Wisconsin red hot going into matchup with struggling USC

Surging Wisconsin looks to extend its winning streak when it returns home to host Southern California in a Big Ten matchup on Sunday in Madison.

The Badgers (14-5, 6-2 Big Ten) rolled past the host Penn State Nittany Lions 98-71 on Thursday, closing the first half with a decisive 38-9 run en route to their fifth consecutive victory.

Wisconsin shot 50.7% (36 of 71) in the win over Penn State, including 15 of 35 (42.9%) beyond the arc. During their five-game winning streak, the Badgers are shooting 41% from long range, averaging 13.2 3-pointers per game.

Senior guard Braeden Carrington came off the bench for 17 points in 16 minutes. John Blackwell also had 17 points and Nolan Winter added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

"We've just approached this one day at a time," Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. "I'll fly back tonight and look through this film, pick out some things, and then a quick two-day turnaround before USC comes in. So, I'm just going to keep staying hungry and keep getting better, which I think we're doing."

Guard Nick Boyd, a graduate transfer from San Diego State who also played on Florida Atlantic's 2023 Final Four team, averages 19.4 points per game and is just one of four Big Ten players to score in double figures every game this season.

Blackwell averages 18.5 points and Winter 14.3, along with a team-high 8.8 rebounds.

USC (14-5, 3-5) lost at home to Northwestern 74-68 on Wednesday, spoiling the debut of highly touted freshman guard Alijah Arenas, sidelined since July after tearing a meniscus.

Arenas, the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, played 29 minutes but hit just three of 15 shots, missing all six 3-point attempts and finishing with eight points.

The Trojans finished at 38.5% (20 of 52) from the field and were just 2 of 13 from deep. Jordan Marsh came off the bench for 19 points, all in the second half.

Chad Baker-Mazara averages 18.6 points and Ezra Ausar adds 16.2. Jacob Cofie averages a team-best 7.1 boards, along with 9.9 points.

USC coach Eric Musselman was not surprised by the struggles of Arenas, a five-star recruit who also had been seriously injured in a car crash in April.

"He should be a high-school senior who reclassified, missed an entire summer, and then you're throwing him in the middle of Big Ten play," Musselman said following the Northwestern game. "So, he doesn't have nonconference play and all that stuff just based on injury."

--Field Level Media