Denver • BYU basketball player Richie Saunders can’t go anywhere without somebody asking him about tater tots, the snack invented by his great-grandfather.

But enough with the savory.

Now Saunders and the Cougars are only thinking about the Sweet.

BYU survived Wisconsin’s rally to beat the Badgers 91-89 Saturday night and advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in over a decade.

Saunders led the way with 25 points and seven rebounds.

Wisconsin’s John Tonje scored a game-high 37 points, but missed a contested shot in the final seconds that could have tied the game.

The Cougars led by 10 points with just over two minutes left on the clock. The Badgers cut the lead to two over the next 90 seconds.

BYU advances to the round of 16 for the first time since 2011, when Jimmer Fredette was still in Cougar blue.

BYU will face the winner of Alabama and Saint Mary’s.

Saunders led the Cougars in scoring, but BYU showcased its depth throughout the contest.

Trevin Knell finished with 14 points with four triples. Egor Demin had 11, eight rebounds and eight assists. Eight different BYU players scored at least six points.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, got just three points of production from its bench.

The Badgers appeared to have a size advantage coming into the matchup. But BYU finished the game with 39 points in the paint, out-rebounded Wisconsin 41-32 and converted a dozen second-chance points.

The Wisconsin Badgers will take on the BYU Cougars in the Round of 32 on Saturday, with the winner moving on to the Sweet Sixteen in Newark next week.

The Badgers kicked off the NCAA Tournament with an 85-66 win over the Montana Grizzlies on Thursday morning, pulling away at the end for the blowout victory in the first round.

BYU, on the other hand, controlled their game against the VCU Rams, ultimately winning 80-71 thanks to a strong shooting day.

Now, the two teams will face off in the No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 seed matchup at the Ball Arena in Denver, with tip-off set for 6:45 p.m. central.

While Wisconsin has had one of the strongest seasons in program history, they’re only a 1.5-point favorite against BYU, which has the geographical advantage on Saturday with both proximity and altitude.

Are the Badgers on upset watch on Saturday against the Cougars? Let’s look at expert predictions.

Mike DeCourcy: No. 6 BYU over No. 3 Wisconsin

Scott Van Pelt: No. 6 BYU over No. 3 Wisconsin

Dick Vitale: No. 3 Wisconsin over No. 6 BYU

Jay Bilas: No. 6 BYU over No. 3 Wisconsin

Rece Davis: No. 6 BYU over No. 3 Wisconsin

Seth Greenberg: No. 6 BYU over No. 3 Wisconsin

Matt Norlander: No. 6 BYU over No. 3 Wisconsin

Looking at expert brackets, a majority of people who selected Wisconsin and BYU to advance have now picked the Cougars to reach the Sweet Sixteen.

While these are just bracket predictions, there is the case for BYU. They’re one of the most efficient offenses in the country, as witnessed by their first-round victory over VCU where they shot 50 percent from the field and 35 percent from three, despite facing a top-25 defense.

If Wisconsin starts sluggishly and can’t get its shots to fall, they may struggle to keep up with BYU’s offense. The Badgers are reaching the elite range defensively though, jumping inside the top 25 in KenPom after their win over Montana, while the Cougars are much further behind at No. 69.

So, if Wisconsin can control the pace of the game (BYU ranks 183rd in tempo), they’re better suited to defend the Cougars’ half-court offense and advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

Nonetheless, it’s going to be a tough matchup for the Badgers, as seen by expert predictions and the odds being as close as they are. So, they’ll need their best version to come out and play on Saturday. Otherwise, their season could be over sooner than anticipated.