Badgers reach NCAA Tournament for 18th straight season

By: Justin Thompson-Gee Facebook | Twitter

Posted: Mar 13, 2016 7:39 PM CDT | Updated: Apr 10, 2016 8:11 PM CDT

For the 18th consecutive season, the NCAA Tournament includes the Wisconsin Badgers.

UW extended the fifth longest NCAA Tournament streak in college hoops Sunday with their selection as a seven seed in the East Region. They'll face Pittsburgh Friday in St. Louis in the opening game for both teams.

Tip-off for the game is 5:50 PM on Friday. The game will air on TNT.

A win Friday would pit the Badgers against second-seed Xavier Sunday, also in St. Louis. If Wisconsin wins that game, they advance to the Sweet 16 in Philadelphia.

North Carolina is the top seed in the East Region, with Kansas, Virginia and Oregon receiving the other number one seeds.

Wisconsin, who was 9-9 at one point and in danger of missing the tournament altogether, rallied to win 11 of 12 during one stretch in conference play, a streak that helped Greg Gard obtain the team's head coaching position. Gard was an interim coach after taking over for Bo Ryan in December.

UW-Green Bay, the Horizon League Tournament champion, is the 14th seed in their region. They'll face Texas A&M in the tournament's first round in Oklahoma City.

The Final Four and championship game are in Houston in early April.