Wisconsin Badgers begin postseason against hungry Washington squad

Earning the No. 5 seed in the Big Ten Tournament for a third straight season, Wisconsin will begin its chase for a first conference tournament championship in 11 years.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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The Wisconsin Badgers will face off against the Washington Huskies in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament. Wisconsin, the No. 5 seed, is looking to advance to the conference title game for the third straight year, while Washington is seeking its first tournament victory since 2022.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams with contrasting postseason experiences. Wisconsin has been a consistent presence in the Big Ten Tournament, while Washington is hoping to build momentum after a recent drought. The outcome could determine which program takes the next step in its development.

The details

Wisconsin enters the game with a 22-9 overall record and a 14-6 mark in Big Ten play. The Badgers have overcome double-digit deficits in five of their victories this season, showcasing their resilience. Washington, meanwhile, is 16-16 on the year and 7-13 in conference play. The Huskies are led by sophomore guard Zoom Diallo, who had a 20-10 performance in their second-round win over USC.

  • The game will take place on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.
  • Wisconsin last won the Big Ten Tournament in 2015.

The players

Nick Boyd

A 6-3 senior guard for Wisconsin who is averaging 20.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.

Zoom Diallo

A 6-4 sophomore guard for Washington who led the Huskies with 22 points and 11 assists in their second-round tournament win.

Hannes Steinbach

A 6-11 freshman forward for Washington who recorded his 21st double-double of the season in the win over USC.

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What they’re saying

“Adversity, it has not defined us all year”

— Danny Sprinkle, Washington Head Coach (Twitter)

“They're going to be coming with a chip on their shoulder because they both could have easily been first-team all-league”

— Danny Sprinkle, Washington Head Coach (SI.com)

What’s next

The winner of this game will advance to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament to face the winner of the matchup between No. 4 seed Illinois and No. 13 seed Penn State.

The takeaway

This first-round Big Ten Tournament clash features two teams with contrasting postseason experiences. Wisconsin's veteran backcourt duo of Nick Boyd and John Blackwell will look to lead the Badgers to another deep tournament run, while Washington hopes to build on its recent success and pull off the upset.