Oof, that stings. Sure, Nebraska’s been steamrolling their way to a perfect 9-0 start, but Wisconsin has found itself spiraling into a defensive quagmire, sitting 140th nationally—a far cry from the Badgers’ typical punch. With a roster that’s as much patchwork as it is promise, this team’s stumbling far below preseason hopes isn’t just a narrative—it’s the new reality. As the Badgers gear up to face Villanova at Fiserv Forum soon, all eyes will be on how they recover from becoming the poster child for underperformance in college hoops this year. Curious to see just how steep the slide has been? LEARN MORE

Wisconsin basketball’s standing took a significant hit on Wednesday night, as it fell 90-60 to the No. 23-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The 30-point defeat narrowly edged the team’s recent 28-point loss to No. 9 BYU as arguably the worst of the Greg Gard era. On one hand, the Cornhuskers are now 9-0 to start the year and are quickly ascending in national rankings. On the other hand, Wisconsin has now been uncompetitive in several games to start the year. Its defensive rating also now ranks No. 140 of 365 Division I teams. In other words, the transfer-heavy Badgers are playing far from their preseason expectations and the program’s typical standard.

Wisconsin will look to turn its current form around when it meets Villanova at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Friday, Dec. 19. Before then, it’s worth taking note of how far the team has fallen in college basketball’s top rating metrics.

Wisconsin basketball’s updated KenPom, ESPN Basketball Power Index ranking after Nebraska loss

KenPom: No. 39 overall (down 16 spots), No. 37 offense, No. 54 defense, No. 81 strength of schedule
ESPN’s BPI: No. 32 overall (down eight), projected 19-12 final record, 0.4% chance to win Big Ten

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball updated KenPom, ESPN ranking after Nebraska loss