The oddsmakers have set the Men's Basketball National Championship odds, and Wisconsin's are a bit underwhelming. Maybe that's how it should be since Greg Gard is more about fit than hype. He's more about getting results the hard way instead of the flashy way, so before every season, the national narrative is low on the Badgers. Last year, they were projected to finish 12th in the Big Ten. Doubting Greg Gard then, still doubting him now.
The odds for Wisconsin to win the National Championship are set right now at +6000. The underwhelming comment doesn't mean there are Wisconsin fans who believe the Badgers should have great odds to win the title; it's more about how they are placed and who is in front of them.
Wisconsin is tied for the 25th best odds to win the National Championship
Those +6000 odds are tied for 25th in the nation, so on the one hand, you can say, essentially, oddsmakers are saying they are a top 25 team. However, they are the seventh Big Ten team on the list and tied with Iowa. The Big Ten teams in front of them are Purdue (who has the best odds), Michigan, Illinois, UCLA, Michigan State, and then Iowa and Wisconsin come in with the same odds.
One of the other teams well ahead of them is BYU, with odds of +2000. Maybe that's the hype of AJ Dybansta, but it's another reminder of an NCAA tournament game that got away from the Badgers. Iowa State is also ahead at +3500, which, boo, those guys. The good news is Marquette is far lower at +15000.
Whether you like the odds or not, think they are fair or not, this is the oddsmakers making an assumption on the Wisconsin Badgers. It's putting them in a category before the season and assessing how the roster has been rebuilt. Right now, oddsmakers say they are a good team but not a great team. Doubting Greg Gard once again.