Wisconsin Basketball: Badgers Path to Big Ten Title

The Wisconsin basketball team can still win the Big Ten

With only a few games left on the schedule, the Wisconsin basketball team can actually set its sights on a Big Ten championship run. Despite their disastrous start in conference play, the Badgers are just three wins and some help away from the Big Ten crown.

If I told you back in early January the Badgers would have a shot at winning the Big Ten title with three games left in the season, you’d have thought I was crazy. Wisconsin was reeling from a 1-4 start, had an interim coach just a few weeks on the job, and were looking at an NIT bid or worse.

That was before the Badgers went on a 9-1 win streak, putting themselves in prime position to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament and, yes, potentially win the Big Ten.

Following Wednesday’s road upset of the No. 8 Iowa Hawkeyes, the Badgers have a 10-5 conference record, tying Michigan State for fourth place in the Big Ten. More importantly, the Badgers are just two games behind conference leader Indiana, and have time left to make up the difference.

Now, it certainly won’t be easy for the Badgers, but there is a path to the top of the Big Ten.

Here’s what they need to do to win the conference title:

Win out. The Badgers have three games remaining, and none of them will be easy. Wisconsin returns to the Kohl Center on Sunday against a Michigan team that’s also fighting for a spot in the tournament, travels to Minnesota for the Border Battle against a team that upset Maryland earlier this year, and closes against a tough Purdue squad on the road. The Badgers must win all three games to have a chance at the conference crown.
Help from Indiana: The Hoosiers lead the conference with a 12-3 record, and have three games remaining. For the Badgers to win the conference, Indiana needs to drop at least two games. They play Illinois on the road tonight (Thursday), travel to Iowa, and host Maryland to close out the season. It’s not inconceivable that they lose two of those games, but for later scenarios it would help the Badgers if the Fighting Illini could take out Indiana on Thursday.
Help from Iowa: The Badgers need the Hawkeyes to drop another game after taking them down Wednesday night. Iowa has games left against Ohio State, Indiana and Michigan, so again, there’s a reasonable chance they could drop at least one game in that stretch.
Help from Maryland: Wisconsin will need Maryland to lose one of its final three games in order to win the B1G Championship. Maryland plays Purdue and Indiana on the road and hosts Illinois, so again, it’s not crazy to think they could drop a game.

That’s what the Badgers need to win at least a share of the Big Ten title. If the above scenario played out exactly as written and Wisconsin wins out, Indiana finishes 1-2, Iowa goes 2-1 down the stretch and Maryland goes 2-1, the Badgers, Hoosiers, Hawkeyes and Terrapins would all be tied atop the conference with a 13-5 record.

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If Michigan State closes with a 3-0 record, they too would finish 13-5, making for a 5-way tie in the Big Ten standings.

It’s certainly an unlikely scenario, but not completely ridiculous. The biggest hurdles the Badgers will face in their quest for the title will obviously be winning the final three games ahead of them and getting a pair of losses from the Hoosiers.

One loss each from both Iowa and Maryland seems more likely to happen, but the point is, the Badgers are still alive in the conference battle.

Not bad for a team that was looking at a 1-4 record in conference play just a month and a half ago.

Next: Khalil Iverson Dunks All Over Iowa

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