Wisconsin isn't exactly heading into the NCAA Tournament with a head of steam, having lost eight of 11 before the Big Ten Tournament. But followers of college basketball know how little that can matter in the Big Dance.

Last year's national champion UConn played well in February, but the Huskies did lose five of six from New Year's Eve to Jan. 18 and six of eight. That included a loss to No. 25 Marquette and two losses to nationally ranked Xavier.

The Badgers can also take heart in what we've seen in very recent history. The seeds to make the Elite Eight in the last two tournaments have included more double-digit seeds (a 10 and 15) than No. 1 seeds (once). A ninth seed, eighth seed and sixth seed have also made it. In 2021, two double-digit seeds made the Elite Eight, meaning we have four total in the past three years, plus a ninth seed.

These recent teams limped into the NCAA Tournament but made a splash when they arrived. Can UW do the same?

2021 UCLA

The Bruins lost four straight games to close the regular season, including the opening round of the Pac-12 tournament, and all losses came against unranked teams. UCLA closed the season having gone 5-7, but then the Bruins went all the way to the national semifinal, with three overtime games in the tournament (2-1).

2021 Oregon State

The Beavers went on a stunning run to win the Pac 12 tournament and qualify for the dance as a No. 12 seed, then went all the way to the Elite Eight. Their regular season ended without much fanfare, with a 4-5 record and all losses against unranked teams.

2018 Florida State

The Seminoles started the year 11-1 but went into the tournament at 20-11. Starting Dec. 30, FSU lost four of its next six, and starting Jan. 31, the Seminoles closed the year 4-6. But then came the tournament, where the ninth-seeded Florida State squad beat Missouri, top-seeded Xavier and No. 4 seed Gonzaga before falling to Michigan in the Elite Eight.

2018 Texas Tech

Before bowing out in the Elite Eight to top-seeded Villanova, the Red Raiders won three tournament games as a No. 3 seed despite closing the year with five losses in the final seven games.

2017 South Carolina

The Gamecocks entered the tournament with a 26-11 record and possessed a No. 7 seed in the tournament; Marquette remembers it well after the Gamecocks abused MU in the first round, 93-73. But there was no sign that the team would pull off a run to the Final Four. South Carolina lost six of its final nine games, including in the first round of the SEC tournament, and only one of those losses came against a ranked foe.

2017 Xavier

The Musketeers were granted an 11th seed after a disastrous finish to the year, losing six consecutive games from Feb. 11 to March 1 (the last one at home against Marquette). Xavier was able to rebound with consecutive wins over DePaul (once in the Big East Tournament) and a victory over Butler before bowing out, but then Xavier upset three teams to reach the Elite Eight before falling to top-seeded Gonzaga. Starting Jan. 10, Xavier went 5-10 over its next 15 games, though six losses came against ranked foes.

2016 Syracuse

The Orange (23-14) entered the tournament as a No. 10 seed were fortunate to make the tourney at all, having lost five of its final six games (including in the first round of the ACC Tournament). Syracuse also lost four in a row to start the ACC season, but then it marched all the way to the Final Four, with a win over No. 1 seed Virginia in the Elite Eight before bowing to eventual national champion North Carolina.

2014 Michigan State

The fourth-seeded Spartans reached the Elite Eight, though their season appeared to go sour after starting the year 18-1. Starting on Jan. 25, State went 5-7, with five of those losses to unraked teams (including Wisconsin) and three of those losses at the Breslin Center. Sparty got back on track, however, by winning the Big Ten Tournament.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: These teams struggled at season's end but got hot in the tourney