Instant Reaction: Did Wisconsin get screwed with their NCAA Tournament draw? The Badgers success in the Big Ten Tournament didn’t seem to play a factor in their seeding.
Montana doesn’t play at a crazy tempo (190th in the country) and ranks just 98th in adjusted offensive efficiency according to KenPom.
So, on paper, it’s a great stylistic matchup for the Badgers.
If they win, a matchup with No. 6 seed BYU could be on the docket. The Cougars come into March hot, as they went on an eight-game winning streak to finish the season. That included wins over West Virginia (2x), Kansas State, Kansas, Arizona, Arizona State, Iowa State, and Utah.
Then, they beat the Cyclones again in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals before bowing out to the Houston Cougars in the semifinals.
BYU is a strong offensive team, ranking 11th in adjusted offensive efficiency according to KenPom, despite having the 180th-best tempo. In a way, their metrics are similar to the Badgers, although they’re worse defensively (68th vs. 27th for the Badgers).
Led by forward Richie Saunders, the Cougars average 81 points per game, shooting 48 percent from the field and 37 percent from three. They’re a good team, but questions remain as to how impactful the team is against a tough Wisconsin defense that really improved over the final weeks of the season.
Ultimately, I have a neutral reaction to the draw. Wisconsin has some unfavorable circumstances, but has winnable matchups in the first and second round. To have a truly successful season, they need to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2017. That’s possible, but they have some obstacles in their way along the path.
