John Blackwell finished with 28 points and Max Klesmit added 18 for the Badgers, who defeated the Trojans, 86-69, Saturday at Galen Center.

The Badgers lost almost all of a 17-point halftime lead, but hit on 25 of 28 free throw attempts and posted 70-68 win over the Buckeyes.

Wisconsin is among the biggest risers in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll. The team’s 2-0 week, which consisted of a home win over Ohio State and a road triumph over USC, resulted in a rise from receiving votes to No. 19 in the latest edition of the poll. The team’s vote total increased from 29 to 194.

The voters in the coaches and media polls rewarded the Badgers after victories over Ohio State and USC last week.

LOS ANGELES — The University of Wisconsin men's basketball team continues to cement itself as one of the country's elite squads, and voters in the Associated Press men's college basketball rankings have noticed. The Badgers allowed a 20-4 run in the second half, but they showed the strides they've made with a resilient effort down the stretch.

The Wisconsin men just keep winning, and the Badgers are getting respected for it in the latest college basketball rankings. Wisconsin cracked the Top 20 in both the latest AP Poll and Coaches Poll, moving up six spots to No.