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Wisconsin Basketball: 20 Wins Is Very Attainable For Badgers

By Brian Sampson

MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 18: Aleem Ford #2 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts in the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at the Kohl Center on February 18, 2020 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 18: Aleem Ford #2 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts in the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at the Kohl Center on February 18, 2020 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Despite an up and down season, the Wisconsin Basketball team is suddenly staring down the barrel of 20 or more wins this season.

Given all the turmoil the Wisconsin basketball team has faced this season it was fair to wonder if they’d even make the NCAA tournament. After all, it wasn’t that long ago where 20 wins seemed like a tall task.

Following back to back losses against Purdue and Iowa, the Badgers were sitting at 12-9 with their next three games vs Michigan State, at Minnesota and vs. Ohio State. It was conceivable they’d lose two of those three contests.

However, Greg Gard’s crew proved they can fight through adversity by inching out a one-point victory over the Spartans before beating the Buckeyes by double-digits (we’ll ignore the embarrassing, blowout loss to the Gophers).

Now, Wisconsin has won three straight games beginning with that contest against Ohio State and things are suddenly looking up for them. At 16-10, they have five conference games remaining before the Big Ten Tournament. And all of them are winnable.

On Sunday, the Badgers host the upstart 18-8 Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Rutgers is looking to make a tourney push of their own and they’re no pushover. Hopefully, Wisconsin can take full advantage of the Kohl Center.

The Badgers then wrap up February with a date at Michigan. This is one of their two toughest games remaining–including their Big Ten finale at Indiana. They’ll need to win at least one of those two road games to get to the 20-win mark.

Their other two contests in March are at home vs Minnesota and vs Northwestern. Both of those should be slam dunk victories.

If Wisconsin can finish their season by winning four out of their next five games, it would give them a 20-11 record, and hopefully a top four-seed, heading into the Big Ten tournament. With no dominant team in the conference, anything can happen from there.

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