NIT - FIRST ROUND
WISCONSIN vs BRADLEY
Tuesday, March 14 | 8:30 p.m. CT | Kohl Center
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@BadgerMBB
MADISON, Wis. – Making its first appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) since 1996, No. 2 seeded Wisconsin will host Bradley on Tuesday at the Kohl Center. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
If the Badgers defeat Bradley, they would host a second-round NIT game on Sunday, March 19 against the winner between No. 3 seed Liberty and Villanova.
Before NIT play tips off at the Kohl Center, here is the Starting Five:
1. MARCHING ON: Wisconsin has now qualified for postseason play in 26 of the last 28 seasons with a tournament. That stretch, dating back to 1996, includes 24 NCAA appearances and two NIT appearances. UW is making its fifth all-time appearance in the NIT, owning an overall record of 3-4 in the event. The Badgers are participating in the NIT for the first time in the Kohl Center era, a building that opened in 1998.
2. SCOUTING BRADLEY: Wisconsin is 3-2 all-time against Bradley, with the Badgers claiming the last meeting, 66-43, in 2011. The Braves haven't visited Madison in 94 years, when the Badgers claimed a 48-22 win at the Red Gym on campus. Bradley is coached by Brian Wardle, and Wisconsin holds a 5-0 all-time record against Wardle-coached teams when Wardle was the head coach at Green Bay (2011-15).
3. BATTLE TESTED: Wisconsin has played 18 games this season decided by five or fewer points (11-7 record), and a school-record six overtime games (3-3 record). UW's 18 "close games" is the most by an major conference team since at least the 2009-10 season. UW also played the 11th-toughest schedule in the NCAA this season, according to ESPN. The Badgers earned nine wins over teams ranked in the KenPom.com top 60.
4. TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK: Wisconsin ranks second in the NCAA averaging 8.7 turnovers per game this season. The Badgers have had single-digit turnovers in 17 of the last 20 games.
5. DEFENSE LIVES HERE: The Badgers are allowing just 63.8 points per game to opponents this season, which ranks as the fifth-best scoring defense in the Big Ten. That is an improvement over last season's UW defense that ranked second in the conference allowing 66.0 points per game. UW ranks 27th in the NCAA in defensive efficiency according to KenPom.com.
