The Wisconsin Badgers are basically a lock now for the No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, according to almost every major bracketologist. There is some that still think Wisconsin will land in the No. 6 seed line but it's hard to imagine considering how the other seeds in this range finished the season.
Tomorrow, the selection committee will make the official determination, but if anything, the Big Ten Tournament only sealed the fate of the Badgers. There really wasn't a chance to move up to the No. 4 seed line even with a Big Ten Tournament title (maybe, but probably not). That No. 4 seed line is hard to break into with Vanderbilt, Kansas, Alabama, Virginia, and Arkansas all fighting for those spots.
Seed List - 3/14 (before games)
— T3™️ (@T3Bracketology) March 14, 2026
Will continue to tinker with the closest areas this evening. pic.twitter.com/nFivtITa3U
Wisconsin is expecting to hear their name called on the No. 5 seed line
Related: Wisconsin lost the battle to Michigan but ultimately won the Big Ten Tournament war
One bracketologist, Bauertology, said this about the Badgers' resume, "Similar to Texas Tech, no other team in the country has quite elevated their level of play against elite opposition like Wisconsin...Of course, the Badgers have also put up some head-scratchers, including a home loss to USC and road loss to Oregon. As a result, the metrics are more akin to a 6 seed than a 5 seed, but I really think the committee is going to reward Wisconsin for how consistently good they've been."
The problem for Wisconsin is that the 5-seed has been a curse to the Badgers. They've only advanced out of the 5-seed one time in five tries. It started in 1999 when Missouri State beat Wisconsin 43-32. In 2003, Wisconsin pulled it off against Weber State, but then it was 2013 when the curse really started. They lost to Ole Miss 57-46, then again in 2019 to Oregon 72-54, and most recently, James Madison beat Wisconsin 72-61.
There's now some trepidation among the fans (and the author) to avoid that seed at all costs. However, if any team can break the curse of the No. 5 seed, it's this team. If there is any team that needs to juice or the extra motivation to prove the doubters wrong, it's this team. So, plan yourselves accordingly for a No. 5 seed spot for Wisconsin.
Selection Sunday is tomorrow, March 15th, and then the bracket will become official.