Bracket Projection: Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Badgers' season was over before it started -- or so people thought after Badgers starting point guard Josh Gasser blew out his knee before the season opener. But the Badgers didn't quit. Instead, they reinvented themselves. The team's offense is a bit uneven, but Bo Ryan's team hung its hat even more than usual on defense, and they beat really good teams all year. Will the Badgers' grind-it-out, defense-first style work in the Big Dance?

ESPN Insider has your answers, as Joe Lunardi has enlisted a team of Bracketologists to compile advanced metrics, key scouting intel and best- and worst-case tournament scenarios for all 68 teams, in order to help you make smart picks in your bracket. Plus, as Lunardi fills out his bracket, he'll give you his prediction on how each team will fare.

Lunardi's Logic

To me, Wisconsin is one of the true second-round mismatches in this tournament. I expect the Badgers to easily eliminate Ole Miss before moving on to face Kansas State. We all know how difficult is to score on the Badgers, but K-State is an underrated offensive team. As is often the case, defense-only teams struggle later in the tourney and I don't think Wisconsin can score enough to survive the Wildcats.

TOURNEY PROFILE

Best wins: at Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State

Worst losses: Virginia, at Iowa, Purdue

To read the complete tournament guide preview for the Wisconsin Badgers and gain access to all of ESPN Insider's NCAA tournament coverage, sign up today.

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