Mississippi might have surprised some when they won the SEC tournament, receiving an automatic bid into the tournament. The 12th-seeded Rebels will certainly have their hands full with Wisconsin, a five seed in the tournament. A big win over top ranked Florida have prepared the Rebels for what the team hopes is a strong run in the tournament.
Wisconsin is averaging only 56 points per game, but is more known for their lock-down defense and gritty style of play. The Rebels are currently ranked seventh in the country in scoring with 78.2 points per game which could pose a challenge for the Badgers. Only three teams have reached the 70-point mark against the Badgers all season.
Wisconsin comes to the tournament with a very balanced team. They have four players all averaging between 9.4 and 11.2 points. Eight different players have led the team in scoring in at least one game this year. The Rebels have their own leading scorer. Guard Marshall Henderson led the Southeastern Conference in points scored. The 6-2 junior averaged better than 20 points a game and was third nationally with 131 3-pointers made. He also hit 88 percent of his free throws, leading the SEC in accuracy.
This is the first appearance in the NCAA tournament for Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy. The Badgers have been to the tournament 15 years in a row, one of the top five current streaks in the nation. Mississippi has not been to the tournament at all since 2002, so the Badgers experience could play a large role in today's game. Under coach head coach Bo Ryan, Wisconsin has only lost once in the opening round of the tournament.
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