If you believe in the Ken Pomeroy Factor, then you believe Wisconsin is poised for a long NCAA Tournament run.

In each of the previous six NCAA Tournaments, the eventual champion ranked either first or second in Pomeroy's Adjusted Offensive efficiency ratings. Guess who ranks No. 2 heading into Thursday's second-round matchup against Belmont? That's right, the Badgers are No. 2 with 123.6 points per 100 possessions.

At the same time, if you believe in Pomeroy's overall efficiency ratings, then you're screaming about how the NCAA Tournament committee treated the Badgers. Pomeroy rates Wisconsin as the nation's No. 9 team, which translates to a No. 3 seed. Instead, the Badgers picked up a No. 4 seed, and they're facing a Belmont team that heads into the NCAA Tournament rated by Pomeroy as the nation's No. 18 team. That's a rugged opener.

And if the Badgers are fortunate enough to slide by Belmont, then fifth-seeded Kansas State or 12th-seeded Utah State awaits in the third round. Utah State stands 16th in Pomeroy efficiency ratings, while K-State ranks 29th.

While that's a monstrous quadrant, Wisconsin's biggest issue is itself. The Badgers are dealing with their first two-game losing streak of the year -- and they might not have sixth man Mike Bruesewitz after he sprained his right knee in Wisconsin's Big Ten tournament quarterfinal loss to Penn State. And did we mention the Badgers scored just 33 points in that game?

For a team that has been so efficient all year (the Badgers are on a course to set NCAA records for fewest turnovers per game and best free-throw percentage), the Penn State loss offers plenty of motivation to get locked in and waste no time worrying about the tough slate in Tucson, Ariz.

"Regardless of what the draw was and where we were going and who we were playing," senior forward Jon Leuer told Madison.com, "the main thing is that we focus on ourselves and what we do well. If we stick to that, we usually have a chance to be successful."

Copyright (C) 2011 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.