Big Ten Basketball: Ranking all 18 programs after adding Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington

10. Wisconsin

Few people seem to understand the lack of basketball success across Wisconsin’s entire history. The Badgers did win the national championship back in 1941 and were in the Big Dance again a few seasons later, but after that were not in the NCAA Tournament again until 1994. Former coaches Dick Bennett and Bo Ryan rejuvenated this program with trips to the Final Four while current coach Greg Gard has done his best to maintain that momentum in Madison.

The Badgers had made 18 straight trips to the Big Dance before missing after a bad season in 2018. Gard hasn’t quite coached to the level of his predecessor and longtime mentor, but Wisconsin has still been a great competitor in the Big Ten. Wisconsin is just two seasons removed from a regular season title, though Wisconsin really struggled last year and missed the Tournament again.

Let’s not get bogged down by the recent disappointments, this school was in the national title game in 2015 and has made a pair of Sweet Sixteens since Gard was promoted to head coach. This past season was just the second time Wisconsin finished below .500 in conference play in the last 25 years. The Badgers have proven their consistency and the names on the roster have proven it.

Adding a few west coast programs will add intrigue to the league, but Wisconsin should still be a fierce competitor for Big Ten superiority. That being said, the program is certainly not operating at the same level it was under Bo Ryan and you have to wonder if new teams like Oregon or USC will start to cut in on some of Wisconsin’s spotlight. The Badgers have ever opportunity to continue to be a regular competitor for postseason success, but are now six years removed from a trip beyond the Tourney’s opening weekend.