Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin prediction and preview. Who’s Got Next analyzes the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 matchup between the Fighting Irish and Badgers.

How they got here

Notre Dame beat Michigan 70-63 in first round, beat Stephen F. Austin 76-75 in second round; Wisconsin beat No. 10 Pitt 47-43 in first round, beat No. 2 Xavier 66-63 in second round.

Why Notre Dame will win

Few teams play with as much heart as Notre Dame, and the Fighting Irish are a team that won’t stop until the final buzzer. They rallied vs. Stephen F. Austin to win in the closing seconds on a tip-in, but they won’t just be happy to be in the Sweet 16. Guard Demetrius Jackson and forward Zach Auguste are the stars of the show. Jackson can get to the rim at will and can knock down the open three, and his quickness gives opposing defenses headaches. Auguste will be the key for ND in the Sweet 16. He’s a monster rebounder whose length and tenaciousness allows him to get to loose balls. He’s also a skilled post scorer, and when he’s assertive, he gives Notre Dame a huge advantage. V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia provide support, and Vasturia’s 3-point shooting gives ND balance. If the Irish battle on every possession and don’t have a letdown following their emotional win in the second round, they are going to have a shot at winning.

Why Wisconsin will win

Wisconsin continues to find ways to win, and they do it by sharing the ball and making opponents make mistakes. Forward Nigel Hayes and guard Bronson Koenig are the stars of the show, and Koenig’s shot at the buzzer to beat Xavier showed the kind of guts he has when the shot clock is winding down. Hayes can score inside and out, and his leadership helps keep the Badgers focused. Wisconsin’s help defense is among the best in the country, and UW will need to communicate well to keep Jackson from getting into the lane. A key will be freshman forward Ethan Happ. Happy can be a quality post scorer and rebounder, but he will have a tough time sticking with the athleticism of Auguste. Look for UW to try to control the tempo and force Notre Dame to work hard on every possession.

Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin Prediction

This will be one of the best games of the Sweet 16. Notre Dame is a team with a lot of heart, and Wisconsin is a team that doesn’t make many mistakes. Look for this to be a heavyweight battle from the opening tip, and Notre Dame’s superior athleticism will be the difference late.