Field of 68 podcast presenter Rob Dauster claims that Wisconsin may have received the worst draw in March Madness…
Wisconsin’s men’s basketball team faced a challenging situation in the NCAA Tournament due to their seeding and draw. Despite a strong run to the Big Ten Tournament championship game, the Badgers were assigned a No. 3 seed but were placed in the Denver regional, missing out on the opportunity to play closer to home in Milwaukee. This decision was influenced by the selection committee ranking Wisconsin 12th overall, behind Iowa State (10th) and Kentucky (11th), both of whom secured spots in Milwaukee.
Compounding the issue, Iowa State announced after Selection Sunday that their star player, Keshon Gilbert, would miss the remainder of the season due to a groin injury. This revelation led to questions about whether Wisconsin might have been favored for the Milwaukee placement had the committee been aware of Gilbert’s status earlier.
Consequently, Wisconsin had to travel to Denver, facing the challenges of high altitude and a reduced rest period, as their first game was scheduled for Thursday following their Sunday appearance in the Big Ten Tournament final. This unfavorable draw sparked frustration among Badgers fans, who felt their team’s recent performance merited a more advantageous placement.
