Wisconsin predictions

[WarriorFan]

I don't see why the focus is on Duane - I guess because he's NOT a freshman.

IMHO, Fisher needs to have a strong game and draw about 10 fouls.
Hannif and JJJ need to attack the basket
Sandy needs to guard an outstanding player in Hayes, give up about 3-4 inches and 30 pounds, not foul, and hold him to 10 and 8 while getting 2 steals.  Wally needs to fill in for Sandy for 3 minutes in each half.
Carter needs to feed the post by penetrating and dishing.
Henry needs to finish against big strong guys.  No offensive fouls.  I guarantee you Bo has spent the last 2 weeks teaching guys how to step in front of henry to draw O-Fouls.
Duane needs to relax and fit in.

This game is won/lost inside, and probably based on fouls not points given the way officiating has been so far this year.  I like our chances.

[WayOfTheWarrior]

The fact that UWM is tied with Becky at 62 with south of 2 minutes to play makes me think we should be able to win handily, but that's never the case. If UWM beats 'em, they will be a little more motivated out of embarrassment.

If Fish and HE-man stay out of foul trouble, I think we will be ok.

[cheebs09]

Either way, I have to think UW may be doubting themselves a little bit after this one. I wouldn't mind it if they had their confidence shaken a bit. Granted, we aren't coming off a very good performance.

If Hayes and Koenig are off, their offense is pretty tough to watch.

[MU82]

Prediction? Pain!

I pity the tools!!

[MUsoxfan]

I'll be bummed if Milwaukee beat Bucky and we fall short. That being said, 85-72 Warriors

[mu03eng]

I think this team is trending in the right direct, and has more talent then the Badgers.  We have fewer match up issues than Bucky does on the defensive end so if we can avoid foul trouble we should be good to go.

I say 78-67 Marquette and #noredforowen

[jsglow]

Is their bench really that shallow?  18 TOTAL bench minutes last night?  Might we be able to run these guys down the court, wear them out, and pull away in the end?

I agree with others that staying out of foul trouble for both HE and Luke will be key.  I guess I'll predict a 67-62 win.  What I'd really like to see here is a solid scouting report.  I've not followed Bucky that closely this year.  Does Sandy cover Hayes?  Strengths/weaknesses of their big men?  Stuff like that.

03eng, get on it.  You've got a lot riding on it. #noredforowen

[wadesworld]

I think this team is trending in the right direct, and has more talent then the Badgers.  We have fewer match up issues than Bucky does on the defensive end so if we can avoid foul trouble we should be good to go.

I say 78-67 Marquette and #noredforowen

I think it's just the opposite.

I don't see anybody on our team who can even come close to guarding Koenig, and same with Hayes.  Sandy is far too small for Hayes, and Hank will get blown by over and over.  The only real matchup nightmare for them is Fischer.  Hayes has the size and athleticism (plus will get the calls) to keep Hank in check.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I think it's just the opposite.

I don't see anybody on our team who can even come close to guarding Koenig, and same with Hayes.  Sandy is far too small for Hayes, and Hank will get blown by over and over.  The only real matchup nightmare for them is Fischer.  Hayes has the size and athleticism (plus will get the calls) to keep Hank in check.

Definitely right about Koenig. Not one of our guys can guard him well. I think Sandy can manage Hayes. Hayes will get his but as we saw last night, Hayes can go off but if Koenig is out of rhythm, the Badgers will still lose. We need to do whatever we can to disrupt Koenig. Send two guys. I don't really care if Brown or Showalter get open looks.

Hayes can guard Henry for sure but anytime if you have a 6"11 guy go against a 6"8 guy, it is very easy for the 6"8 guy to pick up fouls. Hayes is a smart defender, I think he'll avoid foul trouble but its something to watch.

Fischer should abuse Happ. He's not a three point shooter either (when's the last time the Badgers started a center that couldn't shoot the three?) so Luke won't have to wander out to the perimeter. If Happ has to spend any time on the bench Bo is going to have to use 6"8 forwards to guard two 6"11 bigs.

This will be an interesting game. I'm still expecting a loss, only because its at the Kohl hole. But a poor shooting team without size is the kind of team I think we can beat.

[GooooMarquette]

Bo focuses on stopping Marquette's local players (who he cooled on anyway).  Everybody thinks that's the key to winning...but Traci and Haanif lead MU to a surprisingly comfortable 8-point win.

[GGGG]

I think it's just the opposite.

I don't see anybody on our team who can even come close to guarding Koenig, and same with Hayes.  Sandy is far too small for Hayes, and Hank will get blown by over and over.  The only real matchup nightmare for them is Fischer.  Hayes has the size and athleticism (plus will get the calls) to keep Hank in check.

I think MU is playing zone for a good portion of this game.

[wadesworld]

I think MU is playing zone for a good portion of this game.

I would certainly not be opposed to that.  If we do go to the zone often we have to make sure we are rebounding the basketball.  Second chance points will be a key in this game.

I do think going to a zone may make it even easier for Wisconsin to slow the pace down, and that's what Wisconsin should want to do.  If the game is in the 50s or 60s I don't see MU winning.

[mu03eng]

I think MU is playing zone for a good portion of this game.

I agree we play some zone, and I think we actually bust out a 1-3-1 with Duane/Haanif on top and Traci running the baseline.

When we go man, it will be interesting.  Sandy is going to have to guard either Hayes or Koenig, the question is who.  I think I'd put Sandy on Koenig and keep him from going off as Koenig's eFG% is almost 10 points higher.

If we man up at the start, I think our defensive match-ups look like this:
Haanif -> Hayes
Traci -> Showalter
Sandy -> Koenig
Henry -> Brown
Luke - > Happ

[willie warrior]

My prediction:

MU wins 64-62, as Bo Ryan blows his stack with 3 seconds left after MU makes a three point play on a foul to an MU player. Bo goes ballistic, gets a technical and ejected while escorted off the court by two beefy State Troopers. Bo's crying continues into the presser where he criticizes the refs with so much profanity and animosity that the NCAA suspends him for 4 games for his behavior--while secretly the suspension has ben issued for losing to UWM.

Bo decides then to unretire, while 4 of his players decide to transfer, but Bo will only allow them to transfer to Grambling.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Badger fans are attacking eachother now on their fan sites. I don't ask for much but if Christmas wants to come early this year with a win on Saturday, I really want to see this epic meltdown continue.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I agree we play some zone, and I think we actually bust out a 1-3-1 with Duane/Haanif on top and Traci running the baseline.

When we go man, it will be interesting.  Sandy is going to have to guard either Hayes or Koenig, the question is who.  I think I'd put Sandy on Koenig and keep him from going off as Koenig's eFG% is almost 10 points higher.

If we man up at the start, I think our defensive match-ups look like this:
Haanif -> Hayes
Traci -> Showalter
Sandy -> Koenig
Henry -> Brown
Luke - > Happ

If Haanif guards Hayes, I think he will go off for forty. No offense to Haanif, he's just not a good fit to guard Hayes. I think Sandy is the only player with a prayer of guarding Hayes well. Maybe Sacar could do a halfway decent job, not as sure about that one.

Traci -> Koenig
Haanif -> Showalter*
Henry -> Brown*
Sandy -> Hayes
Luke -> Happ*

*One eye on their man, one eye on Koenig, ready to help when necessary.

Zone makes sense because Wisconsin is a poor shooting team but like Wades said, it plays into Bucky's hands. Syracuse uses the best zone in the nation and Bucky still beat them. I think a healthy dose of 3/4 court pressure man to man is warranted. Wisconsin can and will beat the press but it will take them out of rhythm and give them no time to run their offense. If Hayes and Koenig (or any other Badger for that matter) has to try to create their own shot with time running out on the shot clock, they are going to miss way more than they make. Just keep Happ and Hayes off the offensive glass.  I think throwing at zone a couple of times to change it up makes sense but I think high pressure man to man will be more effective.

[MUEng92]

The only thing I'm fairly confident about is that MU will be called for at least 3 charges and most likely 2 of them will be on Henry.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I think you will see a lot less Haanif and a lot more JJJ this game with JJJ getting Koenig.

[Herman Cain]

I think you will see a lot less Haanif and a lot more JJJ this game with JJJ getting Koenig.

I agree with this . JJJ is long , quick and athletic, that is what is required to compete with Koenig. I think JJJ is doing a good job of sticking with Wojo's prescriptions and will step up if called upon.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Prediction?  They are evil and must be destroyed!

[Sylvester78]

The fact is we have enough data now to know they just aren't very good.

Our top 2 guys are equal to or better to Becky's.  After that it isn't close.  Duane Wilson or Thomas/Iverson?  It's  a joke how much better we are down the line.   Last night was the first time I have watched them in anticipation for Saturday. Very unimpressive

The only way I can see losing is if we are very cold; they get super hot;  or the refs just steal it

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Our top 2 guys are equal to or better to Becky's.  After that it isn't close.  Duane Wilson or Thomas/Iverson?  It's  a joke how much better we are down the line.

I disagree with the first part. Koenig and Hayes are better than anyone on our roster imho. But you're right, after that I would take our guys everyday of the week.

Should be a good game

[wadesworld]

The fact is we have enough data now to know they just aren't very good.

Our top 2 guys are equal to or better to Becky's.  After that it isn't close.  Duane Wilson or Thomas/Iverson?  It's  a joke how much better we are down the line.   Last night was the first time I have watched them in anticipation for Saturday. Very unimpressive

The only way I can see losing is if we are very cold; they get super hot;  or the refs just steal it

1) The refs will give Wisconsin a huge factor, there is no "if" about that.

2) Marquette is young.  They could play extremely well, or they could play extremely poorly.  What we saw Tuesday will look nothing like the team we see tomorrow.  Did we look much better when Iowa beat us by 30 or IUPUI pushed us to overtime on our home court than UW did against UWM last night?

3) Wisconsin is young.  They could play extremely well, or they could play extremely poorly.  What you saw last night will look nothing like the team you see tomorrow.

4) First true road game for Marquette this season, and first true college road game for a lot of contributors on Marquette.

5) Their starting point guard, the most important position in basketball, has started in a National Title game and been a contributor on another Final Four team.  Our entire team has a combined 0 NCAA Tournament games.  Our stars are still learning the college game.  Their stars are seasoned veterans.

[brewcity77]

1) The refs will give Wisconsin a huge factor, there is no "if" about that.

For the first time in awhile, I'm not so sure about this one. We have been much, much, much better than Wisconsin at not fouling. Even when we played on neutral courts at MSG we won the foul battles. Thus far, Bucky is much more foul prone than we have been, and I think Happ and Brown (both foul prone) will have a lot of trouble with our frontcourt.

When you look at foul tendencies and our bench, I think we would fare a lot better in a battle of attrition, and I'm just not convinced Wisconsin has the players that will get the benefit of the doubt like they did in the past, as only Hayes and Koenig are really recognizable to any of the refs that are accustomed to them.

[MomofMUltiples]

I disagree with the first part. Koenig and Hayes are better than anyone on our roster imho. But you're right, after that I would take our guys everyday of the week.

Should be a good game

This may be true in an individual sense, but Koenig and Hayes seem to be having a hard time adapting to their roles as team leaders for an otherwise young and inexperienced team.  Both of them looked much better playing alongside Kaminsky and Dekker than they do this season, and that's clearly a result of the (lack of a good) supporting cast.  On the other hand, our veterans Luke and Duane are playing with, for the most part, a much better cast of characters than they had last year.  That said, I agree that either team could get hot or cold, and with the UWM loss the Badgers will be playing with some desperation.  I'm thinking it's going to be  a pick'em.  One team, or the other, will win by a couple points.