The Basics:

🏀 (7) Wisconsin Badgers (20-12, 12-6 B1G) vs. (10) Pittsburgh Panthers (21-11, 9-9 ACC)
📺 TNT; 5:50pm CT
💻 March Madness Live
📻 Badgers Radio Network or Westwood One

All-Time Series: Wisconsin leads 11-7
Last Meeting: Wisconsin won, 89-75 (12/16/06)

Starting Lineups:

Pittsburgh Panthers

G James Robinson — Sr. 6-3, 198 (10.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.1 apg)
G/F Chris Jones —Jr. 6-6, 213 (6.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.5 apg)
F Jamel Artis — Jr. 6-7, 215 (14.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.1 apg)
F Michael Young — Jr. 6-9, 235 (16.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.4 apg)
F Rafael Maia — Sr. 6-9, 245 (2.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.6 apg)

Wisconsin Badgers

G Bronson Koenig — Jr. 6-4, 193 (13.4 pgg, 2.5 rpg, 2.5 apg)
G Zak Showalter — Jr. 6-2, 180 (7.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.2 apg)
F Vitto Brown — Jr. 6-8, 230 (9.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.8 apg)
F Nigel Hayes — Jr. 6-8, 240 (16.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.9 apg)
F Ethan Happ — Fr. 6-9, 235 (12.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.2 apg)

Biggest Matchup: Three-point shooting

Normally we’d be talking about one-on-one matchups, but the way these two teams matchup not much is going to matter in those battles, because both teams switch up the defensive responsibilities so well. However, what will matter big time is which team can get it going from deep.

These teams both come in as pretty good three-point shooting teams, with Pitt shooting .348 percent and Wisconsin .358. Both teams average a tick over 18 three-point attempts per contest as well, so offensively these teams aren’t afraid to hoist it up from deep.

What is worrisome is UW’s three-point defense this year, as they are allowing opponents to shoot over 37 percent from beyond the arc. Pitt’s opponents are shooting near what the Badgers’ offense shoots, and it could be a matter of which defensive effort is better than the season average that will matter.

Pitt’s advantage in length should be real interesting with both Vitto Brown and Nigel Hayes loving life beyond the arc at times. Can UW find a way to stretch Pitt’s defense and allow Ethan Happ to do work inside as a result? That will be the development that could be most important to how this game plays out.

3 Numbers to Know:

— 55.3: Wisconsin has won 8 of its last 9 opening games in the NCAA tournament, during that time UW opponents are averaging just 55.3 points per game. Pitt is coming in to this game averaging over 20 more points than that average (76.0 ppg), so something is going to have to give between these two teams.

— 13: Over the last five years the Badgers are 13-5 in the NCAA tournament, and the 13 wins are the third most in that span nationally. Pitt hasn’t been to the NCAA tournament since 2014 and has been to 13 NCAA tournaments since 2002 overall.

— 70: The Badgers better be up for it on the defensive end of the court, as Pitt is 20-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points. However, the Badgers led the Big Ten in scoring defense (63.9 ppg) during the regular season. Only one of UW’s last 11 opponents have scored more than 70 points as well.

Prediction: Wisconsin 71, Pitt 63

There’s no doubt the height advantage is with the Panthers, but that really hasn’t mattered much to the Badgers all season long. As we’ve mentioned before, a lot of this game could be decided beyond the arc. However, for the Badgers it is all about setting up Pitt to be able to then take advantage of a less-compact defense inside.

While UW is coming in off a two-game losing streak, Pitt is the definition of backing in to the NCAA tournament, going just 7-10 over the last 17 games of the season. As long as the Badgers can remember what got them to the tournament in the first place this should be another victory for UW.

Look for freshman Ethan Happ to have a massive game against Pitt’s Rafael Maia, as it is perhaps the single biggest mismatch amongst the starters. As long as Happ can get going offensively and stay out of foul trouble don’t be surprised to see the Badgers be in control of the pace and the scoreboard for most of this game.