Wisconsin vs. Washington: Big Ten Tournament Preview & Prediction
The No. 5 seed Badgers head to Chicago to face the Huskies. Can the Badgers repeat it's offensive performance from their last meeting with Washington?
The No. 23 Wisconsin Badgers (22-9, 14-6 B1G) arrive in Chicago as one of the hottest teams in the country after knocking off No. 15 Purdue in a 97-93 thriller last Saturday. Despite the 22 wins and a 14-6 conference mark, the depth of the new-look Big Ten has the Badgers as the No. 5 seed, meaning their journey to a fourth tournament title begins today in the third round.
Standing in their way are the 12-seed Washington Huskies (16-16, 7-13 B1G). The Huskies survived a Wednesday night overtime thriller against USC, led by a 22-point performance from Zoom Diallo. While Wisconsin dominated the regular-season meeting in Seattle, the “neutral” floor of the United Center and the desperation of March make this a dangerous opening act for Greg Gard’s squad.
Game Info
When: Thursday, March 12, 2026
Time: Approx. 1:30 PM CT (25 minutes after Game 7)
Where: United Center (Chicago, IL)
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: Badger Radio Network
Betting Line: Wisconsin -7.5; O/U 156.5
Players to Watch
Wisconsin
Nick Boyd (G, Sr.): The newly minted Second-Team All-Big Ten selection is averaging 20.1 PPG. He was the closer against Purdue, scoring 10 of the team’s final 12 points, and enters the tournament as the engine of the nation’s No. 3 offense since January.
John Blackwell (G, Jr.): A Third-Team All-Big Ten honoree, Blackwell is coming off a game-high 25 points at Purdue. He and Boyd are the highest-scoring backcourt tandem in the conference, and Wisconsin is 9-0 this year when both score 20+ points.
Braeden Carrington (G, Sr.): Washington likely still has nightmares about Carrington. In the Feb. 28 meeting, he set a school record with nine 3-pointers and 32 points off the bench.
Washington
Hannes Steinbach (F, Fr.): The Big Ten’s standout freshman and Third-Team All-Big Ten selection. He recorded 22 points and 11 rebounds in the first meeting and remains the focal point of the Huskies’ interior game.
Zoom Diallo (G, So.): The spark plug who saved Washington’s season on Wednesday. His ability to get into the paint and create for others will test Wisconsin’s perimeter defense.
Quimari Peterson (G, Gr.): A veteran presence in the backcourt who can score in bunches if the Badgers’ “Killer Bs” (Boyd and Blackwell) don’t stay attached.
Storylines to Watch
1. The “Magic” of Austin Rapp
With Nolan Winter still listed as “day-to-day” after the ankle injury suffered against Maryland, the spotlight remains on Austin Rapp. The sophomore has been a revelation in relief, and one of the most important stats for Badger fans: Wisconsin is 11-0 this season when Austin Rapp scores in double figures. His ability to stretch the floor (as seen by his four triples against Purdue) is the key to Wisconsin’s offensive spacing.
2. Handling the Seattle Hangover
Wisconsin’s 90-73 win in Seattle was a clinical performance, but tournament rematches are notoriously difficult. The Badgers hit a season-high 17 threes in that game. If those shots aren’t falling early today, can the Badgers rely on their defense? Wisconsin surrendered 52 second-half points to Washington in the last meeting—a lapse they cannot afford in a single-elimination format.
3. The Ball Security Surge
The secret to Wisconsin’s late-season surge has been a national-best turnover percentage. Against Purdue’s high-pressure environment, the Badgers remained composed. Washington thrives on transition points generated by turnovers; if Wisconsin takes care of the rock as they have for the last six weeks, the Huskies’ path to an upset narrows significantly.
Prediction
Washington is playing with house money after their Wednesday win, but Wisconsin is playing for something much bigger: a potential 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The Boyd-Blackwell backcourt is playing at a high level at the moment, and even if Nolan Winter is limited or out, the depth of this roster—particularly Carrington and Rapp—is too much for a Washington team that can be streaky defensively.
Because it’s the postseason and funny things tend to happen, expect the Huskies to keep it close for 25 minutes, but the Badgers’ elite offense will pull away late.
Score Prediction: Wisconsin 84, Washington 72
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