It is probably way too early to talk about college basketball and the NCAA Tournament. But ESPN’s Joe Lunday released a preseason bracket yesterday on Twitter. Even if it’s too early, there’s still an excitement you have by looking to see if your team is there before the season starts. It is a good barometer to see what the national media expects from the team I cheer for. Marquette and Wisconsin both showed up the first round of bracketology. For Marquette, they’re a six seed while Wisconsin sits at a 10 seed. These feel very reasonable to me to start the season.

NCAAM Bracketology – ESPN. Christmas in July!! 🏀👍 https://t.co/uL3N0o4hLF

— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) July 30, 2019

Both teams are dealing with major losses from their team. Marquette did not expect to be having to deal with both Hauser brothers off the team. But that is a new reality. Lunardi isn’t punishing them for not having Sam or Joey, rather, providing a cautious view on where they might end up in March. Someone compared Marquette this year to Purdue from last year when it was the Carsen Edwards show, and he found a way to make it work with his full team. Markus Howard will have to do that as well. Wisconsin’s losses are a bit more pronounced with Ethan Happ’s departure. Happ did so much on the court for Wisconsin. Hence why Lunardi slots them at 10 which is on the fringe of the bubble.

College basketball is still ways away but this is a good measuring stick for fans to see how they should go into next season. The real ones know already what they have next year, but some who follow loosely do not at all. I’m excited for Marquette’s year and believe Wisconsin has one of the most interesting seasons in the past few years.

Charlie.