NCAA basketball rivalries: Ranking the top 25 college basketball rivalries

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: A fan of the North Carolina Tar Heels (L) and the Duke Blue Devils pose for a photo while holding a sign referring to the Duke/UNC rivalry during the semifinals of the ACC Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 10, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

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No. 13 – Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Wisconsin Badgers

All-Time Series: Wisconsin leads 68-58

Geographic proximity in Wisconsin helps fuel this rivalry up the I-94 corridor as Marquette and Wisconsin sit roughly 78 miles apart from each other. This is one of the more competitive rivalries on this list based on overall success as the overall record is very close, and the total point differential of those contests (since 1949-1950) is only 48 points, a sign of how closely contested this rivalry has been.

Marquette enjoyed the longest unimpeded string of success in this series in the 1970s led by Al McGuire, rattling off 15 consecutive victories between December 1969 and February 1978. During this time, Marquette was one of the most successful and nationally prominent programs, winning the 1970 NIT, making the 1974 Final Four, and winning the NCAA National Championship in 1977, McGuire’s last season as head coach. During 14 of the 15 consecutive victories, Marquette was ranked in or just outside the Top-10 for each, while Wisconsin was unranked in each. Certainly, this stretch of games built animosity within Badger fans as the could not compete with their intrastate rivals to the north.

Game of Note: December 23, 1978 – Wisconsin def No. 13 Marquette 65-52

However, a turning point in the series occurred in 1978, when Marquette, no longer coached by the retired McGuire, came to Madison ranked 13th in the country, and subsequently fell to the Badgers for the first time in the decade by a score of 65 to 52. This victory would steady the ship in this rivalry that had been Marquette-dominated for so long, as Wisconsin holds a slight 24-18 advantage in the games played since this victory.

Wes Matthews led the Badgers to victory that evening, and in an interesting wrinkle that would add a little more fuel to the fire, future matchups in this rivalry would include Wes’ son Wesley Jr., only junior would suit up for the Golden Eagles and not the Badgers as did his father.

A closely contested series from closely situated campuses makes the battle of Wisconsin one of the top rivalries in college hoops.