College Basketball 2010-2011

[TooLiveBrew]

UW-Michigan at halftime. UM looks pretty good, and definitely like a Beilein team. They're probably going to be pretty good in another season or two (heck, even just later this season).

 

Hopefully the Badgers can start knocking down some more shots & the Wolverines cool off. Definitely has been a good game so far.

[jjfanec]

Hopefully the Badgers can start knocking down some more shots & the Wolverines cool off. Definitely has been a good game so far.

This is pretty much exactly what happened. That and the Badgers quite turning the ball over. With 2:30 left in the 2nd half they have 0 turnovers. They are so good with the ball. Up 9 with 2 and half so hopefully they should be able to hold on to this one.

[LouisEly]

I think Marquette deserves some Kudos for starting off the Big East season 1-0...

 

Hopefully they improve throughout the next 2 months and are able to sneak into the NCAA tourney.

Marquette could really have used Trevor Mbakwe last year. This year too, but last year's team was so talented but had no inside presence.

[jjkoestler]

I was at the UW game tonight for the first time in 2 years. The crowd was quiet and the student section was empty. I know it's winter break, but the floor level student section wasn't full and the 2nd and 3rd level was empty. I'm glad Wisconsin won, but it was a boring game to attend.

 

Tim Hardaway's kid looked pretty damn good for a freshman. It wouldn't surprise me to see him playing in the NBA in a few years.

[LouisEly]

Looked like right before tipoff there were a lot of Michigan State fans disguised as empty seats.

[owbc]

Ugly first half. 23-20. I would like to see more of an inside presence from the Badgers, especially since Michigan State is guarding the perimeter.

[jason21nl]

Badgers with the worst final 2 min in the history of their team. Absolutely shocking, pathetic basketball.

[jjfanec]

Badgers with the worst final 2 min in the history of their team. Absolutely shocking, pathetic basketball.

Pretty glad I had to work the last half of the game

[Roscoe Chill]

It was impossible to lose the game considering the situation, let alone a team like the Badgers to lose the game. I feel like I wasted my night watching it.

 

Tim Jarmusz really doesn't have any business being on this team. I think the addition the Badgers will gain next year with his subtraction will be more beneficial then one might think. He actually airballed a wide open shot at the end. Also, maybe if Rob Wilson played a little more instead of Jarmusz he wouldn't screw up so badly when he actually plays more than five minutes. Off the top of my head I don't know if Jarmusz had anything to do with Durrell Summers being held to 3 points, but this Badger team needs someone other than Leuer, Taylor, and Nankivil to step up or even be an option offensively...not more defense.

 

All in all just a very frustrating ending.

[crewcrazy]

It was pretty frustrating to see Jarmusz camp out on the three point line for that last shot of regulation, too, when there was absolutely nobody between him and the basket and they didn't need the three. I thought he probably should have tried to cut to the basket, but knowing Jarmusz, his bunny hop/lay-up attempt would've been swatted away since he can't go up strong, either.

[yoshii8]

I'm not sure why Bruesewitz and/or Gasser weren't in the game at the end instead of Jarmusz and Wilson. They both looked so overwhelmed by the pressure Michigan St. was putting on.

 

Tim Jarmusz is my least favorite player in all sports.

[lcbj68c]

Recruiters pagers just went off everywhere.

 

http://www.komonews.com/sports/heroes/111892554.html

[hawing]

Recruiters pagers just went off everywhere.

 

http://www.komonews.com/sports/heroes/111892554.html

Wow. I wonder if that kid started off as a "Little Badger." (only a good one)

[MJLiverock]

It was impossible to lose the game considering the situation, let alone a team like the Badgers to lose the game. I feel like I wasted my night watching it.

 

Tim Jarmusz really doesn't have any business being on this team. I think the addition the Badgers will gain next year with his subtraction will be more beneficial then one might think. He actually airballed a wide open shot at the end. Also, maybe if Rob Wilson played a little more instead of Jarmusz he wouldn't screw up so badly when he actually plays more than five minutes. Off the top of my head I don't know if Jarmusz had anything to do with Durrell Summers being held to 3 points, but this Badger team needs someone other than Leuer, Taylor, and Nankivil to step up or even be an option offensively...not more defense.

 

All in all just a very frustrating ending.

I can barely stand to watch this team anymore. There is just nothing exciting to watch as the offense is primarly pass the ball around the perimeter and jack up threes. It would be one thing if they had a bunch of sharpshooters but they don't. I have been pretty turned off by the last few recruiting classes and think this team is setting up for big step backwards when Leuer and Nankivil are gone next year. The team is going to be nothing but a bunch of role players and gritty guys who will dive for a ball butcan't handle a press, can't create their shots, and really have a tough time scoring.

 

Even now you hear people complain that WI doesn't get to the foul line like they used to and they don't know why. I think it is because WI has no aggresiveness on offense and teams are content to let them fritter aound for 30 seconds and jack it up. It isn't like Evans, Bruiser, Jarmusz, Gasser, Valyentyn, are going to put the ball on the floor and drive past anyone. Taylor should be able too with his strength but he rarely tries it and if Wilson tries it and fails he ends up on the bench.

 

If the team is hot they can beat some decent teams because they play defense and just the sheer number of three's can win a game if they make a lot. The reality is they really aren't that good of a shooting team and in the end they are going to lose games when they have 10 minute droughts which are all too common.

 

[LouisEly]

It was pretty frustrating to see Jarmusz camp out on the three point line for that last shot of regulation, too, when there was absolutely nobody between him and the basket and they didn't need the three.

 

In his defense, there was one second left on the shot clock, so going to the basket was not an option. That being said, he was wide open; all he has to do is draw iron and the clock keeps running and the Badgers at least have a shot at a rebound.

 

I have been pretty turned off by the last few recruiting classes and think this team is setting up for big step backwards when Leuer and Nankivil are gone next year.

I know every year we say that and every year someone steps up, but this year I really believe that statement. I just don't see anyone with the talent to step up to fill their spots. Berggren has improved a lot from last year but still has a ways to go to get to Polar Bear status. Bruiser, Berggren, Gasser, Brust, and Dukan are going to have to step up big time next year in order for them to make the tourney, much less contend for a Big 10 title.

[danzig6767]

It was impossible to lose the game considering the situation, let alone a team like the Badgers to lose the game. I feel like I wasted my night watching it.

 

Tim Jarmusz really doesn't have any business being on this team. I think the addition the Badgers will gain next year with his subtraction will be more beneficial then one might think. He actually airballed a wide open shot at the end. Also, maybe if Rob Wilson played a little more instead of Jarmusz he wouldn't screw up so badly when he actually plays more than five minutes. Off the top of my head I don't know if Jarmusz had anything to do with Durrell Summers being held to 3 points, but this Badger team needs someone other than Leuer, Taylor, and Nankivil to step up or even be an option offensively...not more defense.

 

All in all just a very frustrating ending.

I can barely stand to watch this team anymore. There is just nothing exciting to watch as the offense is primarly pass the ball around the perimeter and jack up threes. It would be one thing if they had a bunch of sharpshooters but they don't. I have been pretty turned off by the last few recruiting classes and think this team is setting up for big step backwards when Leuer and Nankivil are gone next year. The team is going to be nothing but a bunch of role players and gritty guys who will dive for a ball butcan't handle a press, can't create their shots, and really have a tough time scoring.

 

Even now you hear people complain that WI doesn't get to the foul line like they used to and they don't know why. I think it is because WI has no aggresiveness on offense and teams are content to let them fritter aound for 30 seconds and jack it up. It isn't like Evans, Bruiser, Jarmusz, Gasser, Valyentyn, are going to put the ball on the floor and drive past anyone. Taylor should be able too with his strength but he rarely tries it and if Wilson tries it and fails he ends up on the bench.

 

If the team is hot they can beat some decent teams because they play defense and just the sheer number of three's can win a game if they make a lot. The reality is they really aren't that good of a shooting team and in the end they are going to lose games when they have 10 minute droughts which are all too common.

Wisconsin this year is ranked 345th, dead last in all of college basketball in AdjTempo

 

http://www.kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankAdjTempo

 

Besides what you said, Wisconsin gets almost zero easy baskets out of

transition offense, thus they have to score nearly all their points via

half court offense in every game. That's hard to do when facing very good defensive

teams, on the road, and/or on nights where the jumpers simply aren't

falling.

[TooLiveBrew]

Right there with other exciting teams like Delaware State & Presbyterian!

[crewcrazy]

It is kind of sad when I'm more excited for my mid-major alma mater's games this year than the Badgers, considering UW has always been #1 to me.

 

I don't doubt that Wisconsin will make the NCAA tournament, but I wouldn't be surprised if they end up in an 8/9 game and are one and done.

[jjfanec]

What a crushing week of blown chances by the Wisconsin big two teams. The badgers blow a late lead vs MSU and the Marquette somehow blows that late lead vs Louisville. Each team got big home wins this week (Illinois and Notre Dame respectively) but blew chances at really big weeks.

[danzig6767]

Yea, those were some painful losses. Thankfully i only had to sit through the UW/MSU debacle. I had to DVR the Marquette collapse and just as i was about to start watching it my buddy called and i quick said to him, don't say anything about the Marquette game. All he then said was, don't watch that game, it will make you sick to your stomach. When he told me why, i simply deleted the game without watching any of it.

[jjfanec]

Yea, those were some painful losses. Thankfully i only had to sit through the UW/MSU debacle. I had to DVR the Marquette collapse and just as i was about to start watching it my buddy called and i quick said to him, don't say anything about the Marquette game. All he then said was, don't watch that game, it will make you sick to your stomach. When he told me why, i simply deleted the game without watching any of it.

I am not a big Marquette fan. In fact, a buddy and I have a friendly debate about the teams all the time and will send texts back and forth after wins and losses. But I could even bring myself to text him after that Marquette game. Too mean to do to a friend.

[danzig6767]

Yea, those were some painful losses. Thankfully i only had to sit through the UW/MSU debacle. I had to DVR the Marquette collapse and just as i was about to start watching it my buddy called and i quick said to him, don't say anything about the Marquette game. All he then said was, don't watch that game, it will make you sick to your stomach. When he told me why, i simply deleted the game without watching any of it.

I am not a big Marquette fan. In fact, a buddy and I have a friendly debate about the teams all the time and will send texts back and forth after wins and losses. But I could even bring myself to text him after that Marquette game. Too mean to do to a friend.

The frustrating thing for me is this Marquette team is really coming together, especially on the offensive end. They are very tough to defend now that DJO has his sweet three point jumper back and Crowder is more acclimated to the major college game.

 

Unfortunately though between the collapse vs Louisville and a few close game losses against Duke, Wisconsin, and Gonzaga during the early non-conference portion of their schedule could end up leaving MU out of the NCAA Tournament. Against Duke DJO/Crowder were only 2-10 from three and the team overall only 4-20 from three. DJO was only 2-7 vs Gonzaga and 6-21 overall in a close loss. DJO didn't make any threes vs Wisconsin.

 

The perimeter shooting by DJO is so key in making Marquette's offense go from pretty good to really good, especially now that Crowder has also found his groove. Those early perimeter shooting woes though early in the season along with the Louisville debacle has a good chance of leaving MU out of the NCAA Tournament. That would be a bummer because i have a feeling that by the end of the season, Marquette will be playing well and would also be a dangerous team to face in the tournament.

[TooLiveBrew]

I guess the good news/bad news for Marquette is that they play in the super-tough Big East. Lots of time still to put up impressive wins, including the conference tourney.

 

 

EDIT: They still have the following big(ger) games left --

 

@ ND

v. UConn

v. 'Cuse

@ 'Nova

@ G-town

v. St. John's

@ UConn

v. Cincy

[hawing]

After returning home from the Wisconsin/Indiana game tonight, I am trying to figure out why looking at Tom Crean bugs me so much.

 

http://blackchristiannews.com/news/tomcrean.jpg

 

He's done something with his hair that I think is intended to make him look more intellectual, but he still just looks like a type A++++++ coach. Bleah.

 

Once again, the students didn't fill up much more of their section than the first level. I wonder how much the football success this fall/winter has distracted the campus as a whole. I'm at best a casual follower of NCAA football, but even I was taken by the Badgers between that OSU game and the Rose Bowl. Tonight - until the Badgers finally took the lead back midway through the second half - the students seemed to be thinking more about the Packers/Bears than the game in front of them.

[TooLiveBrew]

Did anyone else notice the exterior shot ESPN came back to from commercial around the 8:00 mark in the second half? It was right before Jordan Taylor went to the line for a 1-1 (in which iirc he converted both throws). Anyway, the pbp announcer said something generic like, 'It's cold outside here in Madison, but...' and the exterior shot was of a domed building, but very clearly NOT the Capitol. So my question is twofold -- 1) Did ESPN show stock footage from the wrong city? (I find this unlikely), and 2) If not, what building was this?

 

I hope someone remembers what I'm talking about. I re-ran that little segment several times on the DVR & couldn't for the life of me figure out what building it was.