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Wisconsin Basketball: Breaking down every game on the schedule

By Tanner Nestle

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates their 61-54 overtime win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in an NCAA college basketball game at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates their 61-54 overtime win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in an NCAA college basketball game at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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WICHITA, KS – MARCH 15: Head coach Kevin Keatts of the North Carolina State Wolfpack reacts in the first half against the Seton Hall Pirates during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at INTRUST Arena on March 15, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Battle 4 Atlantis

The Badgers will be hoping to replicate the success they had the last time they took part in the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, as Wisconsin took home the championship back in 2014. That path will not be an easy one, however.

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They will be challenged right out of the gate by a tough Stanford squad in the opening round. Though the Cardinal saw star forward Reid Travis transfer to Kentucky in the offseason, it returns a couple of young players poised for big jumps, like forward KZ Okpala (10.0 ppg last season) and guard Daejon Davis (10.7 ppg) and also brings in the nation’s No. 20 recruiting class. That being said, I think Wisconsin should be able to pull out the win in a tight game.

Wisconsin’s second round matchup would likely be against Florida. The Gators look to have a talented squad once again this year, led by senior guards Jalen Hudson (15.5 ppg last season) and KeVaughn Allen (11.0 ppg). Head coach Mike White also signed a talented recruiting class led by 5-star guard Andrew Nembhard. It’ll be close, I think the Badgers will go down in a close contest.

Wisconsin would then face either Butler, Dayton, Virginia, or Middle Tennessee State in the third-place game. Virginia could be the favorite to take home the tournament championship this year, so I’d imagine the Badgers would most likely play Butler or Dayton. I feel good about their chances to take down either of those squads.

Big Ten/ACC Challenge vs. NC State

Fresh off returning stateside after what is sure to be a challenging few games at the Battle 4 Atlantis, Wisconsin will face a solid NC State squad at the Kohl Center.

In his first year as the head coach, Kevin Keatts led the Wolfpack to a 21-12 record and NCAA tournament berth in 2017-18, and his team looks like it should once again reach the Big Dance this season behind a guard-oriented attack led by transfers C.J. Bryce (17.4 ppg in 2016-17 at UNC-Wilmington) and Devon Daniels (9.9 ppg in 2016-17 at Utah) and returning players Markell Johnson (8.9 ppg last season), Braxton Beverly (9.5 ppg), and Torin Dorn (13.9 ppg).

This will be an interesting matchup, as both squads are relatively thin on proven contributors in the post and will rely heavily on their guard play this season. In the end, I’m giving the edge to Wisconsin in what should be a game that goes down to the final minutes, as I think Ethan Happ will prove to be too much for this NC State frontcourt.

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