Wisconsin was top five in the NPI when the calendar changed, and then went through a dreadful January that put it on the NCAA bubble.
Lately, the Badgers have righted the ship and entered Wednesday's Big Ten single-game quarterfinal matchup a firm 12th in the NPI.
But at least for now, they have to sweat out making the NCAA Tournament, thanks to a playoff performance that belongs in the January bin.
Playoff nemesis Ohio State — which has knocked off Wisconsin the last two seasons in best-of-3 quarterfinals — came into Madison and won 7-1.