Room For Concern / Win Anyway

[K1 Lover]

And lost to Wake Forest.

You had Wisconsin "easily top 2 in the B1G," so obviously you don't think the team that just beat them on the road is 9th in the B1G.  I trust the head coaches that coach in that conference a bit more than your judgement.

In his defense, I seem to recall another team that was predicted to finish 9th in their league before winning the regular season title and conference championship.

Dusty May is in his first year coaching at Michigan. His record was 0-0 when the poll was done. The other B1G coaches had exactly zero clue as to how well he would or wouldn't do.

[StillWarriors]

Lol.  They already have a home loss to the team predicted to finish 9th in the B1G.  They aren't getting a high enough seed to play in Milwaukee.

Agree WI won't have a high enough seed to play in Milwaukee, but I'd be shocked if MI doesn't end up far better than 9th in the Big Ten. Those two big guys are a problem.

[MU82]

I do think they are easily top 2. 1 game doesn't change that.

Not just top 2 - which woulda been a bold enough prediction - but "EASILY" top 2. Ya gotta love it.

But hey, your heroes did find a way to finish easily in the top 2 on Tuesday at the Kohl Hole!

As for you predicting a Madison win over Marquette tomorrow, well done. If your guys win, you can pretend to wish it didn't happen but say "I told you so." And if your guys lose, you can pretend to be happy you were wrong.

Win-win for you!

[GoldenEagles03]

Not just top 2 - which woulda been a bold enough prediction - but "EASILY" top 2. Ya gotta love it.

But hey, your heroes did find a way to finish easily in the top 2 on Tuesday at the Kohl Hole!

As for you predicting a Madison win over Marquette tomorrow, well done. If your guys win, you can pretend to wish it didn't happen but say "I told you so." And if your guys lose, you can pretend to be happy you were wrong.

Win-win for you!

That has nothing to do with it. I just think they have the advantage being healthy and their style of play is one that we have yet to figure out.

Not much more to it than that. There doesn't need to be an I told you so.

They are good. We are good.

[wadesworld]

That has nothing to do with it. I just think they have the advantage being healthy and their style of play is one that we have yet to figure out.

Not much more to it than that. There doesn't need to be an I told you so.

They are good. We are good.

Good thing is they don't play anything like a typical Madison team this year.

[K1 Lover]

Good thing is they don't play anything like a typical Madison team this year.

This.

Despite how pessimistic my post may have sounded, this is exactly what's convinced me we're going to win anyway. That, and the feeling Kam is about to have another legacy game.

[Viper]

If we can get past their chest up and grab action.   They have used this the last 2 years very successfully for wins.....

RED will try to slow us down, force us out in the half court. I think Kam, Owens and Parnham will wheel deal! Stevie probably draws their guy  Tonjie(sp). Stevie will be the best defender he's faced. Hold him in check for the win. 

[GoldenEagles03]

RED will try to slow us down, force us out in the half court. I think Kam, Owens and Parnham will wheel deal! Stevie probably draws their guy  Tonjie(sp). Stevie will be the best defender he's faced. Hold him in check for the win. 

Might be the opposite.

UW has turned up their offense this year but they still take care of the ball. I expect they try and get Kam in foul trouble by running up and down a bit.

Marquette might not have the bodies to maintain a faster pace for 40 minutes.

[BM1090]

I do think they are easily top 2. 1 game doesn't change that.

It's just an insane take though. Look at the 18 team big 10 and tell me which 16 they are finishing in front of. They are good. They are a tournament team. They may beat us tomorrow. They will lose at least 7 big ten games.

[MU82]

Might be the opposite.

UW has turned up their offense this year but they still take care of the ball.

Tonje has had four games with 3 turnovers and another with 4. That's awfully loose with the ball for a college "kid" who is the same age as the average Oklahoma Thunder player. Blackwell had 5 turnovers against Michigan, and 3 two games before that. That's a lot for a PG who "takes care of the ball."

I mean, you might be right that your guys will beat Marquette to give you Scoop bragging rights, but at least get your facts right.

[K1 Lover]

Tonje has had four games with 3 turnovers and another with 4. That's awfully loose with the ball for a college "kid" who is the same age as the average Oklahoma Thunder player. Blackwell had 5 turnovers against Michigan, and 3 two games before that. That's a lot for a PG who "takes care of the ball."

I mean, you might be right that your guys will beat Marquette to give you Scoop bragging rights, but at least get your facts right.

Hate to burst your bubble but he actually did get his facts right.

According to the NCAA's official site, Wisconsin is currently tied for 13th in averaging the least turnovers per game this season (source). I've seen other sources that rank them even higher.

[GoldenEagles03]

Hate to burst your bubble but he actually did get his facts right.

According to the NCAA's official site, Wisconsin is currently tied for 13th in averaging the least turnovers per game this season (source). I've seen other sources that rank them even higher.

Yup!

Right in the same range as Marquette. Two teams that like to score, two teams that don't turn it over often.

Marquette's advantage is that they turn the opponent over at a well above average clip...without Chase, that is very very difficult to do.

[MU82]

Hate to burst your bubble but he actually did get his facts right.

According to the NCAA's official site, Wisconsin is currently tied for 13th in averaging the least turnovers per game this season (source). I've seen other sources that rank them even higher.

Their guards have had lots of games in which they've been loose with the basketball - including the last one, when they combined for 8 give-aways in losing as a home favorite. It's their first true road game where they (hopefully) won't get the favorable whistle. And, even without Ross, we aren't App State or Chicago State or UCF or Montana State or Holy Cross or even UT-Rio Grande Valley.

Those are the facts.

[Viper]

Their guards have had lots of games in which they've been loose with the basketball - including the last one, when they combined for 8 give-aways in losing as a home favorite. It's their first true road game where they (hopefully) won't get the favorable whistle. And, even without Ross, we aren't App State or Chicago State or UCF or Montana State or Holy Cross or even UT-Rio Grande Valley.

Those are the facts.

I'm surprised WI is ranked as high as they are, actually. Their AZ win has grown mold. They did beat a decent Pitt team, albeit on neutral court. Lost to Michigan on home court. Their Kenpom has dropped back of late. We bring it tomorrow like we did vs Purdue, I have no doubt we'll win.

[K1 Lover]

Their guards have had lots of games in which they've been loose with the basketball - including the last one, when they combined for 8 give-aways in losing as a home favorite. It's their first true road game where they (hopefully) won't get the favorable whistle. And, even without Ross, we aren't App State or Chicago State or UCF or Montana State or Holy Cross or even UT-Rio Grande Valley.

Those are the facts.

It's a valid point. I think you're both objectively right. Up until now Wisconsin has averaged fewer turnovers than most other teams, though it's possible they've just been playing against opponents that are poor at forcing turnovers. I don't have access to advanced analytics so unfortunately I can't look that up. But it'd be a small sample size anyway so perhaps this can't even be answered appropriately until mid-season.

As for Chase, it looks like he's going to play tomorrow. MUBB just posted this; I can't imagine he'd be in a practice jersey if he wasn't planning on playing. Let's hope he has the same sprained-ankle performance Kolek had last year at Illinois.

[K1 Lover]

I'm surprised WI is ranked as high as they are, actually. Their AZ win has grown mold. They did beat a decent Pitt team, albeit on neutral court. Lost to Michigan on home court. Their Kenpom has dropped back of late. We bring it tomorrow like we did vs Purdue, I have no doubt we'll win.

I watched the Pitt game. One of Pitt's starters was injured in the second minute. Hard to say if that might've been the difference.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It's a valid point. I think you're both objectively right. Up until now Wisconsin has averaged fewer turnovers than most other teams, though it's possible they've just been playing against opponents that are poor at forcing turnovers. I don't have access to advanced analytics so unfortunately I can't look that up. But it'd be a small sample size anyway so perhaps this can't even be answered appropriately until mid-season.

As for Chase, it looks like he's going to play tomorrow. MUBB just posted this; I can't imagine he'd be in a practice jersey if he wasn't planning on playing. Let's hope he has the same sprained-ankle performance Kolek had last year at Illinois.

I mean,  Sean Jones is also in a practice jersey and he's definitely not playing. Chase might play,  glad to see he's not in a boot, but the practice jersey doesn't mean anything

[HutchwasClutch]

Hopefully we'll see Zaide and Chase against Dayton a week from today.  Glad their injuries do not appear long term, but seems too early to expect or be optimistic to have either today already.
Edit: see Rothstein already reported no Zaide today. 

[K1 Lover]

I mean,  Sean Jones is also in a practice jersey and he's definitely not playing. Chase might play,  glad to see he's not in a boot, but the practice jersey doesn't mean anything

I agree that a practice jersey isn't definitive. But in most cases, if you're capable of participating in a full-speed 5v5 at practice, you're probably capable of playing a game too. And in this specific case, there's a precedent for one of our guys playing a full game despite having an ankle injury.

Regarding Sean, Shaka has publicly stated that the reason he hasn't returned yet is far more of a psychological reason than it is physical. Based on the photos and what Shaka has said to the media, it seems that Sean has is completely recovered physically. It's fully overcoming the mental trauma associated with knee injuries that he's still working on. Plus, Sean has been out of practice for almost a year; it makes sense that he's practicing but not entering games yet.

[The Sultan]

I wouldn't put much stake in that at all. He could be at practice and moving at 50%. He could just be testing it. They could have posted it to get UW thinking he might play.

We will know soon. Patience is a virtue.

[MU82]

Huh ... 16 turnovers for Madison, 5 for us. Who could have ever foreseen that?

We Are Marquette!

[MuggsyB]

I think you can throw the projections like Torvik and KenPom out the window unless they can somehow account for injuries. Not having Lowrey and Ross completely changes MU's style and takes away its biggest strength: the pressure defense.

I note that MU had 2 fast break points last night compared to 19 against Purdue. Take away the points off live ball turnovers and MU is reduced to a half court offense heavily dependent on 3 point shots. I think they'll have to hit at least 40% of their 3's to win Saturday.

With all due respect Blue, most of your analysis was way off with this one.  And it's wasn't just about Chase suiting up or not.  MU is the better team, and we have been despite the results the past 4 years. You totally neglected our ability to control tempo and having tbe best player on the floor among other things. 

[MuggsyB]

I'm surprised WI is ranked as high as they are, actually. Their AZ win has grown mold. They did beat a decent Pitt team, albeit on neutral court. Lost to Michigan on home court. Their Kenpom has dropped back of late. We bring it tomorrow like we did vs Purdue, I have no doubt we'll win.

Pretty spot on Viper. 

[K1 Lover]

Wisconsin is not as good as you are giving them credit for. My only concern is injuries. If Chase is out then yes, it'll be tough. But this will not be one of our most impressive wins if him and Ben both play. We're the home team and the better team. Take care of business.

Extremely glad my concerns ended up being non-issues. We are a great team — emphasis on the "we are".

Lesson learned. I'll never doubt the wisdom of Scoop again. From now I'll be deferring all personal judgements to wadesworld.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

GoldenEagles03 and wisblue are a couple of wieners.