Thoughts on Wisconsin

[brewcity77]

Watching them against Virginia tonight, a few things stuck out. First, despite the points they are putting up, this is not an offensive team as good as I'm used to seeing from Wisconsin. They can shoot but not much else. And when they can't get inside, whether through passing or driving, they don't get very good looks. Also, Kaminsky had some definite struggles from range. He takes too long to get his shot off on the perimeter and didn't seem to do much with a hand in his face. I'd love to see Juan get some run on him. Despite the size disparity, I think he'd struggle with Juan's quickness and length.

Virginia seemed to stay in man most of the game. They did a good job rotating and shutting down passing lanes inside, but I'd have loved to see some 1-3-1 zone. Wisky would probably shred a 2-3, but with a bit more perimeter extension and one guy to guard the paint, I think they might have a tough time getting going. They really don't have many people that can attack the paint unless they are in transition, and it took them awhile to figure out that they needed to get the ball inside to have success outside. This Badger team isn't as smart as their previous iterations. They suffer greatly from not having a guy who can bang inside like Berggren, Brusewitz, or Leuer, and none of their main guards really seem very savvy. That's not to say that they don't have positive attributes, but Gasser is mainly a defender, Brust and Jackson are almost exclusively perimeter players, and Koenig and Hayes simply aren't ready. That Koenig/Hayes combo could really give us fits in the years to come, however.

Dekker is the one guy that is most dangerous. He had an off night, but he's the only one that seemed to be able to get to the rack with any efficiency. Virginia was very physical with him, as was St. Louis, and that really seems to take him out of his element.

If Virginia had been making the bunnies, Wisky likely would have had a heavy first-half deficit to overcome. The Cavs also seemed to get a bit gunshy after they got a few shots blocked inside. We need to keep attacking the paint and as long as our shots fall, I like our chances. Virginia's mistake was to try to beat the Badgers at their own game, which will only work if you can make shots and aren't afraid to attack. Not the case for the Cavs, hence the home loss.

[mubb34]

I like the idea that you mentioned to try Juan on Kaminsky....I really think it would pester him and make him get nervous with and without the ball...Also, on offense we need to feed it to Gardner early. If we could get Kaminsky in foul trouble that would force Hayes to play a lot more minutes. Then you play Oxtule and Wilson all together and perhaps sit in a 3-2 with Gardner and Otule down low.

[Hards Alumni]

I think what might be interesting is that UW is going to have a much shorter turnaround that we had.  Three days to prep for MU, while we've had almost a week.

[Let's Go Warriors]

While I dont mind the idea of Juan on Frank.  I just wonder who Chris or Gardner would guard in that situation?  UW plays small on D and O.  Soft on the inside but spread the floor for the open 3.  You have to put your best defender on Dekker.  Quite frankly(no pun intended)  if Kaminsky gets a few put backs and inside scores you can live with that.  You can not live with that and a bunch of 3s.  Whomever guards him just needs to play solid but not spectacular D on the perimeter.  Just get a hand in his face.  In fact close out tight on the hole team and have CO waiting inside if they drive.  Sans Dekker nobody on that team really puts any fear into you off the dribble.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Is now the time that Buzz changes his rotation?  It is obvious MU needs guys in there who can create offense.  His current line up plays to Wisconsin's strengths on defense.  When your problem is offense, it makes no sense to not start your two leading scorers and most efficient players playing an exclusively man opponent.

Also, please end the JWilson experiment at back up PG.  I like it occasionally but Jamil is holding it too long with east-west dribbling, and is being left with a non-toes to the baskets, flat shots.

[mubb34]

Personally I think that we should use the same starting lineup besides throwing Mayo in and taking Juan out. We see how that group starts off the game and make adjustments on how to go forward.

Wilson on Jackson, Jake on Gasser, Todd on Brust, Wilson on Dekker, and Otule on Frank. Hopefully Burton or Jajuan will heat up and get 15-17 minutes.

[Mu2323]

Jake on gasser is a bad idea. I think gasser has a big game is jake covers him.

[Dawson Rental]

Watching them against Virginia tonight, a few things stuck out. First, despite the points they are putting up, this is not an offensive team as good as I'm used to seeing from Wisconsin. They can shoot but not much else. And when they can't get inside, whether through passing or driving, they don't get very good looks. Also, Kaminsky had some definite struggles from range. He takes too long to get his shot off on the perimeter and didn't seem to do much with a hand in his face. I'd love to see Juan get some run on him. Despite the size disparity, I think he'd struggle with Juan's quickness and length.

Virginia seemed to stay in man most of the game. They did a good job rotating and shutting down passing lanes inside, but I'd have loved to see some 1-3-1 zone. Wisky would probably shred a 2-3, but with a bit more perimeter extension and one guy to guard the paint, I think they might have a tough time getting going. They really don't have many people that can attack the paint unless they are in transition, and it took them awhile to figure out that they needed to get the ball inside to have success outside. This Badger team isn't as smart as their previous iterations. They suffer greatly from not having a guy who can bang inside like Berggren, Brusewitz, or Leuer, and none of their main guards really seem very savvy. That's not to say that they don't have positive attributes, but Gasser is mainly a defender, Brust and Jackson are almost exclusively perimeter players, and Koenig and Hayes simply aren't ready. That Koenig/Hayes combo could really give us fits in the years to come, however.

Dekker is the one guy that is most dangerous. He had an off night, but he's the only one that seemed to be able to get to the rack with any efficiency. Virginia was very physical with him, as was St. Louis, and that really seems to take him out of his element.

If Virginia had been making the bunnies, Wisky likely would have had a heavy first-half deficit to overcome. The Cavs also seemed to get a bit gunshy after they got a few shots blocked inside. We need to keep attacking the paint and as long as our shots fall, I like our chances. Virginia's mistake was to try to beat the Badgers at their own game, which will only work if you can make shots and aren't afraid to attack. Not the case for the Cavs, hence the home loss.

Hardly surprising considering that they are coached by a Bennett.

[GGGG]

Personally I think that we should use the same starting lineup besides throwing Mayo in and taking Juan out. We see how that group starts off the game and make adjustments on how to go forward.

Wilson on Jackson, Jake on Gasser, Todd on Brust, Wilson on Dekker, and Otule on Frank. Hopefully Burton or Jajuan will heat up and get 15-17 minutes.

Juan should start and be put on Dekker.  Jamil picks up too many early fouls.  I would actually consider putting Jamil on Jackson because he cannot handle pressure.  De. Wilson on Brust.  Jake on Gasser.

[Let's Go Warriors]

Jake on gasser is a bad idea. I think gasser has a big game is jake covers him.

Agreed.  Jakes strength is his help and team defense.  Not his on ball D.

[Dawson Rental]

Agreed.  Jakes strength is his help and team defense.  Not his on ball D.

And Gasser can kill an opponent when he's given any time to shoot.

[memorialspartans]

And Gasser can kill an opponent when he's given any time to shoot.

The way Gasser is playing this year makes you wonder if Vander actually went to UW what if we had Gasser here? 

[GGGG]

I think Jake would be fine on Gasser.  Gasser kills you with his efficiency.  He doesn't shoot all that much.  But when he does shoot it is usually because he is open due to defensive rotations.  He's not going to put the ball on the floor all that often a la Brust or Dekker. 

[esotericmindguy]

Watch the OSU game again and then expect that on Saturday.

[brewcity77]

Hardly surprising considering that they are coached by a Bennett.

Yeah, it wasn't surprising at all, but they were actually having some success when they tried to push the pace a bit early. The only problem was the shots weren't falling. Good looks, though.

[Silkk the Shaka]

The way Gasser is playing this year makes you wonder if Vander actually went to UW what if we had Gasser here?  

Sweet 16, Sweet 16, Elite 8 & Big East champion. Vander gave us a ton, thus far more than Gasser has brought to Madison. And that's not even accounting for the major in-state recruiting shift that occured with his switch from UW to MU. His choice of MU paid off in more ways than just on the court. I'll always love him for that.

[Dawson Rental]

My thoughts on Wisconsin:  Is this Bo's best coaching job so far?

Looking at Wisconsin preseason, I was thinking that this is the year that they don't make a top four Big Ten finish for the first time under Bo.  Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan and Indiana all looking like they might have too much talent for Wisconsin to handle.  They lost their entire starting front court with only top sub Dekker looking certain to be ready for the big time.  They play an eight man rotation with two freshman and a junior who redshirted last year after he failed to make an impact in his first two years as their reserves.

Preseason they were ranked 20th AP and 21st by the coaches.  They beat Florida at home.  They started this week (week 5) ranked 8th and 9th with an 8-0 record, then yesterday they held a borderline top 25 team to 38 points to go to 9-0 on the road.

All five starters average in double figures giving them great offensive balance.  They appear more than ready to cause havoc in the Big Ten.

So, is this a team just taking advantage in the early season of a fast start due to extra practice time from their preseason trip to Canada?  Or is this an example of Bo combining pieces that anyone else would have trouble competing with in the Big Ten into a very formidable team?

[MarquetteDano]

The way Gasser is playing this year makes you wonder if Vander actually went to UW what if we had Gasser here? 

Please tell me this isn't serious.

[GGGG]

Watch the OSU game again and then expect that on Saturday.

Wisconsin may win, but they aren't going to blow MU off the floor.  Under Buzz, Marquette gets in trouble against athletic teams that start running and hitting their shots.  

I think this might play out a lot like the 2010-11 game in the Bradley Center where MU lost 69-64.  UW gets an early lead...MU scrapes back...only to fall short in the end.  That team was very much like this one IMO...some good young talent not quite ready to step up, a leader yet to emerge, not quite ready for this stage.

And of course that team got to the S16 anyway.

[Dawson Rental]

The way Gasser is playing this year makes you wonder if Vander actually went to UW what if we had Gasser here?  

Sweet 16, Sweet 16, Elite 8 & Big East champion. Vander gave us a ton, thus far more than Gasser has brought to Madison. And that's not even accounting for the major in-state recruiting shift that occured with his switch from UW to MU. His choice of MU paid off in more ways than just on the court. I'll always love him for that.

A good question followed by a great answer.

[GGGG]

But that's the question that was asked.  The question is, had Vander stayed the course with UW, AND Gasser eventually ended up at MU, what would MU be like now?

Of course Buzz was not all that interested in Gasser anyways so it doesn't really matter...

[willie warrior]

This game should be a no brainer for us. We have better talent, according to all, and according to many on this board, we have the better coach. So with better talent and coaching, we should win. I am hoping for a thorough ass kicking of UW. They are 8th in the country and moving up. What better opportunity for us to seal our resume this year than kicking rodent ass on their home floor? I am all for seeing crying Ryan going ballistic. Not much scoring in this game. First to 48 wins.

[Silkk the Shaka]

But that's the question that was asked.  The question is, had Vander stayed the course with UW, AND Gasser eventually ended up at MU, what would MU be like now?
Of course Buzz was not all that interested in Gasser anyways so it doesn't really matter...

And the answer is... not as well off as we are now. Both in terms of the results on the court the last three years as well as the in-state recruiting pipelline.

[GGGG]

And the answer is... not as well off as we are now. Both in terms of the results on the court the last three years as well as the in-state recruiting pipelline.

Ah OK...I understand what you are saying.

[Dawson Rental]

This game should be a no brainer for us. We have better talent, according to all, and according to many on this board, we have the better coach. So with better talent and coaching, we should win. I am hoping for a thorough ass kicking of UW. They are 8th in the country and moving up. What better opportunity for us to seal our resume this year than kicking rodent ass on their home floor? I am all for seeing crying Ryan going ballistic. Not much scoring in this game. First to 48 wins.

MU certainly wins the battle of getting players who were ranked higher coming out of HS.  Buzz and Bo both have their systems and try to recruit to it.  It would be hard not to admit that Bo has found great fits for his system in his current team, and that he has them playing very well within his system this year with outstanding results.