ESPN's Jay Bilas predicts winner of Wisconsin vs. High Point game

[ASFN Admin]

Wisconsin basketball is just hours away from taking the court against the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The Badgers enter the tournament as a No. 5 seed. The strong standing follows a run in the Big Ten Tournament that included wins over Washington and No. 9 Illinois, and an extended stretch of five wins in six games. Wisconsin has proven the ability to beat any team in the nation, boasting wins over four top-10 opponents during the year. It does, however, need to avoid the popular 12-over-5 upset on Thursday against a High Point team that has won 14 straight since mid-January.

KenPom projects a disparity between the two teams, with Wisconsin ranked No. 22 and High Point No. 93. ESPN's Basketball Power Index agrees, placing Wisconsin at No. 24 and High Point at No. 63.

For more on what to expect when the two teams take the court, ESPN's Jay Bilas gave his preview and prediction for the first-round matchup.

"High Point can really score and has had a great year, but Wisconsin is the pick here. The Badgers have really good guards in Nick Boyd and John Blackwell -- and in fact, this team can provide a tough matchup for Arizona down the line."

Wisconsin is looking to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017. With a win, the team would advance to face the winner of No. 4-seed Arkansas and No. 13-seed Hawaii.

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball High Point NCAA Tournament prediction Jay Bilas

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