MADISON, Wis. (Interstat) — Two teams looking to rebound from holiday tournament losses will meet Wednesday when Northwestern visits Wisconsin in a Big Ten men’s basketball opener. The Wildcats (5-2) and Badgers (5-2) enter conference play with identical records. Northwestern fell 86-81 to Oklahoma State at home last Thursday, despite 28 points from Nick Martinelli. Wisconsin dropped a 74-63 decision to TCU on Friday, with John Blackwell scoring 30 points in the loss. Northwestern has shown resilience on the road, securing a 79-77 win at South Carolina on Nov. 23. Wisconsin’s performance has fluctuated, highlighted by a 104-83 victory over Providence but marred by a 98-70 defeat at BYU. The matchup at Kohl Center features two offenses finding their rhythm. The Wildcats are led by Martinelli’s consistent scoring, while the Badgers rely on Blackwell’s dynamic play. Both teams will seek to establish an early conference advantage before demanding non-conference tests Saturday — Northwestern hosts Ohio State, while Wisconsin faces in-state rival Marquette. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CST.