No. 6 Seed BYU (25-9) vs. No. 3 Seed Wisconsin (27-9)
- Tip-Off: Saturday, 5:45 p.m. MDT
- Location: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
- Broadcast: CBS
- Radio: 102.7 FM/1160 AM
- Historical Series: Wisconsin leads 2-0 (last matchup: 2011)
Recent Performance Trends
- BYU: Recently beat VCU 80-71; has won 10 of last 11 games; 8-7 in Quad 1 matchups; ranked No. 25 in NET and No. 24 in KenPom; boasts a national offensive efficiency ranking of No. 9 (123.6).
- Wisconsin: Triumphed over Montana 85-66; reached the Big Ten tournament final; recorded a 8-8 tally in Quad 1 opportunities; sits at No. 15 in NET and No. 13 in KenPom; ranked No. 13 in the nation for offensive efficiency (122.4).
What’s at Stake
For BYU: The Cougars are looking for their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2012, making this game crucial as they have just secured their first NCAA Tournament victory since that year. A win would mark only the third Sweet 16 showing in their history.
For Wisconsin: The Badgers have a strong first-round tournament record at 17-4 since 2002 and a 6-6 record under coach Greg Gard. However, the team hasn’t advanced to the Sweet 16 since 2017. They faced just one opponent this season with a higher offensive efficiency than BYU’s 123.6, defeating Purdue 94-84 on February 15.
Key Players to Watch
- BYU: First Team All-Big 12 member Richie Saunders and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention Egor Demin are standout players to keep an eye on.
- Wisconsin: Key players include First Team All-Big Ten selection John Tonje and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention John Blackwell.
