Wisconsin's Blueprint to Win the 2015 NCAA Tournament

The Wisconsin Badgers were rewarded for their terrific regular season with one of the four No. 1 seeds handed out by the NCAA tournament selection committee. 

Bo Ryan's team will open up in Omaha, Nebraska, with a game against No. 16 Coastal Carolina before facing either No. 8 Oregon or No. 9 Oklahoma State in the third round. 

If Wisconsin can handle its first two opponents with ease, it will make the trip to Los Angeles, where Arkansas, North Carolina and Arizona could await. 

For the Badgers to complete a sweep of the West Region and earn a spot in the Final Four, they will have to follow this blueprint to success. 

Get Frank Kaminsky Going Early on

In most games the Badgers play throughout the Big Dance, Frank Kaminsky will be the best player on the court. 

The Wisconsin big man contributes in a positive fashion in almost every statistical category, which is why the Badgers would be wise to feed him early and often. 

If Kaminsky gets off to a hot start in the paint, he should attract a heavier defensive presence from his opponent. 

When the attention is fully shifted to Kaminsky on the block, he should be able to turn into a distributor for his teammates behind the three-point line. 

The team leader in points, rebounds, assists and blocks per game can do plenty of damage to any opponent of any quality. With a special talent like Kaminsky on the floor, Wisconsin should look to him as the first option on offense on almost every possession in the first half. 

Continue Terrific Distribution Skills

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As if we needed another positive quality to brag about heading into the NCAA tournament, the Badgers came alive in the assists department at the Big Ten tournament. 

Wisconsin earned 31 assists in its first two games at the United Center, including 18 in its semifinal victory over Purdue. The Badgers followed up with an 18-assist outing in the final against Michigan State. 

In the 71-51 victory over the Boilermakers, seven different players recorded an assist. Kaminsky and Nigel Hayes led the Badgers with five each. 

When the NCAA tournament progresses into its second week, Wisconsin will be asked to make an extra pass on offense against tougher defenses. 

Thanks to their success over the last three games in Chicago, the Badgers should be able to stay composed and keep searching for open looks for all 35 seconds of the shot clock. 

Let Bronson Koenig Continue to Emerge as a True Playmaker

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The one true X-factor on the Wisconsin roster that no one outside Madison knows about is guard Bronson Koenig. 

Koenig, who took over for the injured Traevon Jackson before the loss to Rutgers on January 11, has found his way into double digits in the last four games. 

Before his scoring explosion of 64 combined points against Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue and Michigan State, the sophomore guard had a combined 40 points in five games. 

During conference play, opponents looked at Koenig as the one potential weakness in the scoring department. But now that he has emerged as a key contributor at the right time, the Badgers have become an even harder foe to defeat. 

If Koenig's production remains high for the rest of March, he will take some of the scoring pressure off Kaminsky and Sam Dekker. 

Keep the Disciplined Approach

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One of the most impressive qualities of the Badgers is their ability to stay out of foul trouble. 

In their three conference games against ranked opposition, the Badgers racked up a total of 32 fouls. They committed 11 against Ohio State, 12 in the victory over Maryland and nine at home against Iowa. 

Wisconsin improved on its discipline in the Big Ten semifinal win over Purdue, as it committed only seven fouls in 40 minutes. 

One of the greatest equalizers in college basketball is the free throw, but the Badgers take that aspect of the game away from their opponents when they are at their best. 

By keeping its stars out of foul trouble, Wisconsin also earns a chance to tire down the opposition more quickly with its starters. 

This will be important against teams that rely on getting to the line. If Wisconsin advances far into the NCAA tournament, it will have to keep up its stellar discipline to deny handing any opponent easy points at the line. 

Have Sam Dekker Keep the Hot Hand

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After falling into a bit of a slump near the end of February, Dekker has been an efficient star in the Wisconsin offense. 

He has scored in double digits in four of his last five games, including three performances with more than 15 points against Minnesota, Michigan and Purdue. 

Throughout his recent hot streak, Dekker has been efficient from the field, shooting less than 50 percent in just two games. 

His field-goal percentage becomes even more impressive when you look at how many shots he has taken over the last five games. His nine attempts against Purdue were his fewest since the February 21 win over Minnesota. 

Dekker's scoring production is not that surprising, but his numbers from the field should strike fear into any opposing defense. 

Contain Each Opponent's Dynamic Playmaker

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Wisconsin will be tasked with containing one of the nation's top dynamic playmakers in a few consecutive games if the top seeds thrive in the West Region. 

First up for the Badgers will be either Joseph Young of Oregon or Le'Bryan Nash of Oklahoma State. If the Badgers face off against Young, they should take a page out of Arizona's game plan for the Pac-12 tournament final in which Young was 7-of-19 from the field. 

In the Sweet 16, Wisconsin could face off against either North Carolina's Marcus Paige or Arkansas' Bobby Portis. Both players have been susceptible to not showing up in certain games this season, which is something that will be on the minds of the Wisconsin guards. 

If the Badgers can limit the scoring potential of either playmaker in the first half, they should be able to disrupt the player's rhythm for the entire game. 

If they can play lockdown defense against some of the nation's top players, the Badgers will earn a rematch against Arizona in the Elite Eight. 

Do Not Look Forward to the Rematch with Arizona

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Wisconsin won one of the best games of the 2014 NCAA tournament over Arizona in overtime with a Final Four berth on the line. 

Other than the Badgers, there is no better team in the West Region bracket than Arizona. With a matchup against a quality opponent in their near future, the Badgers must focus on taking care of business in the early rounds. 

While this may seem like a shot to the morale of the other teams in the bracket, it really isn't if you have watched the Badgers and Wildcats play all season. Both teams could have earned No. 1 seeds, but instead they were paired with each other. 

The Badgers will also face a tough environment if they face Arizona in the Elite Eight since the game will be played in Los Angeles. 

With a major challenge on the horizon, the Badgers must focus on one game at a time if they are to face Arizona for the second straight year in the Elite Eight. 

Follow Joe on Twitter @JTansey90.

All statistics obtained from ESPN.com.