Every year after the bracket is revealed, ESPN’s Jay Bilas puts together an article predicting the entire tournament.
This year being no different, Wisconsin Badgers fans were particularly interested in how the veteran analyst thought the team’s chances were against No. 12-seed High Point and a potential showdown with John Calipari’s Arkansas.
Shockingly, Bilas avoided all of the No. 5 vs. No. 12 upsets this year. Not a single No. 12 seed advanced in his bracket, which bodes well for Wisconsin in round one.
“High Point can really score and has had a great year, but Wisconsin is the pick here. The Badgers have really good guards in Nick Boyd and John Blackwell — add in fact this team can provide a tough matchup for Arizona down the line,” he wrote.
While he noted No. 13 Hawai’i is a “tempting upset pick” against No. 4 Arkansas in round one, Bilas believes Darius Acuff Jr. could carry the Razorbacks to a final four.
When it comes to a second-round matchup between Wisconsin and Arkansas, Badgers fans won’t like what Bilas has to say.
“Wisconsin has good shooting big men who can make things challenging for Arkansas — in fact, I think the Badgers present a tough challenge for Arizona if they get to the second weekend,” Bilas wrote. “They can rain down 15 3s in a game — that’s what they did to Michigan. But the Razorbacks have Darius Acuff Jr., and nobody else does.”
Head coach Greg Gard hasn’t led the Badgers to the Sweet Sixteen in nine years. Between Nick Boyd, John Blackwell, and Nolan Winter, there has never been a better time for the Badgers to make a run.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin receives NCAA Tournament prediction from ESPN’s Jay Bilas
Reporting by Jordon Lawrenz, Badgers Wire / Badgers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
