The Badgers are peaking at the right time

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY SportsIt’s been a whirlwind year for the Wisconsin Badgers, who’ve experienced the ups and downs as much as any other team in the nation.

It all started with a slow 1-2 start, capped off with a 71-49 loss at the hands of the Providence Friars, that placed a bad taste in fans’ mouths to begin the season.

But, from there, it was all fireworks. Wisconsin went 15-2 over the next three months to jump significantly up the rankings, reaching as high as No. 6 in the AP Poll, while they held the top spot in the Big Ten.

After an 81-66 win over the Michigan State Spartans, however, things began to slide for the Badgers, who suffered their first conference loss on the road against…