Wisconsin Looks to Bolster Postseason Seeding Against Maryland

Badgers aim for triple bye in Big Ten tournament with home finale against struggling Terrapins

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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After splitting a West Coast road trip, the Wisconsin Badgers will look to improve their postseason positioning when they host the Maryland Terrapins in their regular season home finale on Wednesday. Wisconsin is tied for fifth in the Big Ten standings and could earn a coveted triple bye to the conference tournament quarterfinals with a strong finish, while Maryland has struggled mightily this season and is looking to play spoiler.

Why it matters

Wisconsin is jockeying for position in the crowded Big Ten standings, with the top four teams receiving a triple bye directly into the conference tournament quarterfinals. A win over Maryland would help the Badgers strengthen their case for one of those highly sought-after top four seeds.

The details

Wisconsin is coming off a 90-73 win over Washington in which reserve guard Braeden Carrington exploded for a career-high 32 points, including a school-record nine 3-pointers. The Badgers will look to build on that momentum against a Maryland team that has lost four of its last five games. The Terrapins rallied from a 19-point halftime deficit against Rutgers on Sunday but ultimately fell 69-65.

  • Wisconsin plays its final home game of the regular season on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
  • The Badgers close out the regular season on Saturday, March 7, 2026 with a road game at Purdue.

The players

Braeden Carrington

A reserve guard for Wisconsin who scored a career-high 32 points in the Badgers' recent win over Washington, including a school-record nine 3-pointers.

Greg Gard

The head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team.

Andre Mills

A player for the Maryland Terrapins who recently had a 39-point game against Northwestern.

Buzz Williams

The head coach of the Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team.

Solomon Washington

A player for the Maryland Terrapins who leads the team in rebounds, averaging 9.3 per game.

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What they’re saying

“Just the response, the bounce back, I thought we played with great energy. It was a choppy game, it was kind of herky-jerky at times, but we were able to stay true to who we needed to be.”

— Greg Gard, Wisconsin Head Coach (Field Level Media)

“There's always three parts with good programs, good teams. You have to play really hard, you have to prepare the right way and then you have to execute. We didn't do all three of those things, particularly in the first half.”

— Buzz Williams, Maryland Head Coach (Field Level Media)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.