The Wisconsin Badgers, seeded No. 3, are set to begin their 2025 NCAA Tournament run on Thursday afternoon against No. 14 seed Montana. Wisconsin comes into March Madness following a tough loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament championship. Despite that defeat, the Badgers gained significant momentum after winning three tough matchups against Northwestern, UCLA, and Michigan State during their conference tournament run.
Wisconsin, holding a 26-9 record, is ranked 13th in KenPom and is the tournament’s 12th overall seed. Their strong season performance has set high expectations as they enter the NCAA Tournament. Although they fell short in the Big Ten title game, their ability to beat several strong programs recently shows they could make a deep run in March Madness.
Wisconsin Badgers Begin NCAA Tournament Against Montana After Strong Big Ten RunMontana Looks to Upset Wisconsin as Big Sky Champions Face Big Ten Power
Their first opponent, the Montana Grizzlies, earned their spot by winning the Big Sky Tournament with three straight victories. Montana holds a 25-9 record and is ranked 157th by KenPom, making them the tournament’s No. 58 overall seed. While the Grizzlies come in with momentum, they are seen as heavy underdogs against a powerful Wisconsin squad.
The game between Wisconsin and Montana is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. CT) on Thursday and will be broadcast by TNT as part of its extensive tournament coverage. In the lead-up to the matchup, fans can expect more detailed previews and predictions about Wisconsin’s opening game and their potential tournament path.