Big Ten opponents square off when the Northwestern Wildcats (12-8, 3-6 Big Ten) host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-10, 3-6 Big Ten) at Welsh-Ryan Arena, starting at 9:00 PM ET on Wednesday,

Wednesday’s Big Ten schedule includes the Northwestern Wildcats (12-8, 3-6 Big Ten) versus the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-10, 3-6 Big Ten), at 9:00 PM ET on BTN.Buy tickets for Northwestern

Get real-time COLLEGEBASKETBALL basketball coverage and scores as Rutgers Scarlet Knights takes on Northwestern Wildcats. We bring you the latest game previews, live stats, and recaps on CBSSports.com

The bloom is off the rose for these Illini (14-6, 6-4 Big Ten), who went from being underrated by the college basketball illuminati early this season to now arguably underperforming as the expectations around them have risen. The climb up the mountain, as always, gets harder with every subsequent step toward the top.

Iowa City, Iowa; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Iowa hosts Northwestern after Lucy Olsen scored 20 points in Iowa's 85-61 victory over the Washington Huskies. The Hawkeyes are 6-3 in home games. Iowa ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 35.

Despite (or maybe because of) their unpredictability, the Illini went back to some old standbys to best the Wildcats on Sunday

Illinois knocked off Northwestern in a college basketball game Sunday. Full recap, game highlights from Champaign, Illinois.

Rutgers basketball star Ace Bailey continued a stellar month with another monster outing against Northwestern.

Northwestern was just 3 of 18 and never got closer than seven points in the last 10 minutes, as the 'Cats' NCAA Tournament hopes took a hit.

Ace Bailey scored 37 points and Tyson Acuff added 13 to steer visiting Rutgers past Northwestern 79-72 on Wednesday in Evanston, Ill. Bailey, a freshman, finished two points shy of his career high of 39 set Jan.