2015 NCAA Tournament: Five Teams Looking to Knock Wisconsin Out of West Region

Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports

Thanks to both Virginia and Duke losing Friday night in the ACC tournament and Wisconsin coming back from down 11 to defeat Michigan State by 11 in the Big Ten tournament championship, the Badgers enter the field of 68 as the number one seed in the West region of the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

Thanks to a top five RPI ranking and a top 20 strength of schedule, not to mention returning virtually everyone from last year’s Final Four team, the Badgers have widely been considered one of the best teams in college basketball this season. They earned the fourth number one seed and have played like it as of late.

Wisconsin Badgers

After withstanding everything that Michigan, Purdue and Michigan State threw at them, Wisconsin persevered and came out on top of the Big Ten and earned themselves a coveted number one seed. Joining them are Kentucky, Villanova and Duke to round out the rest of the number one seeds.

Although the Badgers come into the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the country, it will not be an easy road to the Final Four. Joining the Badgers in the West region of the 2015 NCAA Tournament are three teams that Wisconsin had to beat on their way to the Final Four last year. As well as fellow Big Ten cohort Ohio State, who the Badgers defeated by 24 on the road in the regular season finale.

Many have this Badger team is one of a handful that could make a run and win the championship. However, the road will not be easy by any means. Here are five teams that the Badgers will have to look out for in the West region of the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

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