Syracuse used a dominating second-half performance to defeat eighth-seeded Kansas State 75-59 on Saturday, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the third time in four years. The Orange will square off against No. 4 Wisconsin, who defeated fifth-seeded Vanderbilt 60-57 in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

The Badgers (26-9) finished fourth in the Big Ten with a 12-6 mark in conference play. But Wisconsin has been up-and-down against ranked opponents this season, posting a 5-7 record against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Badgers are known for slowing the game down in an effort to extend their possessions.

Syracuse (33-2) will take on Wisconsin at 7:15 p.m. Thursday night in Boston. Here’s a look at what you need to know about the Badgers, the Wisconsin program and the university before Thursday’s matchup:

About the 2011-12 Badgers

Statistical leaders: Wisconsin is led by point guard Jordan Taylor, who averages a team-high 14.7 points and four assists per game. The All-Big Ten point guard has scored 15.5 points per game in UW’s first two tournament contests against 13th-seeded Montana and Vanderbilt. The Badgers have three starters who average five or more rebounds per game. Ryan Evans, a 6-foot-6 forward, leads the team with 6.8 boards per game. Junior center Jared Berggren, who is 6 feet 10 inches, patrols the paint and blocks about two shots per game.

The head coach: Bo Ryan is in his 11th season at the helm of Wisconsin, and he has led the Badgers to the NCAA Tournament in every season. With Saturday’s victory over the Commodores, Wisconsin clinched back-to-back trips to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history. Ryan is looking to make it to the Elite Eight for the second time in his tenure with the Badgers.

Best wins: Ohio State (7 RPI) and (twice) Indiana (17)

Worst losses: (twice) Iowa (130)

How they got in: Wisconsin earned an at-large bid out of the Big Ten. The Badgers defeated Indiana in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament before losing to eventual tournament champion Michigan State, 65-52, in the semis.

About the Wisconsin men’s basketball program

Colors: Cardinal and White

Conference: Big Ten

Facility: Kohl Center (17,230)

Mascot: Bucky Badger

NCAA Tournament history:  This season is Wisconsin’s 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers have earned a trip to the Big Dance in 14 consecutive seasons, dating back to 1999. Wisconsin is 25-16 all-time in the tournament, with one national championship in 1941 and two trips to the Final Four in 2000 and 1941.

The Badgers were seeded fourth last season as well and advanced to the Sweet 16. Wisconsin defeated Belmont and Kansas State in its first two games before dropping the regional semifinal to Butler, 61-54.

Badgers in the pros: Wisconsin has two active players in the NBA. Devin Harris, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, is the starting point guard of the Utah Jazz.
Harris is averaging 10.1 points per game in his eighth professional season. Milwaukee Bucks forward Jon Leuer is one year removed from playing in college.

The Badgers have six all-time first-round picks in NBA history. Michael Finley is the most notable former Wisconsin player.

About the University of Wisconsin

Type: Public

Location: Madison, Wis.

Enrollment: 42,595

Founded: 1848

President: David Ward

Athletic director: Barry Alvarez

Famous alumni: Steve Miller, musician; Joan Cusack, actress; Allan ‘Bud’ Selig, commissioner of Major League Baseball; Dick Cheney, attended as a doctorate student and former vice president of the United States

-Compiled by Andrew Tredinnick, asst. copy editor, adtredin@syr.edu

Published on March 19, 2012 at 12:00 pm