College basketball scouting report

Illinois (16-8, 8-3) at Wisconsin (18-5, 8-3)When: 6 p.m. at Kohl CenterTV: BTNRadio: WIND 560-AMThe skinny: It's a big night atop the Big Ten standings as Purdue faces Michigan State immediately after this battle in Madison. Though the 11th-ranked Badgers are 1 game behind the Spartans, they look like the best bet to win the Big Ten title as their toughest remaining games are a home-and-home with the Illini and a trip to Minnesota. Wisconsin ranks No. 4 nationally in the Pomeroy power ratings and No. 6 per Jeff Sagarin's Predictor. If the Illini are going to pull off their first Kohl Center win since 2006, they'll need to match UW's three-man backcourt. Everyone knows seniors Trevon Hughes (15.5 ppg) and Jason Bohannon (11.1 ppg), but sophomore Jordan Taylor leads the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (82/22). Illini freshman guard Brandon Paul probably won't start, but he'll need to play lots of minutes. Junior forward Mike Davis, who delivered 16 points against Michigan State on Saturday night, likely moves back into the lineup after four games away.-