Wisconsin’s Surprising Rise in KenPom and ESPN’s BPI Rankings After Stunning Minnesota Upset

Well, wouldn’t you know it? The Wisconsin Badgers have finally snapped their losing skid, edging out Minnesota in a thrilling 67-63 showdown that kept fans on the edge of their seats. It was their dynamic duo—John Blackwell and Nick Boyd—that carried the day, putting up a combined 44 points alongside clutch rebounds and assists that shaped the game’s outcome. Blackwell’s late three-pointer, eerily reminiscent of their previous win against Minnesota, proved to be the cherry on top, pushing the Badgers to a solid 15-6 overall and helping to salvage their momentum after that stinging loss to USC. As the Badgers gear up for a gauntlet of upcoming contests against top-tier opponents like Ohio State and Michigan State, their latest rankings in KenPom and ESPN’s BPI cast an intriguing spotlight on where they stand in the Big Ten hierarchy. Curious about their upward trajectory and what lies ahead? LEARN MORE

Wisconsin basketball returned to the win column on Wednesday night with a narrow 67-63 triumph over Minnesota.

The Badgers‘ leading backcourt duo, John Blackwell and Nick Boyd, led the way, combining for 44 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Just as was the case during the team’s win at Minnesota earlier this month, a late three-pointer from Blackwell proved to be the decisive blow.

Wisconsin improved to 15-6 (7-3 Big Ten) with the victory. Importantly, the result reestablished the team’s momentum after its disappointing home loss to USC on Sunday.

Before the Badgers continue with a challenging stretch of games, vs. Ohio State, at Indiana, at No. 9 Illinois and vs. No. 7 Michigan State, here is where they rank in KenPom and ESPN’s Basketball Power Index:

Wisconsin basketball’s updated KenPom, ESPN basketball power index ranking after Minnesota win

KenPom: No. 41 overall, No. 38 offense, No. 60 defense, No. 51 strength of schedule
ESPN’s BPI: No. 37 overall, projected 19.6-11.4 final record, <0.1% chance to win Big Ten

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball KenPom, ESPN ranking Minnesota win