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Wisconsin Basketball: Badgers’ Big Ten Tournament seeding scenarios

By Trevor Jossart

Jan 21, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Amir Coffey (5) shoots the ball against Wisconsin Badgers forward Ethan Happ (22) during the first half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Amir Coffey (5) shoots the ball against Wisconsin Badgers forward Ethan Happ (22) during the first half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the final weekend of the regular season concludes, the Wisconsin Badgers know what they must do.

Three close and down-to-the-wire games filled the Big Ten schedule on Saturday, with three games decided by four points or less.

Perhaps the game with the most on the line, the Maryland Terrapins defeated the Michigan State Spartans 63-60 thanks to a Melo Trimble three-pointer with just over one second in the game. The Terrapins clinched the three seed and the double bye with the win and pushed the Spartans out of consideration for a top four spot.

Just four teams have finalized their place in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament, which will begin on Wednesday.

  • Purdue – 1
  • Maryland – 3
  • Illinois – 9
  • Rutgers – 14

So, where do the Wisconsin Badgers land and what are their possible seeds?

The Badgers will face a red-hot Minnesota Golden Gophers team on Sunday for Senior Day in a battle of teams heading in opposite directions. Wisconsin has lost five of six, while the Gophers are on an eight-game winning streak. Still, the implications riding on this matchup are the same for both teams: winner clinches the two seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

It’s as simple as that. A Badgers win will guarantee them the number two seed in the tournament and also keep them on the opposite side of the bracket as Purdue- a team that has owned them as of late. With the three seed being Maryland, another struggling team and a squad the Badgers beat- the Badgers would like their chances.

A Minnesota win would clinch the two seed for the Gophers and either push the Badgers down to the four or five seed. As you may know, a top four standing in the conference earns you a double bye in the league tournament. If Wisconsin loses, they will be placed at the four seed if Northwestern loses to Purdue on Sunday. Because Northwestern beat the Badgers in their lone matchup, a Wildcats win and a Badgers loss would serve as the same conference record and thus giving the tie breaker to the Wildcats.

Northwestern and Purdue tip off a few hours before the Badgers and Gophers, so Wisconsin will have a better understanding of what is on the line once their game comes to start. Either way, the Badgers will have a lot to play for against the Gophers.

Minnesota and Wisconsin will square off at 5:00 pm CT on Sunday on Big Ten Network.

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