Bracketology 2020: Utah State, Rutgers and Wisconsin among big winners

Bracketology 2020: Utah State, Rutgers and Wisconsin among biggest winners

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 07: The Utah State Aggies celebrate after defeating the San Diego State Aztecs to win the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 7, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aggies defeated the Aztecs 59-56. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) /

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MADISON, WISCONSIN – MARCH 04: The Wisconsin Badgers huddle (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Wisconsin Badgers

While Maryland and Michigan State both have a chance to get a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, Saturday was about Wisconsin guaranteeing at least a share thanks to their road win over the Indiana Hoosiers. Just a couple of months ago, the Badgers lost double-digit scoring Kobe King suddenly to the transfer portal and the team looked as if they would be destined to be on the bubble.

Instead, the team went on an eight-game winning streak to end the regular season. For full disclosure, the best teams Wisconsin played during that run were Ohio State and Michigan, while avoiding the teams at the very top. Considering that Penn State fell to Northwestern on Saturday, any win streak in the Big Ten conference should be respected.

What also will be respected is the Badgers likely seed in the NCAA Tournament. Currently, they’re a 5 seed in the Big Dance with a real shot at climbing into a 4 seed. Wisconsin has nine Quad 1 wins but does get weighed down a bit by losses to NC State, Tennessee, and Richmond. None of those are bad losses at all but compared to others on a 4 seed line, the Badgers will be lacking a bit.

Is Wisconsin a Final Four contender? The Big Ten Tournament will give us a better perspective on that. But whatever questions there were about head coach Greg Gard should be gone at this point.

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