Wisconsin's Postseason Jinx: LaFleur's Visit & Early Exit

0:00On March 20, Wisconsin's men's basketball team crashed out of the NCAA tournament in the first round with an 83-82 upset loss. To 12 seated high-point, fans on social media quickly blamed a locker-room visit from Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, calling it a post-season jinx after the badger strong regular season finish. Earlier this week, LaFleur addressed the team following their 21-point win over 10th-seated Michigan State, praising their play and urging them to keep stacking wins. Wisconsin coach Greg Gard often invites dignitaries into the locker-room after Cole Center victories, but this one sparked talk of bad luck. The defeat stung as the fifth-seated badgers blew an 8-point lead with seven minutes left and went scoreless on their final four possessions. Gard called it the classic tournament heartache, where one slip sends you home early. Wisconsin has now lost in the opening round in two of their last three appearances and three times in the past six tournaments, with no second round.

1:01Win since 2017, meanwhile, LaFleur's Packers mirror the struggles, sitting at three wins and six losses in the playoffs over seven seasons, including recent wild collapses. Both programs end the year with familiar post-season pain, but Wisconsin's late season surge showed real promise that just fell short when it mattered.