March Mode is back. ESPN Wisconsin’s Alex Strouf and Badger legend Ben Brust break down Wisconsin’s 97-point road statement at Purdue, what the win means for seeding, and how defined roles are shaping this team heading into Big Ten tournament week and Selection Sunday.

Toplines

• Badgers finish the regular season with a huge road win at Purdue

• Nick Boyd and John Blackwell combined for a monster night

• Austin Rapp’s role growth and Aleksas Bieliauskas’ defensive presence

• Wisconsin locks into the 5-seed for the Big Ten tournament — what to expect in Chicago

• Selection Sunday countdown and bracket implications

Drop questions in the comments and we’ll answer them on Monday’s episode.

⏱ Chapters

0:00 March Mode Ep. 3 — intro

0:15 Big win at Purdue — overview

0:40 Boyd & Blackwell breakout (48 combined)

1:05 Efficient shooting & first-half explosion (12 threes)

3:00 Austin Rapp’s emergence & defined roles

6:29 Braden Carrington & bench impact

10:16 Aleksas Bieliauskas’ presence down low

13:27 Badgers = 5-seed for Big Ten tourney

15:00 Who they might see in Chicago / matchup notes

19:41 Why one win/loss in the BTT won’t shake confidence

23:30 Closing + Selection Sunday preview

Former Wisconsin guard Zak Showalter joins The Jump Around! He discusses his relationship with Aaron Rodgers, how Badgers fans have embraced this year's teams, Nick Boyd, Gard's success with transfers, and much more!

Wisconsin star guard Nick Boyd joins The Jump Around to talk about his fearless playing style, leadership with the Badgers, and what it will take for Wisconsin to make a run in March.

Boyd discusses:

His Final Four experience at FAU and how it shapes his mindset

The fearless mentality that drives his game

How Greg Gard has challenged him as a leader

Why the Badgers believe they can compete with anyone in college basketball

What it would mean to create a March Madness legacy at Wisconsin

March Mode is back.

ESPN Wisconsin’s Alex Strouf and Wisconsin legend Ben Brust react to the Badgers’ 78–45 win over Maryland on Senior Day, but the real story is Nolan Winter’s injury and what it means for Wisconsin’s NCAA Tournament outlook.

How does Winter’s absence affect the rotation?

Can the Badgers improve their seed with a win at Purdue?

Is a 6-seed actually the sweet spot?

Plus:

Austin Rapp finding his role

Braden Carrington’s surge

Big Ten Tournament preview

Ben’s Final Four LOCK

A sleeper team that could crash the bracket

Drop your questions in the comments for Monday’s episode.

March Mode is live. ESPN Wisconsin’s Alex Strouf and Wisconsin legend Ben Brust kick off a twice-weekly NCAA Tournament sprint with a full breakdown of the Wisconsin Badgers as March arrives.

The Badgers looked like two different teams on the West Coast: a rough loss at Oregon, then a 17-point win at Washington sparked by Braden Carrington’s 32 points and 9 threes. So what does it mean for Wisconsin’s NCAA Tournament seed, their Big Ten Tournament outlook, and the matchups they do (and do not) want?

Plus: Ben gives his take on the national title picture, the conferences he trusts most, why he’s skeptical of Duke in March, and quick-hits on Big Ten contenders like Michigan, Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue, Nebraska, and Iowa.

Drop your questions in the comments and we’ll hit them on the next episode.

Chapters

0:00 March Mode begins

0:56 Badgers: Oregon loss, Washington blowout

2:30 NCAA Tournament seeding: 7 seed vs 6 seed conversation

5:06 Matchups the Badgers should avoid

6:00 Wisconsin’s analytics jump (KenPom/Bart Torvik talk)

10:55 Maryland + Purdue preview

15:20 National contenders and why Ben doubts Duke

22:25 Big Ten “say something nice” lightning round

28:20 Audience questions callout + Ben’s March résumé

Former Badgers guard and host of KBN Ben Brust joins The Jump Around! He tells stories about Howard Moore, gives his thoughts on Wisconsin's tournament aspirations, why Nick Boyd and John Blackwell will be critical to their success, and much more!

Matt Lepay joins Wilde and Tausch! The Voice of the Badgers talks Wisconsin basketball's momentum, Tom Izzo & Greg Gard, his intrigue surrounding UW football, and much more!

Wisconsin Offensive Coordinator Jeff Grimes joins The Jump Around! He breaks down Wisconsin's offensive roster, talks Colton Joseph, battling injuries, and much more!

Wisconsin OLB and Special Teams coach Matt Mitchell joins The Jump Around! He takes a deep dive into the Badgers edge room heading into 2026, Mason Reiger's rising draft stock, the culture of the team, and much more!

Riley Nowakowski, a Wisconsin native and Indiana tight end who helped lead the Hoosiers to a College Football National Championship joins The Jump Around! He speaks on Curt Cignetti, Fernando Mendoza, his journey, and much more!