Wisconsin Badgers NCAA Tournament History and Seeding

Wisconsin basketball is a program steeped in tradition, with a rich history in the NCAA Tournament. From their early days to their modern resurgence, the Badgers have consistently been a force to be reckoned with on the national stage. As the Badgers gear up for their 2025 NCAA Tournament appearance, it's time to examine their all-time history in the tournament, with a particular focus on their seeding and tournament outcomes.

Early Triumphs and Defining Moments

The Wisconsin Badgers made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1941, without being seeded. That year, they achieved the ultimate success, winning the National Championship. This historic victory saw them overcome Dartmouth in the Quarterfinal (51-50), Pittsburgh in the Semifinal (36-30), and Washington State in the Final (39-34). The team, boasting an overall record of 20-3 (11-1 Big Ten), etched their name in college basketball history.

In 1947, the Badgers returned to the NCAA Tournament, again unseeded. However, their journey was shorter this time, as they were defeated by City College of New York in the Quarterfinals (70-56). They salvaged a victory in the Regional third-place game against Navy (50-49), concluding their tournament run.

The Modern Era: Resurgence and Consistency

After a long absence, Wisconsin returned to the NCAA Tournament in 1994 as a 9 seed. They defeated Cincinnati in the Round of 64 (80-72) but fell to Missouri in the Round of 32 (109-96). This appearance marked the beginning of a new era for the program, as they became a consistent presence in the tournament.

The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the Badgers experience both success and disappointment. In 1997, as a 7 seed, they were upset by Texas in the Round of 64 (71-58). In 1999, as a 5 seed, they suffered a similar fate against SW Missouri State (43-32). However, the 2000 tournament brought a memorable run to the Final Four, where they defeated Fresno State, Arizona, LSU, and Purdue before losing to Michigan State (53-41).

Read also: GPA Insights: UW-Madison

Under the guidance of coaches like Dick Bennett and Bo Ryan, Wisconsin established itself as a basketball powerhouse. They consistently earned NCAA Tournament bids and achieved significant success, including a National Championship appearance in 2015.

The Bo Ryan Era: A Period of Sustained Success

Bo Ryan's arrival in 2001 marked a turning point for the Wisconsin basketball program. He instilled a culture of discipline, teamwork, and defensive intensity, leading the Badgers to unprecedented success. Under Ryan's leadership, Wisconsin became a perennial contender in the Big Ten Conference and a regular participant in the NCAA Tournament.

In 2002, as an 8 seed, Wisconsin defeated St. Johns in the Round of 64 (80-70) but lost to Maryland in the Round of 32 (87-57). The 2003 tournament saw them reach the Sweet Sixteen as a 5 seed, defeating Weber State and Tulsa before falling to Kentucky (63-57). In 2004, as a 6 seed, they defeated Richmond in the Round of 64 (76-64) but lost to Pittsburgh in the Round of 32 (59-55).

The 2005 tournament was another highlight, as the Badgers reached the Elite Eight as a 6 seed. They defeated Northern Iowa, Bucknell, and NC State before losing a close game to North Carolina (88-82). In 2006, as a 9 seed, they were defeated by Arizona in the Round of 64 (94-75).

The 2007 season saw Wisconsin earn a 2 seed, their highest seeding in recent history. They defeated Texas A&M-CC in the Round of 64 (76-53) but were upset by UNLV in the Round of 32 (74-68). In 2008, as a 3 seed, they reached the Sweet Sixteen, defeating Cal State Fullerton and Kansas State before losing to Davidson (73-56).

In 2009, as a 12 seed, Wisconsin pulled off an upset against Florida State in the Round of 64 (61-59) but lost to Xavier in the Round of 32 (60-49). The 2010 tournament saw them as a 4 seed, defeating Wofford in the Round of 64 (53-49) but losing to Cornell in the Round of 32 (87-69).

The Badgers continued their streak of success in the early 2010s. In 2011, as a 4 seed, they reached the Sweet Sixteen, defeating Belmont and Kansas State before losing to Butler (61-54). In 2012, as a 4 seed, they once again reached the Sweet Sixteen, defeating Montana and Vanderbilt before losing a close game to Syracuse (64-63).

Recent History

In recent years, the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team has continued to be a force in the NCAA Tournament, showcasing their resilience and determination.

2013-2014 Season

The 2013-14 season saw the Badgers finish with an impressive 30-8 record, securing a tie for second place in the Big Ten Conference with a 12-6 record. Despite losing to Michigan State in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament, the team received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, earning a No. 2 seed in the West region.

The Badgers showcased their dominance by defeating American and Oregon, earning a spot in the Sweet Sixteen. Their journey continued with victories over Baylor and Arizona, propelling them to the Final Four.

2014-2015 Season

The following season, in 2014-2015, the Badgers achieved even greater success, securing both the Big Ten title outright and the Big Ten tournament title. As a result, they received their first No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and entered the tournament ranked No. 3 in the nation.

The Badgers continued their impressive run, securing their second consecutive Final Four appearance with a remarkable 85-78 victory over No. 2 seed Arizona, following a 79-72 triumph over No. 4 seed North Carolina. In the Final Four, they faced off against previously undefeated overall No. 1 seed Kentucky, emerging victorious with a 71-64 win and ending Kentucky’s undefeated season.

2015-2016 Season

In the 2015-16 season, the Badgers entered the NCAA tournament as a 7 seed. They defeated No. 10 Pittsburgh in the round of 64, before a big win over No. 2 Xavier in the round of 32. The team eventually fell to No. 6-seed Notre Dame in the Sweet 16.

2016-2017 Season

In the 2016-17 season, the Badgers were second in the regular-season Big Ten standings and in the Big Ten Conference tournament. They entered the NCAA tournament as an 8 seed. They defeated 9 seed Virginia Tech in the first round 84-74, moving on to face overall 1 seed Villanova at Buffalo. Wisconsin was seconds away from the Elite Eight in Gard's first full season. Florida guard Chris Chiozza hit a running three-point shot at the overtime buzzer to send the Badgers home. Entering 2025, this is Wisconsin's last Sweet 16 trip.

2017-2018 Season

In the 2017-18 season, the Badgers finished the season with a 15-18 record, 7-11 in Big Ten Play and finished in 9th place. Wisconsin went just 15-18 in 2017-18 in what was Gard's first full season with mostly his recruits. Nigel Hayes, Zak Showalter and others departed after the 2016-17 campaign. This year was mostly a rebuild, with Brad Davison, D'Mitrik Trice, Nate Reuvers and Aleem Ford all underclassmen.

2018-2019 Season

In 2019, Wisconsin was the victim of a classic 12-over-5 upset. The Badgers, who went 23-10 during the season, were blown out by a strong Oregon Ducks team. Oregon made a run to the Sweet 16, where it fell to top-seed Virginia.

2019-2020 Season

Wisconsin appeared prime for a March Madness run when the 2020 tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. The Badgers won the Big Ten regular-season race, finishing the campaign on a decisive eight-game win streak. Looking back, the 2020 NCAA Tournament being canceled is a big 'what-if' in Greg Gard's tenure.

2020-2021 Season

In the 2020-21 season the Wisconsin Badgers finished the season with a 18-13 record, finished 10-10 in B1G Ten play, and finished in 6th place. They enter the Big Ten tournament as the 6th seed and faced Penn State. They held on 75-74 and advance to the quarterfinals to face Iowa. They lost 62-57. They entered the NCAA tournament as a 9 seed. They defeated North Carolina in the first round 85-62. Wisconsin shot the lights out in a blowout win over North Carolina to open the tournament. However, it then fell to the top-ranked Baylor Bears. That year marked another program transition, as D'Mitrik Trice, Aleem Ford, Micah Potter and Nate Reuvers all exhausted their eligibility.

2021-2022 Season

In the 2021-22 season, the Wisconsin Badgers finished the season with a 25-8 record, 15-5 in BIG Ten play. As the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament, they lost to Michigan State in the quarterfinals. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 3 seed in the Midwest region. They defeated Colgate in the First Round 67-60 before being upset by No. 11 seed Iowa State in the Second Round 54-49. Injuries to stars Johnny Davis and Chucky Hepburn halted Wisconsin's postseason run in 2022. The team won the Big Ten regular-season title, thanks in large part to an All-American season from Davis. Both he and Hepburn were hobbled against a strong Iowa State team. Their health is another 'what-if' in Gard's tenure.

2022-2023 Season

In the 2022-23 season, the Badgers started the season out 11-2 but struggled after that by finishing 17-14 and 9-11 in Big Ten play. The team made a deep run in the NIT, falling to North Texas in the semifinal. This was the last year before Wisconsin's heightened transfer portal efforts, plus began the transition to the current fast-paced offensive approach. The season was disappointing, but there's an argument that it led to the program's current success.

2023-2024 Season

In the 2023-24 season, the Badgers finished the year 22-14, with 11-9 in conference play. In the early season, the Badgers upset Marquette, who at the time was the No. 3 team in the nation. In the Big Ten Tournament, the Badgers displayed some fight, eliminating No. 12, Maryland, No. 4 Northwestern, and No. 1 Purdue who was also ranked No. 1 in the nation. Ultimately the Badgers fell short, losing the conference title to Illinois. Wisconsin's 2023-24 postseason was a complete failure. The team was ranked among the best in the country in late January. It then lost seven of its next nine, plus eight of 11 overall to close the season. Despite some success in the Big Ten Tournament, the Badgers fell flat against James Madison. A.J. Storr headlined those struggles with just 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting.

2024-2025 Season

In the 2024-25 season, the Badgers were 26-9, and 13-7 in conference play. The Badgers had a strong start, upsetting No. 21 Arizona. They made it to the Big Ten Championship game, upsetting the Conference No. 1 Michigan State in the semi-finals. Ultimately, they lost to Michigan. Wisconsin opens its 2025 NCAA Tournament on Thursday against No. 14-seed Montana. The Badgers are well-equipped for a deep run, with one of the nation's best combinations of offensive and defensive efficiency. Star John Tonje has a chance to join the program's all-time greats with a strong few weeks of play. The Badgers have a tough road to a deep run. But the team has a golden chance to reverse seven seasons of postseason struggles.

Greg Gard Era

Since Greg Gard took over as full-time head coach in 2016, the Badgers have experienced a mix of successes and challenges in the NCAA Tournament. Gard holds a 6-6 overall record in the tournament, with a 4-2 record in the Round of 64, a 2-2 record in the Round of 32, and a 0-2 record in the Sweet Sixteen.

Wisconsin is in the NCAA Tournament for the 24th time in the last 26 seasons, excluding 2020's canceled postseason. That standing defines the program's place as one of the sport's more consistent winners. At its peak in the mid-2010s, the Badgers arguably belonged in the conversation with college basketball's blue-blood programs. But Wisconsin has slipped since that point. It has missed two of the last seven NCAA Tournaments (2018, 2023), with just two tournament wins since its last Sweet 16 appearance in 2017.

Gard is just 6-6 in six NCAA Tournament appearances. He is 4-2 in the round of 64, 2-2 in the round of 32 and 0-2 in the Sweet 16. It should go without saying that he and his program need a deep run this go-around.

Wisconsin vs. Montana

Wisconsin is 3-0 against their first round opponent, Montana, in program history. Wisconsin took on the Grizzlies in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament, winning 73-49 as a No. 4 seed. The Badgers reached the Sweet 16 that season, eventually falling to Syracuse. Wisconsin will play in Denver for the first time in its NCAA Tournament history. The Badgers will take on No. 14 Montana, the Big Sky Conference Tournament champion.

A Look Ahead

As the Badgers prepare for the 2025 NCAA Tournament, they carry the hopes of their fans and the weight of their program's history on their shoulders. With a talented roster and a seasoned coach, they have the potential to make a deep run and add another chapter to their storied tournament legacy.

Wisconsin enters as a No. 3 seed, set to play No. 14 Montana in the opening round. With a win, the Badgers would advance to play the winner of No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 VCU. The expectation is, again, a Sweet 16 appearance and some semblance of a run. Anything less would create yet another disappointing postseason.

tags: #wisconsin #badgers #ncaa #tournament #history #seeding