We are doing the bracket watch a few days earlier. The reason why is I am heading to Europe tonight (More on that in a post later). Let’s talk about the brackets today since this will be our last bracket post until 2/24 where I’ll see where things netted out. As we try to do, it is Wisconsin’s turn to be featured. Badgers are currently stuck around an 8 or 9 seed wherever you look. Bracket Matrix has them listed as the second-best eight seed behind Rutgers and two spots ahead of Michigan. That’s important when you look at Wisconsin’s upcoming schedule. The Kohl Center could be the reason Badgers move up the seed line.

Assuming that Wisconsin does not stub their toe in Lincoln, Nebraska, the road for success runs through Madison. That has to be a great feeling for a Wisconsin team that has performed much better at home versus on the road. They have a chance to beat teams like Purdue, Rutgers, and Minnesota all in the friendly confines of the Kohl Center. Wisconsin plays four of their last six games at home. If the Badgers hold serve and win out at home plus a road victory versus Indiana or Michigan, Badgers could make a serious case for a seven or six seed in the tournament. Wisconsin has yet to find consistency this year though as they have not won three straight Big Ten games all season.

Wisconsin Badgers Bracket Watch
Jerry Palm and Joe Lunardi, the two brackets we look at since they’re the most popular, are still split on how they see the Badgers. For Lunardi, he has Wisconsin as an eight seed playing in Omaha against Rhode Island. The winner would face Kansas. Palm sees Wisconsin as a 10 seed. They would head to Greensboro to play USC in what would be a beefy matchup. What’s interesting about that one is they would face off against Maryland. Big Ten has too many teams in the tournament that the committee will likely have some potential Big Ten matchups in round two according to Palm.

Marquette Golden Eagles Bracket Watch
As for the Golden Eagles, we discussed last week how beating Butler could mean a surge. And they did just that. Both Lunardi and Palm are aligned on Marquette in more ways than one. Each has them as a five seed. And each has their four seed partner being Penn State. Also, they both put Marquette in East which would mean a return to Madison Square Garden in the Sweet 16. For all Big East teams, my guess is they would like to be in the East region. That would be great for MU. They do differ on opponents and locations. Lunardi has them in Sacramento playing Furman. While Palm has Marquette in Omaha playing the winner of Arizona State-Virginia.

When we return from our hiatus, we’ll see what has changed for both teams. Can Wisconsin make a move with their favorable schedule? Can Marquette keep their hot streak going and push to an even lower seed? We’ll see. Enjoy the college hoops for me, will you?

Charlie.