The Wisconsin Badgers (21) will host the Minnesota Golden Gophers Thursday night as both teams look to climb back after falling in the AP rankings.

Minnesota has lost five of its last eight since losing three of its first 16 contests. Wisconsin started the season 16-0 and peaked in the top 25 at third overall, but then lost five of their last eight.

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The Badgers are coming off back-to-back wins against Illinois and Michigan State, the second overall team in the Big Ten. Both teams sit in the middle of the pack for their conference and would be in need of a hot streak to compete for the Big Ten title.

Wisconsin regained what made them so successful to begin the season, defense. While Michigan State was averaging the second-highest point total (77 per game) in the Big Ten, Wisconsin held them to 58. Traevon Jackson may have only had seven points in the game, but no two were bigger than the pull up jumper he hit to take the lead with 2.1 seconds remaining.

"That's sort of what they expected out of me is just to finish the game," he told reporters, according to ESPN. "The pull-up was there, and I was blessed to be able to make it go in."

Jackson, a junior guard has been inconsistent for the Badgers this year, but could be an important player for the team if they want to make a run after the regular season. He is one of four Badgers to average more than 10 points per game, but none of who are scoring more than 14.

Minnesota won its matchup at home against Wisconsin 81-68 on Jan. 22. DeAndre Mathieu and Maurice Walker each scored 18 in that game and combined for 30 when they beat Indiana Saturday. They too will be important for Minnesota to make a late season run.

"We just need to play hard and control the other team off the dribble and away from rebounds," Walker told reporters, according to ESPN. "If we are able to execute our game plan, like we did in the second half, good things will happen."