The Wisconsin Badgers begin their NCAA tournament run after earning a No. 2 seed with a solid run through the Big Ten. The team might be considered a lock to get past the first round, but American University fought hard in the Patriot league to get a No. 15 seed and have no intentions of going down without a fight.
American has the bodies to beat Wisconsin. It all starts with Tony Wroblicky, a 6-foot-10 center that earned defensive player of the year honors in the Patriots league. Putting him up against Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker of the Badgers will be a matchup to watch. Wroblicky will have his defensive skills tested against the hot-handed Badgers as they have five starters that can score and defend to create a balanced attack against any opponent.
However, do not overlook the American offense. Head coach Mike Brennan learned under some of the best and it is no accident the Eagles went 20-12 in their respective conference. After going 10-20 last year, American's turnaround has been remarkable. Jesse Reed leads the team with 13.9 points a game and credits the head coach for putting the team on the right direction.
Wisconsin will rely on Zach Bohannon who has the most experience over the offense that American runs. The backup forward has not played an extreme amount of minutes this season, but he has played in the Princeton offense, which is what American is modeled after. He will be crucial in making sure the Badgers are not on upset alert on Thursday.
American is thriving in the underdog role. After being picked to finish ninth in the 10-team Patriots League, American is ready to keep the good season rolling. They will not simply lay down and lose to the Badgers. A No. 15 seed beating a No. 2 seed is certainly an uphill battle, but American is ready to make it happen.
