Wisconsin basketball fans, it's never too early to start thinking about March Madness—especially with the NCAA tournament expanding to a record 76 teams. The Badgers men's team, under head coach Greg Gard, has been a consistent tournament participant, so the new format is more of a formality than a concern. However, it's a welcome boost for the women's squad, led by Robin Pingeton, who showed grit in the WBIT after a tough regular-season finish.

On3/Rivals analyst James Fletcher III has released a "way-too-early" bracketology for the 2027 men's tournament, and Wisconsin is already making noise. The Badgers are projected as a No. 9 seed in the South region, landing in the "last four byes" category alongside Kentucky, West Virginia, and St. Louis. That's a testament to Gard's ability to reload, especially after losing key players Nick Boyd and John Blackwell. His 2026-27 lineup is shaping up nicely, keeping Wisconsin in the mix.

If the bracket holds, Wisconsin would face No. 8 seed BYU in the first round. A win there would set up a second-round showdown with top-seeded UConn, a perennial powerhouse. The Huskies' opening opponent would come from a play-in game between UMBC and Howard. For Badgers fans, this projection offers a glimpse of the team's potential—and a reason to start dreaming of a deep run.