The Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team is gaining momentum as the Big Ten Conference season intensifies. While they aren’t currently ranked in the AP or Coaches Polls, they’ve made a strong impression in the NCAA NET Rankings, sitting at No. 25.

Their recent road win against Rutgers on Monday night is just one example of their solid performance this season. With a mix of impressive victories, including one on the road, three at neutral sites, and six combined wins in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, Wisconsin is building a strong case for a spot in the NCAA Tournament this March.

In the Big Ten, Wisconsin is ranked as the seventh-highest team. Key upcoming matchups will give them opportunities to climb higher. Leading the conference rankings are Illinois at No. 7, followed by Michigan at No. 14, UCLA at No. 18, Michigan State at No. 19, Oregon at No. 20, and Maryland at No. 22.

The NCAA NET Ranking, which stands for NCAA Evaluation Tool, is a critical metric used by the NCAA Tournament selection committee to decide which teams make it into the tournament and how they are seeded. Right now, being in the Top 25 puts Wisconsin in an excellent position to qualify if the tournament started today. Wins against highly ranked teams on their home court or victories against Top 50 teams on the road are especially valuable as they count as Quad 1 wins.

Other Big Ten teams like Purdue, Ohio State, and Nebraska are also ranked in the NET Top 50, making the conference one of the toughest in college basketball. With more big games on the horizon, Wisconsin has plenty of chances to further strengthen their tournament resume.