Micah Potter is needed for Wisconsin Basketball to beat UNC Tar Heels

Wisconsin Basketball experienced a true roller coaster pre-tournament campaign this year, occasionally warranting high-seed aspirations, before plummeting back down to mediocrity. The Badgers looked strong early on, defeating the then-ranked Michigan State Spartans, Louisville Cardinals, and Minnesota Golden Gophers, but their prominence failed to last.

Amidst a historically talented Big Ten conference, goliaths like Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan, and Purdue smacked the Badgers around like a speed bag, collectively handing them 9 of their 12 losses. Needless to say, Wisconsin perfectly embodies the typical “average team in a great conference” low-seeded bid.

But despite what their record might tell you, this team still brings some heavy hitters into play. With seniors D’Mitrik Trice (13.7 PPG), Micah Potter (12.9 PPG), and Brad Davison (9.2 PPG) at the helm, the Badgers carry experience and talent into this matchup, which nearly every team looking to make a run in tournament requires.

Their opponent, the North Carolina Tar Heels, know a thing or two about “rocky roads” en route to the tournament themselves. Entering with high expectations, North Carolina disappointed seemingly all college basketball fans when they dropped to 5-4, opening conference play with an 0-2 in late December. But as they do so well on the basketball court, the Tar Heels rebounded from their failures, going a modest 13-6 since then to maintain their position on the right side of the bubble.

As expected with an 8-9 seed matchup, this first-round contest wields the potential to go either way. But if the Badgers take these three key aspects to the game into account, they can RSVP a likely date with the one-seeded Baylor Bears during the second round.