# Badgers’ Seed Watch + Ben Brust Doesn’t Buy Duke (Or Alabama) | March Mode Ep. 1

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-jump-around-7034774/badgers-seed-watch-ben-brust-doesn-t-buy-duke-or-alabama-march-mode-ep-1
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-jump-around-7034774/badgers-seed-watch-ben-brust-doesn-t-buy-duke-or-alabama-march-mode-ep-1.md
Podcast: [The Jump Around](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-jump-around-7034774)
Published: 2026-03-02T16:51:18+00:00
Episode link: https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-link=https%3A%2F%2Frss.amperwave.net%2Fv2%2Fepisode%2F8004697_2026-03-02-163537%2Fitunes_akrgV
Audio file: https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8004697/8004697_2026-03-02-163537.128.mp3?rssID=4132&source=itunes_akrgV
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Duration seconds: 1853

## Resource

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

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