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The third-seeded Wisconsin Badgers (27-9) took down 14th-seeded Montana Grizzlies (25-10), 85-66 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado in the First Round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
The committee tried to screw us with high altitude on three-days rest.
Wisconsin built a roster in the off-season to add shooters to all five spots and to build depth at every position. The latter decision was on full display during this win over Montana.
The Badgers turned it on in the second half. Wisconsin had five players score in double figures. John Blackwell (19), Steven Crowl (18), John Tonje (15), Xavier Amos (11), and Nolan Winter (10). UW shot 31-for-56 (51.4%) from the field.
Wisconsin will now face the sixth-seeded Brigham Young Cougars (25-9) on Saturday in the Round of 32 with a berth to the Sweet 16 on the line. Game time is TBA.
This will be the third all-time meeting between the two programs. UW leads the series 2-0. The last game between the two was November 26, 2011 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The other meeting was in Madison on December 11, 1931.
BYU had little trouble knocking off 11th-seeded VCU 80-71 today. The Cougars shot 50 percent, held the Rams to 41.3 percent, and were +9 on the glass. BYU has won 10 of their last 11 games.
This is a huge game for Wisconsin. Bet against the Badgers at your own peril.
By The Numbers:
19 – The Badgers’ 19-point win is their fourth-highest margin of victory in an NCAA Tournament game in program history.
27 – With 27 wins, the Badgers have their most wins since the 2016-17 season and have matched their fifth-highest win total in program history. UW has also equaled the most single-season wins under head coach Greg Gard.
40 – UW out-rebounded Montana, 40-29, matching their second-highest rebounding total in an NCAA Tournament game in program history.
73.1 – The Badgers are now 19-7 all-time in the Round of 64, including a mark of 5-2 under Gard.
85 – UW’s 85 points are its third-most in an NCAA Tournament game and the most since an 85-62 win over North Carolina in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
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