Wisconsin Men's Basketball 2020 NCAA Tournament Capsule

 

Wisconsin Badgers

Big Ten (21-10, 14-6)

 
When Wisconsin was 4-4 in early December, it looked like the Badgers could be in for a long season. They were coming off three straight losses to Richmond, New Mexico and North Carolina State. But Coach Greg Gard knew there was a long, long way to go and he turned things around. In an extremely difficult and balanced Big Ten, Wisconsin was one of the more consistent teams and ended up with a solid 14-6 conference record and tied atop the standings with Maryland and Michigan State.
 
Big Wins: 1/3 at Ohio State (61-57), 1/14 Maryland (56-54), 2/1 Michigan State (64-63)
Bad Losses: 11/26 vs New Mexico (50-59), 1/24 at Purdue (51-70), 2/5 at Minnesota (52-70)
Coach: Greg Gard
 
Why They Can Surprise:
As usual Wisconsin will take care of the basketball and play tough defense. D’Mitrik Trice runs the show and averages 4.2 assists and just 1.7 turnovers per game. Trice also adds 9.8 points and 4.0 rebounds and he is the player that makes this team tick. Like Trice, Brad Davison and Brevin Pritzl are capable outside shooters. Wisconsin will also get plenty of scoring from Nate Reuvers, Akeem Ford and Micah Potter. All six of those players average at least 8.0 points per game. That gives the Badgers a lot of potential offense and it can be difficult for opponents when all five players on the floor can potentially score.
 
Why They Can Disappoint:
Even though Wisconsin has six proven scorers, they lack a consistent go-to option. Reuvers is the top scorer on the team, but he can certainly disappear for games at a time. That is true of everybody and there will be some big shots to be taken during the NCAA Tournament and the Badgers do not have a clear favorite to take those big shots. The other concern is on the glass. Wisconsin often gets outrebounded, but in close, low scoring affairs that will happen in March, the Badgers need to get every extra possession they can if Wisconsin is going to make a tournament run.
 
Probable Starters:
D’Mitrik Trice, Junior, Guard, 9.8 ppg, 4.2 apg, 4.0 rpg
Brevin Pritzl, Senior, Guard, 8.0 ppg
Brad Davison, Junior, Guard, 9.9 ppg, 1.9 apg, 4.3 rpg
Akeem Ford, Junior, Forward, 8.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg
Nate Reuvers, Junior, Forward, 13.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.9 bpg
 
Key Role Players:
Tyler Wahl, Freshman, Forward, 2.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg
Micah Potter, Junior, Forward, 10.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.0 bpg
Trevor Anderson, Junior, Guard, 1.8 ppg, 1.2 apg
 
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 67.2 (282nd in nation, 13th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 62.2 (13, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 42.5 (243, 10)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.0 (71, 7)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.7 (46, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.2 (77, 2)
Free-Throw Percentage: 76.4 (20, 1)
Rebound Margin: -0.6 (207, 12)
Assists Per Game: 12.0 (258, 14)
Turnovers Per Game: 10.0 (4, 1)
 
Recent Postseason Appearances:
 
2019NCAARound of 64 loss to Oregon
2017NCAARound of 64 win over Virginia Tech
2017NCAARound of 32 win over Villanova
2017NCAARegional Semifinal loss to Florida
2016NCAARound 0f 64 win over Pittsburgh
2016NCAARound of 32 win over Xavier
2016NCAARegional Semifinal loss to Notre Dame
2015NCAARound of 64 win over Coastal Carolina
2015NCAARound of 32 win over Oregon
2015NCAARegional Semifinal win over North Carolina
2015NCAARegional Final win over Arizona
2015NCAANational Semifinal win over Kentucky
2015NCAANational Final loss to Duke
2014NCAARound of 64 win over American
2014NCAARound of 32 win over Oregon
2014NCAARegional Semifinal win over Baylor
2014NCAARegional Final win over Arizona
2014NCAANational Semifinal loss to Kentucky
2013NCAARound of 64 loss to Mississippi
2012NCAARound of 64 win over Montana
2012NCAARound of 32 win over Vanderbilt
2012NCAARegional Semifinal loss t Syracuse
2011NCAARound of 64 win over Belmont
2011NCAARound of 32 win over Kansas State
2011NCAARegional Semifinal loss to Butler
2010NCAARound of 64 win over Wofford
2010NCAARound of 32 loss to Cornell
2009NCAARound of 64 win over Florida State
2009NCAARound of 32 loss to Xavier
2008NCAARound of 64 win over Cal State Fullerton
2008NCAARound of 32 win over Kansas State
2008NCAARegional Semifinal loss to Davidson
2007NCAARound of 64 win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi
2007NCAARound of 32 loss to UNLV
 
*all team stats through 3/8