How to watch, stream & listen to Wisconsin Badgers basketball vs Northwestern Wildcats

The University of Wisconsin is looking for a rebound.

After falling flat against two Big 12 competitors in neutral sites, going 1-2 on its 11 day West Coast swing, the Badgers open Big Ten competitons against Northwestern tonight at the Kohl Center.

The Badgers (5-2) have won 19 of their last 22 Big Ten openers and are 7-2 in conference openers under Greg Gard. One of those losses came last year to Michigan, a 67-64 home defeat that upended Wisconsin's 8-0 start to the season.

A sign of UW's early-season struggles is the Badgers are ranked 68th in the NCAA NET rankings and don't have a victory in Quad 1 or Quad 2.

Ready for BIG things tomorrow

📰 https://t.co/ZRLaIHwMM7
🎟️ https://t.co/J5BovvbA5n pic.twitter.com/6N9WoFsULa
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) December 2, 2025

Northwestern (5-2) begins Big Ten Conference play on the road for the second straight season and are in the middle of a five-game road trip. It's the longest for the program since 2003-04. The games have been hit and miss, with the Wilcats pulling out two-point wins against DePaul and South Carolina and five-point losses against Virginia and Oklahoma State. Close games are nothing new for the Wildcats, which played a school-record 13 games decided by five points or fewer in 2024-25 (5-8)

The games between the two teams fell just outside the five-point margin a year ago, as the Badgers won by six in Evanston, Ill., and seven in Indianapolis.

This will be the earliest meeting between the two schools in a series that dates back to 1910 and one the Badgers have dominated as of late, winning 26 of the last 33 meetings.

Big Ten ball 🔜 pic.twitter.com/xRnhNcZjzA
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) December 2, 2025

How can I watch the Badgers vs. Wildcats?

Date: Wednesday, Dec.3
Start time: 8 p.m. central
TV channel: Big Ten Network (Kevin Kugler and Shon Morris)

You can stream the Big Ten Network through a live TV streaming service like Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV, or by using the FOX Sports app with your cable or satellite TV credentials.

How can I listen to Badgers vs. the Wildcats?

Radio: The Badger Radio Network includes numerous stations across Wisconsin, with key stations being WIBA-AM 1310 in Madison and 95.7 BIG FM in Milwaukee. Other affiliates broadcasting Badger sports include WDUZ-AM/FM in Green Bay, WXCE-AM in Amery, and WBEV-FM in Beaver Dam. The game can also be heard on Sirius XM Channel 85 or online on The Varsity Network.

Hall-of-Fame broadcaster Matt Lepay (play-by-play) and former Wisconsin forward Charlie Wills (analyst) will call the game.

After his young frontcourt struggled in consecutive games against Big 12 opponents, Greg Gard and the Wisconsin staff are demanding more from Austin Rapp, Will Garlock, and Aleksas Bieliauskas as Big Ten play begins for the #Badgers https://t.co/dZ1aKJSm6C
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) December 2, 2025

What are the recreational betting odds?

Odds according to BetMGM as of Dec.3

Odds: Badgers by 9.5
Over/under: 156.5
Moneyline: Wisconsin (-500), Northwestern (+375)

The info on this week's opponent

All-time, regular season: Wisconsin leads 126-67
All-time, postseason: Wisconsin leads 4-0
All-time, regular season in Madison: Wisconsin leads 70-24
Streaks: Wisconsin has won 4
Last meeting, regular season: Feb. 1, 2025, Welch-Ryan Arena, Evanston, Ill., Badgers won, 75-69

Wisconsin's 2025-26 schedule

All times Central

Nov. 3: vs. Campbell, W 96-64

Nov. 7: vs. Northern Illinois, W 97-72

Nov. 11: vs. Ball State, W 86-55

Nov. 17: vs. SIUE, W 94-69

Nov. 21: vs. No.9 BYU (Salt Lake City, UT), L 70-98

Nov. 27: vs. Providence (San Diego), W 104-83

Nov. 28: vs. TCU (San Diego), L 63-74

Dec. 2: vs. Northwestern, 8 p.m.

Dec. 6: vs. Marquette, 1 p.m.

Dec.9: at Nebraska, 8 p.m.

Dec. 19: vs. Villanova (at Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee), 7 p.m.

Dec. 22: vs. Central Michigan, 7 p.m.

Dec. 30: vs. UW-Milwaukee, 6 p.m.

More Wisconsin Badgers News:

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Wisconsin doesn't rank well in first NCAA NET rankings

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Big Ten power rankings: How far did the Wisconsin Badgers fall after BYU blowout