The Wisconsin Badgers are a 4-seed for the second straight season and will open the NCAA Tournament Thursday night (6:27pm CT) against the Belmont Bruins in Tucson, Arizona.
The Badgers (23-8) face the 13th seeded Bruins who are 30-4 on the year. The Badgers are making their 13th straight appearance in the Big Dance.
Wisconsin owns a 21-15 all-time record in the NCAA tournament, including a 12-9 mark under head coach Bo Ryan.
The winner of Wisconsin vs. Belmont faces the winner of the game between No. 5 Kansas State and No. 12 Utah State on Saturday.
UW has earned a top-six seed in seven of its 10 NCAA tournament appearances under Ryan, including seeds of No. 4 or higher in three of the last four seasons.
The Badgers are coming off of back to back losses. They lost in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals to Penn State, 36-33. It was one of the worst offensive showings in school history. Coach Bo Ryan said they have to put that 33-point effort behind them as quickly as possible.
AUDIO: Bo Ryan looks to put loss to Penn State behind them :15
Wisconsin forward Jon Leuer is in the tournament for the fourth straight season and he said hearing the school name never gets old. Leuer said the seniors want to be Badgers as long as they can.
AUDIO: Jon Leuer said the seniors want this to last :14
Belmont is entering its fourth NCAA tournament with an automatic bid after winning the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament championship last weekend.
