Are the Wisconsin Badgers Final Four Material?

Never in recent memory has an NCAA basketball season been as fraught with peril as this one.

Just ask the Big Ten.

Each of the top four teams—Ohio State, Purdue, Michigan State, and Wisconsin—have lost one of their top scorers at some point during the season.

As we approach the NCAA tournament, there is no clear cut upper echelon of teams just waiting to deliver a beating to the others. Any of the top 15-20 teams will be very competitive in the Madness, and we are going to see many upsets.

This means the field is extremely even, and any of about 15 teams has a legit shot at playing in the Final Four.

I would like to present for your consideration, the Wisconsin Badgers.

Give me one good reason they will not make the Final Four, just one.

Experience? Check.

Great coach? Check.

Limit turnovers and play great defense? Check and check.

What's that? They are not athletic enough? Why don't we ask the Duke Blue Devils how athletic they are...that is a tired, old label placed on your daddy's Badgers.

No, these Badgers are legitimate contenders, and the reasons mentioned above are just a few of the factors that will have the Badgers dancing deep into March.

Let's look at the resume, shall we?

Team —Wisconsin Badgers

Record —21-7

Record Vs. RPI 1-25 —4-2

RPI —17

Pomeroy Rating —4

While the Badgers have only two games left in the regular season, what they accomplish in the Big Ten tournament could say much for their Big Dance hopes.

Victories against OSU, MSU, and/or Purdue could help propel the Badgers to a three or even a two seed, especially if they beat more than one of those teams.

And, while the near future is optimistic for the Badgers, it would seem the only team capable of knocking them out for the count is, well, themselves. You see, should the Badgers decide they are going to stake their tournament existence on the three-ball, they will lose.

Should they decide to completely forget about Trevon Hughes on the offensive end, they will lose.

And should the Badgers decide not to work the ball inside before sending it back out, every trip down the court, they will lose.

So you see, oh esteemed reader, while the Badgers have much that makes you just want to smile, the chinks in the armor leave on wondering: Final Four contender, or Fundamentally Flawed Fraud?