College Basketball Thread 2013-14

[jjfanec]

This is a huge game for Marquette. They are in needed of a quality non conference in and they only have the Wisconsin game and the New Mexico one to get it. The Big East is not going to offer as many chances for Big Wins. With only one ranked team right now it is tough to find the quality wins needed for a really solid NCAA tourney resume. They are 5-3 and going 5-4 would make them look much more like a bubble team than a team that would do some damage in the tourney

 

My biggest fear for the Badgers was their toughness. They showed a lot of toughness against St. Louis and Virginia and this game will be another big challenge. Jamil Wilson is the key to this game in my mind. He seems to disappear along with picking up cheap fouls. If that happens I don't see Marquette winning. This will be another low scoring game

[jjfanec]

Another huge win for the Badgers. It was weird to see a UW vs Marquette game where UW was the more offensively talented team. Dekker is a stud. The final score was closer than the game in my mind. Marquette got pretty hot right at the end but it was a 10 point game most of the way with Wisconsin missing wide open 3's - just 7 for 26

[brwrsfan]

Badgers up to 4th in the AP poll, 6th in the coaches poll. I can't say I saw this coming this season, but it's been fun. This is the highest they've been ranked since their one week stint at #1 a few years back.

 

Given the next three games should be blowouts, they're a few upsets away from returning to #1.

[pitchleague]

Whoa! I was just coming here to post this, too. Are the Badgers really a top-5 in the country team or is just because they're 10-0? They certainly don't seem like a complete ballclub that is extraordinary or anything when I watch them. So, I am kind of floored by a jump of 4 spots from last week.

[fondybrewfan]

By the end of the year they will probably be Top #10 or #15 but definitely not Top #5. Right now they have earned it; they played a good schedule and beat everyone. They are going to take at least 3-4 losses in the Big Ten; that is pretty much a given.

 

I don't think UW is anywhere near one of the Top 5 teams in the country. Kansas, Kentucky, MSU, Duke, Ok State, Arizona, Syracuse are probably all better teams in the long run altough UW could probably beat any of them on any given day.

 

Assuming UW stays in the Top 4 in the Big 10; this strong performance in non conference probably makes them a good bet for maybe a 3 or 4 seed.

[homer]

By the end of the year they will probably be Top #10 or #15 but definitely not Top #5. Right now they have earned it; they played a good schedule and beat everyone. They are going to take at least 3-4 losses in the Big Ten; that is pretty much a given.

 

I don't think UW is anywhere near one of the Top 5 teams in the country. Kansas, Kentucky, MSU, Duke, Ok State, Arizona, Syracuse are probably all better teams in the long run altough UW could probably beat any of them on any given day.

 

Assuming UW stays in the Top 4 in the Big 10; this strong performance in non conference probably makes them a good bet for maybe a 3 or 4 seed.

 

I doubt UW is one of the 5 best teams in the country but I also didn't think they'd finish top four in the B1G this year. Looks like they might be top three. Lot of basketball to play though. Not counting my chickens just yet. Nice thing is they have a very favorable schedule (no OSU or MSU on the road).

[Baldkin]

Whoa! I was just coming here to post this, too. Are the Badgers really a top-5 in the country team or is just because they're 10-0? They certainly don't seem like a complete ballclub that is extraordinary or anything when I watch them. So, I am kind of floored by a jump of 4 spots from last week.

 

They have the most wins vs top 50 and top 100 in the RPI in the nation, and they haven't lost yet. They've played solid competition and they deserve it, thus far.

[hawing]

UWM is going to be a major trap game, isn't it?

[brwrsfan]

I guess it could be but I don't think Bo will let them overlook the next 3 games, they're all at home which help too. Been a fun season, as I don't think most people (including me) didn't really think they'd be nearly this good.

 

While the Badgers don't have any "elite wins, they've played a pretty darn good schedule. They beat Florida, and they don't get much credit for it because Florida was short handed, but that's out of their control.

 

They've beaten 5 teams in the top 50, 3 more in the top 100 (plus one listed at 103 according to CBS RPI). The win at GB gets overlooked, but GB is a very solid team that should blow through the Horizon league this year. So while the resume isn't loaded with elite wins, it has tons of quality wins. Are they one of the top 5 teams in the country? Maybe not but their resume seems to say otherwise at this point.

 

That being said, I doubt they stay in the top 5-10 for a few reasons:

 

1 - We're not Duke, Kansas, UNC, etc. There are certain schools that seem to get the benefit of a doubt in rankings, even after a loss and we're simply not one of them.

 

2 - The Big Ten is brutal this year. Even though the schedule is favorable, they will still play Iowa twice, Indiana twice, Michigan twice, plus MSU and OSU...they're bound to be some losses in there, probably several. I'd be surprised if the B10 winner doesn't have 4-5 losses or more.

[jjfanec]

The nice thing about this Badger team is that it should continue to get better. They are replacing 3 starters from last year and one of those guys is coming off major knee surgery in Gasser. Their first three off the bench didnt even play college basketball last year. Dukan is the only one who was in college but he redshirted and really never played before that. Hayes and Koenig are going to be very good. Bo gave extremely high praise to Koenig in an interview on ESPN.

 

If Traevon can play like he did against Marquette the Badgers are going to be incredibly tough to beat. He is the key to the team because he can be so bad some nights but when he plays as a pg - penetrate, look to pass, no dumb turnovers - this team is very good. Dekker has really asserted himself the past couple games, Kaminsky's improvement has been incredible, and Gasser and Brust give you very solid play. Once their 3 point shooting comes back up to even average they will be in good shape.

 

Someone said they don't think they are a complete ball club. Currently they are top 20 in offensive and defensive efficiency. Teams that do that usually make deep runs in the tourney.

 

Fondy stated - "I don't think UW is anywhere near one of the Top 5 teams in the country. Kansas, Kentucky, MSU, Duke, Ok State, Arizona, Syracuse are probably all better teams in the long run altough UW could probably beat any of them on any given day."

 

I will give you Arizona, Ok State, MSU, and Cuse for sure, but Duke simply has not impressed me yet and Kansas and Kentucky have a lot of freshman who need to step up and that doesn't always happen. I think UW is a better team than Duke. We are more well-rounded and have great upper-classmen leadership. I think people underestimate the potential improvement this Badger team has as well.

[RobDeer 45]

I too am nervous about the next few games but great point on being at home, that should help. They will have a tough B10 season, hopefully they can get a few sneaky wins and do their thing at home. Fun to watch.

[hawing]

I probably could have added a winky or blue text to my "trap game" comment above. Remember, I was a student during the dark days of Steve Yoder and Don Morton, when any good football or basketball news was considered a mirage never to last.

[Funketown]

At this point, Wisconsin has looked good. Duke has been horrendous defensively. Kentucky has had their problems, and Kansas is looking terrible against Florida.

 

They may not keep it up, but I won't be at all surprised if Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas can't get it figured out before the Freshman all leave.

[brwrsfan]

At this point, Wisconsin has looked good. Duke has been horrendous defensively. Kentucky has had their problems, and Kansas is looking terrible against Florida.

 

They may not keep it up, but I won't be at all surprised if Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas can't get it figured out before the Freshman all leave.

 

I would love it if that happened. I'm so tired of the "one and done" type players that those schools have no problems bringing in year after year. It's not even building a program or a team, it's become who can get the best one year wonders.

[hawing]

I'm so tired of the "one and done" type players that those schools have no problems bringing in year after year. It's not even building a program or a team, it's become who can get the best one year wonders.

That is why I've come to really appreciate what Bo Ryan has put together: because he's had relatively few of the early exiters, and guys staying four years has been the norm.

 

I suppose that makes me so uncompetitive as to be practically un-American, but maybe it's the XX chromosomes talking, plus basketball is mostly my "get through the baseball offseason" distraction.

[bani1717]

I suppose that makes me so uncompetitive as to be practically un-American, but maybe it's the XX chromosomes talking, plus basketball is mostly my "get through the baseball offseason" distraction.

 

I don't think it makes you uncompetitive, I think that Bo recruits that way because of the way he coaches. He wants players who can fit into his system and play defense, and he generally likes to coach guys and see them improve over time before playing them for significant amounts of time.

[fondybrewfan]

There are really only a handful of teams that actively recruit one and done players. Yeah some times may end up with one from time to time but thats not how they typically operate (Michigan St for example). Whereas teams like Kansas, Kentucky, Duke are always competing for these guys they know will only be there one year. Those teams probably do it because there is so much pressure to win each and every year that they feel they need to best talent every year regardless if it is a short term fix.

 

Has a player under Bo ever left college early for the pros? I can't think of anyone off of the top of my head.

[Funketown]

I think Kentucky's one-year wonder team in 2012 is not the norm -- correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's the only real "one-and-done" style team that has won a championship since Carmelo Anthony's Syracuse in 2003. Carolina has had only two (I believe) one and doners (Brandan Wright, Marvin Williams) since Roy Williams arrived, and Duke I'm not sure has had more than a few (Austin Rivers, Kyrie Irving's 9 games) although that will rise soon.

 

2009: UNC (Sr., Sr., Jr., Jr., Jr.)

2010: Duke (Sr., Sr., Sr., Jr., Jr.)

2011: UConn (Jr., So., Fr., Fr., Fr.)

2012: Kentucky (So., So., Fr., Fr., Fr.)

2013: Louisville (Sr., Jr., Jr., Jr., So.)

 

UConn was really not a great team either, the field pretty much cleared for them. Not sure about going back further, but outside of Kentucky 2012 I just don't see the one-and-done dominance, at least on the court.

[hawing]

There are really only a handful of teams that actively recruit one and done players. Yeah some times may end up with one from time to time but thats not how they typically operate (Michigan St for example). Whereas teams like Kansas, Kentucky, Duke are always competing for these guys they know will only be there one year. Those teams probably do it because there is so much pressure to win each and every year that they feel they need to best talent every year regardless if it is a short term fix.

 

Has a player under Bo ever left college early for the pros? I can't think of anyone off of the top of my head.

Devin Harris.

[pitchleague]

There are really only a handful of teams that actively recruit one and done players. Yeah some times may end up with one from time to time but thats not how they typically operate (Michigan St for example). Whereas teams like Kansas, Kentucky, Duke are always competing for these guys they know will only be there one year. Those teams probably do it because there is so much pressure to win each and every year that they feel they need to best talent every year regardless if it is a short term fix.

 

Has a player under Bo ever left college early for the pros? I can't think of anyone off of the top of my head.

Devin Harris.

 

 

I instantly thought of him, as well. But I wasn't sure if he did leave early or not. I was pretty sure he did, though.

[brwrsfan]

Harris definitely left after his junior year...hard to criticize him as he was the 5th overall pick in the draft. He's the only one though. Dekker may very well be the next.

 

Nice to see them throttle UWM last night. They should have but you never know with college kids when they can overlook someone.

[jjfanec]

If Harris wouldn't have went pro that team would have been phenomenal. They made it to the Elite 8 anyway but they would have had Devin Harris, Mike Wilkinson, and Alando Tucker. They also had Sharif Chambliss, Kam Taylor, Zach Morley, and Clayton Hanson. That team would have been a national championship contender.

[bjkrautk]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7424/11375880755_413ca9a063.jpg

 

12-0

 

Gratuitous plug for my Flickr set.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Just wanted to weigh in briefly, having read through most of the thread.

 

I honestly think this is the best Badgers team I've seen in a long time. They are so balanced offensively. Bo doesn't run much swing anymore, but all of his guards can post up and rebound. Brust is really impressive on the glass, and for team without a lot of bangers, that's a huge help.

 

I don't think they're as good defensively YET, but I think Gasser can man up anyone in the Big Ten. Even with the new emphasis on freedom of movement, the whole team has been playing good, no foul D. If Dekker can make the defensive improvements a lot of guys make under Bo, this team can be scary good.

 

Watch Kaminsky play post D. He doesn't look tough, and certainly isn't all that assertive in the paint offensively, but he moves his feet really well. Whether he can handle a guy like Adrian Payne is seriously debatable, but there aren't a lot other big men in the Big Ten that I see eating UW's lunch.

 

In short, I think they're a little underrated defensively. Ken Pom has them 11th in AdjD, which is against a pretty tough schedule.

 

Not saying they'll win the Big Ten, but I'd be pretty surprised if they weren't one of two or three teams with a shot coming down the stretch. Could be a fun year in Madison.

[RobDeer 45]

Just wanted to weigh in briefly, having read through most of the thread.

 

I honestly think this is the best Badgers team I've seen in a long time. They are so balanced offensively. Bo doesn't run much swing anymore, but all of his guards can post up and rebound. Brust is really impressive on the glass, and for team without a lot of bangers, that's a huge help.

 

I don't think they're as good defensively YET, but I think Gasser can man up anyone in the Big Ten. Even with the new emphasis on freedom of movement, the whole team has been playing good, no foul D. If Dekker can make the defensive improvements a lot of guys make under Bo, this team can be scary good.

 

Watch Kaminsky play post D. He doesn't look tough, and certainly isn't all that assertive in the paint offensively, but he moves his feet really well. Whether he can handle a guy like Adrian Payne is seriously debatable, but there aren't a lot other big men in the Big Ten that I see eating UW's lunch.

 

In short, I think they're a little underrated defensively. Ken Pom has them 11th in AdjD, which is against a pretty tough schedule.

 

Not saying they'll win the Big Ten, but I'd be pretty surprised if they weren't one of two or three teams with a shot coming down the stretch. Could be a fun year in Madison.

 

What do you say to the people who think they will get beat up and pushed around come big 10 time? I know this can go both ways because their O will cause matchup issues. I'm just worried about us getting killed in the paint and not being able to rebound effectively enough.