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Wisconsin Basketball: Badgers sell out Sweet 16 tickets

By Trevor Jossart

Mar 18, 2017; Buffalo, NY, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Nigel Hayes (10) reacts in the second half against the Villanova Wildcats during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2017; Buffalo, NY, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Nigel Hayes (10) reacts in the second half against the Villanova Wildcats during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Wisconsin Men’s basketball team will have a full house of Badgers fans on Friday for their Sweet 16 matchup vs. Florida.

In one of the biggest shocks in recent tournament memory, the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team defeated the No. 1 overall seed Villanova Wildcats in the round of 32 this past weekend after feeling they were a bit disrespected having received an 8-seed on Selection Sunday.

With the win over the Wildcats, the Badgers have now advanced to their sixth Sweet 16 appearance in seven years and are two wins away from a third Final Four in four tries.

Despite a recent skid to end the year where they lost five of seven games and were embarrassed by the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten Tournament championship, Badgers fans are beginning to believe (if they hadn’t already) that Wisconsin’s trip to Madison Square Garden is no fluke.

Related Story: Skid made Badgers stronger

Per the Wisconsin State Journal, it was announced on Tuesday that the Badgers have sold out their allotment of tickets for Friday night’s matchup versus the Florida Gators.

Madison Square Garden, which holds nearly 20,000 people, is now officially sold out. The other game involved will be No. 3 Baylor versus the upstart No. 7 South Carolina Gamecocks. Out of all four teams to play in New York City, South Carolina poses the shortest trip for fans, at just 700 miles away.

Even with the recent buzz surrounding the team and the surprise that the Badgers made it this far with their end-of-the-year slide, the senior-led team is hungry for more than just another Sweet 16 appearance.

“Sometimes, I think about everything that has happened the last couple years has surpassed those goals,” senior guard Zak Showalter told WTMJ Milwaukee. “Going to four Sweet 16’s in a row doesn’t happen. Going to two Final Fours is a dream come true,” he said, making sure to note he’s not putting any carts before horses that could be headed to Phoenix.

The Badgers and Gators last met in the non-conference portion of the 2013-14 season with Wisconsin winning in Madison 59-53. Both teams made the Final Four that year.

Wisconsin and Florida will tip off as the final game of the Round of 16 on Friday at approximately 9:00 pm CT.

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