by Wisconsin has officially accepted an offer to play in the 2023 NIT. While it wasn’t the result Badger fans were hoping for down the stretch, Wisconsin will still play basketball and still have a chance to win a postseason tournament.
The Badgers kick things off Tuesday night when they host Bradley at the Kohl Center.
There are several NCAA Tournament regulars at this year’s edition, including Michigan and Oklahoma State. A Michigan-Wisconsin matchup in the championship game? Yes, we are also supporting that.
Here’s a look at all of the NIT round one matchups and the bracket:
(all times are in CT)
No. 1 Oklahoma State vs. Youngstown State | Wednesday, 6 p.m.
March 9, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Bryce Thompson (1) brings the ball up court during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at the T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
The Cowboys were a bubble team heading to Selection Sunday. They end up on the wrong side in a matchup with Horizon League regular season champion Youngstown State at the NIT.
No. 2 Sam Houston vs. Santa Clara | Wednesday, 8 p.m.
March 4, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Santa Clara Broncos guard Brandin Podziemski (22) dribbles the basketball against the San Francisco Dons during the first half of the WCC Basketball Championship quarterfinals at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
WCC Player of the Year Brandin Podziemski leads Santa Clara against Sam Houston out of the Western Athletic Conference.
No. 3 North Texas vs. Alcorn State | Wednesday, 8 p.m.
March 10, 2023; Frisco, Texas, USA; North Texas Mean Green guard Tylor Perry (5) scores a layup against UAB Blazers guard Tavin Lovan (3) during the second half at Ford Center at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAYSports
North Texas played in a strong Conference USA this season, led by Florida Atlantic, who are now dancing.
No. 4 Washington State vs. Eastern Washington | Tuesday, 10 p.m.
March 9, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington State Cougars guard TJ Bamba (5) reacts after a play on goal against the Oregon Ducks during the second half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
The talent was there for the Cougars, but due in large part to injuries, they were never able to put it all together in 2022-23.
No. 1 Oregon vs. UC Irvine | Wednesday, 10 p.m.
Oregon Ducks guard Will Richardson (0) attempts to throw the ball over Iowa Hawkeyes forward Keegan Murray (15) during the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 22, 2021, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mandatory Credit : Sam Owens/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports
No dance for Oregon in 2022-23. Instead, they get a tough Big West test in regular-season conference champion UC Irvine.
No. 2 Liberty vs. villanova | Tuesday, 20:30
March 18, 2017; Buffalo, New York, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard D’Mitrik Trice (0) drives to the basket against Villanova Wildcats guard Donte DiVincenzo (10) in the second half of the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at the KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Could we see a rematch of the previous game in the second round? It certainly is possible. Villanova will have a tough test against high scoring guard Darius McGhee and the Liberty.
No. 3 Wisconsin vs. Bradley | Tuesday, 20:30
March 8, 2023; Chicago, IL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Tyler Wahl (5) brings the ball up court against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
The Badgers receive in the first round, as they take on Bradley of the Missouri Valley. The Braves won the regular season title, but fell just short in the championship game at Arch Madness.
No. 4 Florida vs. UCF | Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Florida head coach Todd Golden disputes a call during the first half of a second round game of the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament against Mississippi State at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, March 9, 2023. .
Todd Golden is required to take the NIT in his first year in Florida. The Gators get an in-state matchup against UCF.
No. 1 Rutgers vs. Hofstra | Tuesday, 6 p.m.
February 18, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, United States; Rutgers Scarlet Knights center Clifford Omoruyi (11) and guard Cam Spencer (10) celebrate the Scarlet Knights’ 58-57 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
The biggest snub of the NCAA Tournament will have a chance to redeem itself. He starts against Hofstra in the first round.
No. 2 Colorado vs. Seton Hall | Tuesday, 10 p.m.
March 8, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Seton Hall Pirates forward KC Ndefo (13) reacts during the second half against the DePaul Blue Demons at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
A battle of two high level squads in the first round.
No. 3 New Mexico vs. Utah Valley | Wednesday, 9 p.m.
December 15, 2020; Salt Lake City, Utah, United States; Utah Valley Wolverines head coach Mark Madsen reacts in the first half against the Utah Utes at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Utah Valley was the victim of one of the biggest collapses it has ever seen, coming up short in the WAC tournament.
No. 4 Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech | Wednesday, 9 p.m.
March 8, 2023; Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies forward Justyn Mutts (25) drives to the basket past North Carolina State Wolfpack forward Ebenezer Dowuona (21) during the second half of the second round of the ACC tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
No. 1 Clemson vs. Morehead State | Wednesday, 7 p.m.
December 9, 2020; Clemson, South Carolina, United States; Clemson junior guard John Newman III (15) pressures Maryland junior guard Aaron Wiggins (2) near Clemson head coach Brad Brownell during the first half of the ACC/BIG10 Challenge game at Littlejohn Coliseum . Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Clemson was also a bubble team, but the ACC’s weakness ended up costing them overall.
No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. Yale | Tuesday, 9 p.m.
Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Stackhouse yells at his player during the first half of an SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinal game against Texas A&M at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, March 11, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Vanderbilt might be the best team in the country, but a poor first half of the season cost them an NCAA Tournament berth.
When. 3 Michigan vs. Toledo | Tuesday, 7 p.m.
February 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, United States; Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson (1) picks up his dribble under the cover of Wisconsin Badgers forward Steven Crowl (22) during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan came up short in their NCAA Tournament quest and will face the regular season MAC champion in Toledo.
No. 4 UAB vs. Miss South | Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
March 11, 2023; Frisco, Texas, USA; UAB Blazers guard Jordan Walker (10) drives to the basket against Florida Atlantic Owls guard Bryan Greenlee (4) during the first half at Ford Center at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones- USA TODAY Sports
Jordan Walker is must-see TV and UAB has a decent chance for a deep NIT career.
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The story originally appeared on Badgers Wire
