Five Points for a National Championship...

[Lennys Tap]

Which by no means indicates that they have a better shot at the Final Four.  They very well might win that game - it is in the Kohl Center after all.  However their lack of front court depth and experience is really going to harm them later down the road.

Exactly. Indiana probably would have beaten us in Bloomington last year, yet when the rubber met the road we had a better chance at the final four.

[The Lens]

01-29-92
09-02-91
03-26-91
11-21-90
01-04-90

Those are the birthdays of our 5 anticipated starters, barring a frosh or Steven Taylor's son breaking the line-up.

By Sweet 16 time, the average age will be over 22.5 --- imagine our old men vs. UK's kids.  Would be interesting.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I don't disagree with a word you said.  You are taking a great leap and extrapolating on all kinds of stuff when I said nothing of the kind about UW, IU, the Big Ten in general.   I think MU is a better team than UW-madison, but as we all know the best team doesn't always win.  I think UW-madison will beat us this year in Madison.  That is all I said...that I think UW will beat MU this year.   All the other stuff you said, sure.

.

Uummmm okay Chief....I asked for your analysis on your pick...and then went into my assessment of the B1G and Bucky.  So your analysis is UW wins because it is a home game?  I was looking for a little more from you...but that will do if that is all you got.

As to my retort about IU...it was a funny dating back to Crean talking about the Final 4 team he left at MU.  You said, "theoretically" every team is a Final 4 team before the season.  So that is my story on them this year.  After all, they have two University Games starters in the lineup. 

Do I need to buy you a context dictionary? 

[brandx]

Forgetting about the Badgers and getting back to the topic!

Think of this.  If Junior doesn't waste a year of eligibility coming back his freshman year.  If Vander stays in school.

You then start 2 seniors and 2 redshirt seniors with a point guard that has played in 10 NCAA tournament games.
THAT is a Final 4 team with a real shot at the title.
What might have been.

Obviously, Vander would have helped this team. But I prefer our point guards this season over Junior.

While JC's intangibles were off the chart, his play (especially against good, quick teams) wasn't. He was a turnover machine who couldn't shoot. While there is a real risk/reward with the Wilson's this year, I think we will be better off by tournament time.

[Eldon]

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Uummmm okay Chief....I asked for your analysis on your pick...and then went into my assessment of the B1G and Bucky.  So your analysis is UW wins because it is a home game?  I was looking for a little more from you...but that will do if that is all you got.

As to my retort about IU...it was a funny dating back to Crean talking about the Final 4 team he left at MU.  You said, "theoretically" every team is a Final 4 team before the season.  So that is my story on them this year.  After all, they have two University Games starters in the lineup. 

Do I need to buy you a context dictionary? 

Some people get caught up on what's logically true vs. what's 'pragmatically felicitous'.  I left a FF team.  How so?  Because every team is a potential FF team.  Technically/logically, yea, but pragmatically infelicitous as linguists would say.

[GGGG]

Uummmm okay Chief....I asked for your analysis on your pick...and then went into my assessment of the B1G and Bucky.  So your analysis is UW wins because it is a home game?  I was looking for a little more from you...but that will do if that is all you got.

Because Chicos said what he said simply to rile people up, not to provide a counter argument.  The sun rises in the east....fall turns into winter...etc. etc. etc.

[tower912]

MU's season is controlled by how well the freshman guards play.    If they are ready from day 1, a la the amigos, MU is a legit final 4 team.    If they aren't, all bets are off.   How they handle OSU and Craft will be an early indicator.  

[GGGG]

MU's season is controlled by how well the freshman guards play.    If they are ready from day 1, a la the amigos, MU is a legit final 4 team.    If they aren't, all bets are off.   How they handle OSU and Craft will be an early indicator. 

Actually I don't think that will be much of an indicator.  I think MU is going to have some trouble in that game because of the inexperience in their backcourt.  As others have mentioned here, I think they will get better as the year goes on, but that first game has the potential to be ugly with poor backcourt play.

[Lennys Tap]

01-29-92
09-02-91
03-26-91
11-21-90
01-04-90

Those are the birthdays of our 5 anticipated starters, barring a frosh or Steven Taylor's son breaking the line-up.

By Sweet 16 time, the average age will be over 22.5 --- imagine our old men vs. UK's kids.  Would be interesting.

That's some grown men, Lens.

[tower912]

I didn't mean MU has to win.    If they don't get completely destroyed by Craft, then there is hope.  

[GGGG]

I didn't mean MU has to win.    If they don't get completely destroyed by Craft, then there is hope. 

Let me put it another way.  We very well might be destroyed by Craft.  And I still wouldn't lose hope despite the inevitable meltdown that will occur on Scoop.

Remember last year's team was absolutely destroyed by Florida on national television...and things worked out just fine by the end of the year. 

[mu03eng]

I didn't mean MU has to win.    If they don't get completely destroyed by Craft, then there is hope.  

I'm not even a little bit concerned about Craft destroying us.  Craft will get points, but OSU was terrible in the half court last year and was mediocre at rebounding and lost their top two rebounders.  That makes their eFG% pretty low I think.  To overcome their difficulty in the half court they are going to have to get out and run which helps our defense as Buzz teams aren't likely to be caught napping in transition.  With our bulk down low and length on the wings, I like our chances.

Assuming OSU isn't red hot from the arc I think we win.

[Lennys Tap]

Let me put it another way.  We very well might be destroyed by Craft.  And I still wouldn't lose hope despite the inevitable meltdown that will occur on Scoop.

Remember last year's team was absolutely destroyed by Florida on national television...and things worked out just fine by the end of the year. 

I'm with you. The idea is to be playing your best ball in March, not November or December. Takes a lot of the "crap" out of crapshoot.

[jsglow]

01-29-92
09-02-91
03-26-91
11-21-90
01-04-90

Those are the birthdays of our 5 anticipated starters, barring a frosh or Steven Taylor's son breaking the line-up.

By Sweet 16 time, the average age will be over 22.5 --- imagine our old men vs. UK's kids.  Would be interesting.

Let's hope we're not past our prime!

[Dr. Blackheart]

Actually I don't think that will be much of an indicator.  I think MU is going to have some trouble in that game because of the inexperience in their backcourt.  As others have mentioned here, I think they will get better as the year goes on, but that first game has the potential to be ugly with poor backcourt play.

I tend to agree...but I don't know if I would use the word ugly.  These are two juniors who have seen plenty of playing time.  I just think that they will not push the advantage as well to start the season.  

But, the freshmen will indeed have ugly moments early and often.  However, DuWilson's mistakes will be forcing the action at the basket and not with the loose handle or wild pass in transition that would lead to quick turnaround points.  Du is used to feeding the post with Stone.  

As for Craft, his efficiency and the team's took a big drop after Sullinger's departure....and now with Thomas gone, what will it look like with three guards starting?  He is a great playmaker and he keeps turnovers down, but a playmaker needs a scorer.  Lots of question marks there too like MU, all with good potential.  

As for Willie's sarcastic comment on DeWilson...UW may be the one game he actually owns a PG.  Jackson is not the answer, although he knows the Swing.  He was exposed in Canada, and with the frontline gone, teams are going to lock him down high to disrupt the slow developing offense even more.  He had a 90 off efficiency last year as a starter in that role that requires him controlling the ball.  Ouch.  Brust and Dekker are going to have to create on their own.  Bo's system doesn't work that way, though.  How will he adjust?  They need a healthy Gasser to beat MU early.

[NersEllenson]

Let me put it another way.  We very well might be destroyed by Craft.  And I still wouldn't lose hope despite the inevitable meltdown that will occur on Scoop.

Remember last year's team was absolutely destroyed by Florida on national television...and things worked out just fine by the end of the year. 

This is a crazy statement to make, but could Derrick Wilson ever evolve into a Craft type of player?  Craft is a beast defensively, due to his physicality and quickness - similar to Derrick.  I don't think Craft is much of a shooter, perhaps a better facilitator/penetrator than Derrick - yet I see similarities in their styles of play.  Derrick is strong/solid with the ball - don't see Craft being able to turn him over - yet don't see Derrick doing much beyond being able to initiate offense.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Why don't you try discussing your Badgers merits?  Like their unbalanced line up, skewed even more to the perimeter?  Who their point guard is?  How will replace their three starters in the front court? Will Gasser be 100% early on?  Will Koenig get off the bench to start?  Their match up advantage to Marquette?  How they will gel after a sluggish Canadian trip?  Can Dekker be the man?  They lost a lot of defense, how will they adjust?

I've got Bucky rolling out this as a starting lineup:

Jackson
Brust
Gasser
Dekker
Kaminsky

Assuming Gasser is good to go, they have a talented and experienced backcourt that could give our guys fits. Dekker definitely has the potential to "be the man" but he hasn't had to do it yet. I would personally take J Wilson over Dekker right now. The real mismatch is at the 5. Bo's system requires a dominate big man who can also take jumpshots. I'm not convinced Kaminsky is that player. Gardner should eat him alive. But if anyone can develop a player like Kaminsky, it is Bo.

I think we have the more talented team but that's assuming our frosh guards live up to their potential. We should win but you can never count Bucky out in Madison. Should be a close one.

[GGGG]

I've got Bucky rolling out this as a starting lineup:

Jackson
Brust
Gasser
Dekker
Kaminsky

Assuming Gasser is good to go, they have a talented and experienced backcourt that could give our guys fits. Dekker definitely has the potential to "be the man" but he hasn't had to do it yet. I would personally take J Wilson over Dekker right now. The real mismatch is at the 5. Bo's system requires a dominate big man who can also take jumpshots. I'm not convinced Kaminsky is that player. Gardner should eat him alive. But if anyone can develop a player like Kaminsky, it is Bo.

I think we have the more talented team but that's assuming our frosh guards live up to their potential. We should win but you can never count Bucky out in Madison. Should be a close one.

That is one small line up that would give MU huge frontcourt mismatches.  I could see MU going very big that game and rotating McKay, Otule and Gardner in constantly. 

[mu03eng]

That is one small line up that would give MU huge frontcourt mismatches.  I could see MU going very big that game and rotating McKay, Otule and Gardner in constantly. 

Not to mention freeing Steve Taylor to rebound like the apocalypse is coming.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm not even a little bit concerned about Craft destroying us.  Craft will get points, but OSU was terrible in the half court last year and was mediocre at rebounding and lost their top two rebounders.  That makes their eFG% pretty low I think.  To overcome their difficulty in the half court they are going to have to get out and run which helps our defense as Buzz teams aren't likely to be caught napping in transition.  With our bulk down low and length on the wings, I like our chances.

Assuming OSU isn't red hot from the arc I think we win.

tOSU lost their best player to the draft, as well as their most experienced center. But we can't take this team lightly. They will roll out a much more balanced attack this year and potentially be better than last year's elite 8 squad.

I'm projecting their starters as:
Aaron Craft
Lenzelle Smith Jr.
Sam Thompson
Quinton Ross
Amir Williams

Craft and LSJ are one of the strongest defensive backcourts (if not the most) in college ball. Their backup Shannon Scott is also very talented. With us relying on either frosh or last year's back ups at the guard position, I see a lot of turnovers and easy scores for the Buckeyes. Thompson and Ross are big athletic forwards who will be able to keep up with and match J Wil, McKay, and Taylor. Thompson is a freak athlete (some of last year's best dunks) and Ross is a sharpshooter. Williams was underwhelming last season but he was a top 50 center coming out of high school. If he realizes his potential, that can be dangerous.

The Buckeyes weakness is their depth. Their recruiting class this year was good but not up to usual Buckeye standards (neither was their class last year). The bench players who are returning from last season are Della Vella, a sharpshooter from Italy, and Trey McDonald, an undersized center. Both only played garbage minutes last season and average around 2 ppg.

So to beat the Buckeyes, we need to keep Craft and LSJ from turning TOs into easy buckets. That's going to mean early passes into the paint. Let Big Smooth work his magic on Williams (very foul prone last season). If Williams gets in foul trouble, tOSU will be playing seldom used 6"8 backup center Trey McDonald who can be abused in the paint. On defense, stop the Buckeyes from raining threes. Four of their projected starters shot better than 30% from beyond the arc last season. This will be an early test of our three point D.

I think tOSU has a better starting lineup, but our depth might be enough to win the game. It will be a tough one. Until I see the frosh in action, I don't feel comfortable calling the game for either side.

[bilsu]

01-29-92
09-02-91
03-26-91
11-21-90
01-04-90

Those are the birthdays of our 5 anticipated starters, barring a frosh or Steven Taylor's son breaking the line-up.

By Sweet 16 time, the average age will be over 22.5 --- imagine our old men vs. UK's kids.  Would be interesting.

My 7 grandkids have a lot more energy than me.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

That is one small line up that would give MU huge frontcourt mismatches.  I could see MU going very big that game and rotating McKay, Otule and Gardner in constantly. 

I agree, Dekker isn't big enough or athletic enough to cover McKay, Taylor, J Wilson, or Gardner. So I think we get a lot of easy scores. But Dekker can shoot the lights out, and J Wilson can be suspect on defense

[bilsu]

I would be more worried about Craft, if we were depending on our point guard for scoring. As long as the point guard postion keeps the turnovers down to 3-4, I do not really care if Craft holds Derrick Wilson scoreless. I figure Duane will average about 6 pts a game this year, so even if he holds both of our point guards scoreless it will not matter much. It will matter if they throw the ball away 10 times. Offensively Craft could be a problem. He was the one that carried Ohio St. to a win in the tournament by hitting some timely shots. I think it was the game to get to final four, but it could of been the game before that.

[ChicosBailBonds]

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Uummmm okay Chief....I asked for your analysis on your pick...and then went into my assessment of the B1G and Bucky.  So your analysis is UW wins because it is a home game?  I was looking for a little more from you...but that will do if that is all you got.

As to my retort about IU...it was a funny dating back to Crean talking about the Final 4 team he left at MU.  You said, "theoretically" every team is a Final 4 team before the season.  So that is my story on them this year.  After all, they have two University Games starters in the lineup. 

Do I need to buy you a context dictionary? 

Sorry, happy to define further.

Yes, theoretically every team is a Final Four team by definition.  Ask Butler, George Mason, Wichita State, etc. 

By the way, I'm deeply offended that you referred to me as chief and think that is racial and uncalled for. 

My analysis....the game is at the Kohl Center, our guards are unproven, they've lost 3 straight to MU, I think they will have the edge.  It will be our first true hostile road environment (sorry, I don't count Tempe or Disneyland adjacent in that same realm).  Just a guess, nothing more.  50-50 proposition.  UWGB was unbalanced last year, and they beat us.  Syracuse was better than MU, but MU beat them at home.  Anything can happen, I just think they get us this year at their place.  Probably not the context or deep analysis you are looking for.   

[ChicosBailBonds]

Because Chicos said what he said simply to rile people up, not to provide a counter argument.  The sun rises in the east....fall turns into winter...etc. etc. etc.

Not at all.  I don't find it that out of the ordinary to pick the home school over MU when both teams are quality teams.  Nothing earth shattering.  It's not like I said UW-madison will beat us by 34 points or 15 or destroy us or whatever.  I just think they will get us this year.  You guys way overanalyze things....the keyboard psychology degrees that have been earned are impressive.