In a tournament full of chalk, you had to figure this one was coming.   The tournament always has some madness – it just chose to wait for the 2nd game of the 2nd round for it.

The Badgers started off early to a 9-3 lead, and despite Ethan Happ being in foul trouble for most of the half, they held on to a small lead at half time.   Foul trouble continued to plague the Badgers until Villanova built a 57-50 lead.

But there is no quit in these Badgers – led by four seniors.   And with the game tied, Nigel Hayes drove to the basket and made a nice layup to give Wisconsin the lead with 11 seconds.   Villanova’s star Josh Hart drove to the lane to try to tie the game, but Vitto Brown stole the ball from him at the hoop before he could go up for a shot, got fouled and hit the first free throw to give the Badgers the lead.   Brown missed the second FT and Villanova got the rebound, but two Badgers quickly surrounded him so he couldn’t make an outlet pass, and time ran out on the defending champions.

So, Wisconsin is returning to the Sweet 16, and many of us (including the Lunatic’s insane picks) can rip up their bracket as their champion is now gone.    And my wife laughed as I shouted, “I knew I should have picked Duke to win the East”.   But who are we kidding, then the Lunatic Curse would have just ended the Blue Devils tournament instead.   So, remember that Duke fans – I apparently have your back.