Wisconsin
College basketball predictions: Wisconsin vs. Purdue, Auburn vs. Mississippi State odds
Warning: The following article contains material that may be harmful or traumatizing to some audiences. Reader discretion is advised.
Wisconsin vs. Purdue prediction
(1 p.m. Eastern)
The Boilermakers — held below their scoring average in both regular season meetings — are comfortable to move at the glacial pace of the Badgers, whose defense has been lights out in the Big Ten Tournament.
Greg Gard has fared well against Purdue, winning two of the past five meetings against the Big Ten’s best — with no loss by more than eight points — thanks to their ability to limit Zach Edey to an average of less than 20 points in the past four encounters.
Pick: Wisconsin +7
Auburn vs. Mississippi State prediction
(1 p.m. ET)
A top 10 offense and defense is peaking simultaneously, sparking four straight Tigers wins by an average of 21.8 points.
Two weeks ago, the Bulldogs were limited to 63 points in a loss at Auburn. They aren’t built to keep pace.
Pick: Auburn -8
Brown vs. Princeton prediction
(11 a.m. ET)
The Tigers will be a popular upset pick if they make the Big Dance, with Mitch Henderson building on a Sweet 16 appearance to achieve the best of his 11 regular seasons (25-3) at his alma mater.
The Bears (12-17) don’t deserve the same opportunity to dance, but enter Ivy Madness without any pressure and near-equal confidence, having won six straight games.
Brown plays its best in this position (12-6 against the spread as an underdog) and can close the talent gap with the best rebounders in the conference.
In the first two meetings, Princeton attempted a total of 36 more free throws, but Brown averaged more free throws per game this season.
Pick: Brown +10
Cornell vs. Yale prediction
(2 p.m., ET)
The Big Red are due, looking for their first Ivy League Tournament win in their fourth appearance under coach Brian Earl.
Betting on College Basketball?
In addition to being tied for the third-most wins away from home in the nation this season, Cornell’s high-scoring attack can survive an off day from any of its most important pieces, with no player accounting for more than 13 points per game.
Pick: Cornell +2
UMass Lowell vs. Vermont prediction
(11 a.m., ET)
The River Hawks have waited a year for this moment, having fumbled a halftime lead to lose last season’s America East title game at Vermont.
They suffered a 12-point loss in Burlington two weeks ago, but took the Catamounts to overtime earlier in the season.
Motivation and experience will allow UMass Lowell to take advantage of the aggressiveness that has it ranked among the top 25 rebounding teams in the nation, as well as top 20 in free throws attempted.
Pick: UMass Lowell +6.5
This season: 2-12
2011-23 record: 349-308-12
Wisconsin
Wisconsin native and American Idol contestant waiting to see if she advances
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – Wisconsin native and American Idol contestant Genevieve Heyward is anxiously waiting to see if she makes it to the top 14.
Two Mondays ago, she sang “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan, and the judges had nothing but good things to say.
We spoke with Genevieve about exceeding her own expectations as she waits for the results.
“I just think going into any of these, specifically American Idol, you kind of have to just go in, and you got to be grounded through it. But that’s the other thing I’ve learned. You just got to stay grounded and don’t have any expectations for what you think is going to happen. You almost have to ride the wave,” said Heyward.
Viewers will find out if she advances to the next round on Monday, March 30th, right here on WBAY-TV 2.
Copyright 2026 WBAY. All rights reserved.
Wisconsin
Construction is underway on Pizza Ranch restaurant in Wisconsin Rapids
Crews are starting to work on the new Pizza Ranch in Wisconsin Rapids. We have an updated timeline for the restaurant.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Crews are starting to work on building the new Pizza Ranch in Wisconsin Rapids.
Angie and Gary Hall from Kellner will be the owners and operators of Pizza Ranch when the restaurant with FunZone opens near Home Depot in Wisconsin Rapids.
Angie Hall told a Daily Tribune reporter March 24 crews started preparing and clearing the land Tuesday morning in advance of putting in the building footings next week.
Pizza Ranch also became members of the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Tuesday morning and will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. April 6 on the property, Hall said.
Construction is estimated to take about six months to complete, and Hall said they’re expecting to host a grand opening in September.
Hall said she and her husband can’t wait for this chapter to start, and they strive to live Pizza Ranch’s vision, “to glorify God by positively impacting the world,” Hall said.
Pizza Ranch is not just a restaurant and FunZone, Hall said, but will be here for the community, giving back to the community in any and every way possible, she said.
After years of rumors Pizza Ranch would open a Wisconsin Rapids location, plans have been in the works since city leaders approved initial parking plans for the site, naming the 8,137-square-foot restaurant in October.
Hall told a Daily Tribune reporter in January she and her husband would be the owners and operators of the new location. Gary Hall is currently the general manager of the Stevens Point area location, and Angie Hall is a district manager for multiple locations throughout the state.
For more information, visit pizzaranch.com.
Contact Caitlin at cshuda@usatodayco.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Lutheran’s Zens is Gatorade state player of the year
Mr Basketball Zavier Zens leads Wisconsin Lutheran back to state title
Wisconsin Lutheran coach Ryan Walz speaks on a late steal and dunk by Mr. Basketball Zavier Zens to help the Vikings advance to the state title game.
Wisconsin Lutheran senior Zavier Zens rounded out a week that already saw him named to the Naismith High School All-American list, receive the Mr. Basketball Award from the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and win a third consecutive WIAA state title with his Vikings teammates by being named the 2025-26 Gatorade Wisconsin boys basketball player of the year.
In a release from March 20, Gatorade announced Zens as Wisconsin Lutheran’s second Gatorade player of the year in the past three seasons, joining his first cousin, Kon Knueppel. The 6-foot-7 Northern Iowa commit averaged 23.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and shot 61.8% from the field, leading Wisconsin Lutheran’s second 30-0 season in the past three years.
In addition to his on-court impact, the Gatorade press release highlighted Zens’ community impact as a youth basketball coach, participation in community service through his church and a 3.38 weighted GPA in the classroom among the factors leading to his selection.
“Zavier is incredible,” Greendale coach Ryan Johnson said in the Gatorade release. “He has had an incredible season as the leader of not only the top-ranked team in the state, but one of the best teams in the country. He scores at all three levels, defends at a high level and is a true leader.”
Zens scored 21 points in a 68-61 WIAA Division 1 state semifinal win over Appleton North on March 20, before adding another team-best 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting to lead a 57-37 win in the D1 state title game over Madison Memorial on March 21.
He finishes his career as the No. 3 career scorer in school history (1,611 points), No. 7 in career rebounds (463), No. 2 in career threes (154) and single-season points (703), while holding the school record for converted field goals in a season (282).
Gatorade player of the year recognizes one state winner from each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., in 12 sports, including: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross-country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, as well as boys and girls track and field. In total, 610 high school athletes are recognized each year. From the pool of state winners, one national winner is selected in each of the 12 sports by a committee that leverages coaches, scouts, media and other sources to determine each sport’s winner.
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