Wisconsin basketball opens its 2024 NCAA Tournament against No. 12-seed James Madison on Friday night in Brooklyn, New York.
The Badgers enter the tournament with momentum after a 3-1 week at the Big Ten Tournament. The team had fallen to a postseason afterthought after a rough 3-8 stretch since the start of February. But wins over Maryland, Northwestern and top-ranked Purdue have fans believing entering March Madness.
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James Madison is a popular upset pick by some of the college basketball media and a group of television analysts. Wisconsin enters as a heavy favorite, but many nationally have bought into James Madison’s hot-streak entering the tournament.
With the game now fast-approaching, it’s time to put an official preview and prediction on the record:
Wisconsin: 75.1 points per game, 69.9 points allowed per game, 3-6 vs Top 25, BPI No. 18, 11-9 in conference play
James Madison: 84.4 points per game, 69.2 points allowed per game, 1-0 vs Top 25, BPI No. 46, 15-3 in conference play
Wisconsin:
- A.J. Storr (16.9 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game).
- Chucky Hepburn (9.3 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, 3.9 assists per game)
- Steven Crowl (11.2 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game)
James Madison:
- Terrence Edwards (17.4 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game)
- T.J. Bickerstaff (13.4 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game)
Wisconsin: W vs. Marquette, L vs. Arizona, 1-2 vs. Purdue, 2-0 vs. Michigan State, 0-2 vs. Illinois
James Madison: W vs. Michigan State, 0-2 vs. Appalachian State, W vs. Kent State, W vs. Southern Illinois, W vs. Louisiana
Wisconsin: No. 17 overall, No. 13 offense, No. 47 defense, No. 3 strength of schedule
James Madison: No. 59 overall, No. 56 offense, No. 79 defense, No. 293 strength of schedule
Spread: Wisconsin -5.5 (-215) / James Madison +5.5 (+176)
Total: 145.5
(Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook)
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From ESPN: “At least one No. 12 seed has defeated a No. 5 seed in 32 of 38 tournaments. Three of the six times that 12-seeds failed to win a first-round game have occurred in the past eight tourneys.”
Wisconsin has the size advantage over James Madison and should use it early and often. Expect hot starts from Steven Crowl and Tyler Wahl as the Badgers finally get a team without a top interior presence.
This week of rest should also help the Badgers after a busy week in Minneapolis, plus should help John Blackwell recover from his leg injury.
Yes, James Madison is red-hot, having won 13 straight and 16 of 17. But Wisconsin’s guard of Storr, Hepburn, Klesmit and Blackwell positions the team well entering the matchup. And the Badgers enter off their most impressive week of the season.
Many national analysts are picking the Dukes. I disagree completely and see Wisconsin moving on in blowout fashion.
Prediction: Wisconsin 78, James Madison 67
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