College Basketball 2016-2017

[homer]

See, if Gonzaga is a #1 for sure, they barely have a better RPI than Wisconsin. Obviously Big 10 is way down this year but playing the Maryland, Purdue, Ohio St, Northwesterns etc. is overall as tough as Gonzaga's schedule. True, no big wins for UW, but if they go 30-3 that's a whole lot of wins against "good" teams.

 

They're #7 AP right now, so I don't think it's crazy. Still unlikely, but there's a lot of ball to play yet. What do I really think? Yea, I think they lose a couple games yet and end up as #3-4 seed.

 

This is pretty much most years recently. What separates Wiscy is that they are unbelievably clutch. They win more games that they should lose than any other team. I think I've tuned in 3 or 4 times in the last month with sure-losses in the last minute or so, and they wound up winning each

 

I would call that getting lucky.

[trwi7]

See, if Gonzaga is a #1 for sure, they barely have a better RPI than Wisconsin. Obviously Big 10 is way down this year but playing the Maryland, Purdue, Ohio St, Northwesterns etc. is overall as tough as Gonzaga's schedule. True, no big wins for UW, but if they go 30-3 that's a whole lot of wins against "good" teams.

 

Gonzaga has wins against Arizona, Iowa State and are looking like they're going to get a second win against St. Mary's. Those wins are far better than what Wisconsin has.

 

Also, struggling at home with Michigan, needing Rutgers to miss free throws to get the game to overtime and barely winning against Nebraska isn't going to impress anyone.

 

Every single time the Badgers have played a quality opponent they've lost and haven't really been in the game at the end.

 

For the record, I don't think Gonzaga is a #1 seed either but if they go undefeated they'll get one because the committee loves seeing no losses.

[DHonks]

See, if Gonzaga is a #1 for sure, they barely have a better RPI than Wisconsin. Obviously Big 10 is way down this year but playing the Maryland, Purdue, Ohio St, Northwesterns etc. is overall as tough as Gonzaga's schedule. True, no big wins for UW, but if they go 30-3 that's a whole lot of wins against "good" teams.

 

They're #7 AP right now, so I don't think it's crazy. Still unlikely, but there's a lot of ball to play yet. What do I really think? Yea, I think they lose a couple games yet and end up as #3-4 seed.

 

This is pretty much most years recently. What separates Wiscy is that they are unbelievably clutch. They win more games that they should lose than any other team. I think I've tuned in 3 or 4 times in the last month with sure-losses in the last minute or so, and they wound up winning each

 

I would call that getting lucky.

 

yes, and it frustrates me. Every time I tuned in it was to see them lose.

[LouisEly]

I would call that getting lucky.

I'd call it four seniors who have been to two Final Fours, plus a Sweet 16 in a "down" year. They're not the most talented players in college basketball, but they don't panic and they don't beat themselves.

[FVBrewerFan]

Realistic chance the Badgers will be the first #1 seed to lose in the 1st round. First, they need to get a #1 seed, of course.

 

Yea, couldn't have been more wrong about that prediction!

[brewcrewdue80]

With the large loss to Georgetown, Im beginning to wonder if Marquette is even a play in seed. Theyve really ruined that Villanova win i thought stamped them in the tourney.

[patrickgpe]

With the large loss to Georgetown, Im beginning to wonder if Marquette is even a play in seed. Theyve really ruined that Villanova win i thought stamped them in the tourney.

i think they are back on the bubble, the good news is that they play in a good conference and still have some big games coming up so they can right the ship. I think Xavier on Saturday is now a must win, which i normally don't say in mid-February.

[pacopete4]

Badgers get beat at home. Doesn't happen all too often.

 

Koenig is absolutely atrocious right now. If he doesn't regain his mojo, this season won't carry on too long.

 

Gard/Happ had no answer for the double team other than taking Happ and putting him on the bench. That needs to be fixed in a hurry or other teams will just do what NW did tonight.

[DHonks]

Northwestern holding on despite lots of calls going against them in the closing minutes. My first time seeing Northwestern. They look tall and legit. Good athletes, good scheme, trapping D. I like what I'm seeing. Badgers will always be tough come March.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Badgers offense is just really bad right now. I realize NW is a good team this year, but the Badgers have been playing with fire lately. OT wins vs Nebraska and Rutgers..... now losing at home (badly) while just barely getting to 50 points. I realize they're 21 - 4, but the committee said "this is not a top 16 team", and then they come out and just completely play a terrible game, at home. Bleah.

[brwrsfan]

They aren't a top 16 team the way they are playing, not even close. They got super lucky to win the previous 4 games, and a loss was inevitable at some point. Schedule doesn't get any easier going forward either.

 

The problem is pretty simple - nobody can make open shots. And Happ seemed incredibly unprepared for the double teams - seems like bad coaching. And when he actually was, he'd kick it out and we'd miss the open three. Right now, teams have no fear of us actually hitting the jumper, so the perfect play is aggressively doubling Happ. Bronson is clearly hurt, he really should have just sat down for a couple games. He is really, really hurting the offense, not just by not making open shots, but he's not able to penetrate or facilitate in any way.

 

Marquette on the other hand...big trouble. They're likely in the last 4 in/4 out area. They've laid several eggs after beating Villanova and are in some serious danger of missing the tournament without some wins.

[nate82]

Badgers looking more and more like an 8 seed at best in the tournament now maybe even a 10.

[Baldkin]

6 straight games shooting 40% or worse. That's not good.

 

Vitto Brown is 9/46 over those 6 games. 19%. He might need to get pulled from the starting lineup.

[MrTPlush]

At least for Wisconsin they have an easy schedule coming up...then again probably more like a nightmare for them the way they are playing. They better hold on to part of the Big 12 champion crown or win the conference tourney. If not they will not get a very generous seed. I have always thought they were an 8 or so seed at best. They are now supporting that thought. That being said winning the conference and the conference tourney can still get them a 4-5 seed by default.

[fondybrewfan]

People need to back off the ledge a little bit; look at the some of the teams in the current 8-10 spots; a whole lot of crap. Assuming they don't end up with more than say 8 losses (They have 5 now) I don't think they are any worse than a 7. The upside is probably only a 4 and that assumes they can beat Maryland, Michigan State, and someone line Purdue in the Conference tourney. I think a 6 is what I am expecting.

 

They are shooting terrible right now; no doubt about it. If we even shot 42% during this stretch they probably would still be on a winning streak. The key is Koenig; if he doesn't get healthy and start making shots they are in trouble.

[DHonks]

Don't forget that the Badgers often get over-seeded. If we're thinking an 8, they'll get a 5/6. I personally think they're a 4-6 depending on the end of the season

[MrTPlush]

Don't forget that the Badgers often get over-seeded. If we're thinking an 8, they'll get a 5/6. I personally think they're a 4-6 depending on the end of the season

 

They were a #5(or possibly worse) on the 11th. They have now lost two straight games to unranked opponents. They are likely a 7/8 seed as we speak.

[brewcrewdue80]

I don't watch much Badgers games. The Michigan game happened to be on ESPN and I got in about 25mins of gameplay before calling it a night.

 

Offensively, it was terrible. Defensively, it was very, very good, though I essentially seen 10 Turnovers of what wound up being like 12 for the entire game with the #1 Least Turnover prone team mentioned a lot in game in that first half for nearly matching their season average in the first half.

 

There is 0 chance they go beyond a sweet 16 watching this game. If they are even to make it to the sweet 16. Nigel Hayes is far worse now than he was as a freshman 6 man. Only Happ looks remotely above College average for a player. Now Koenig was not in this game, but reading about him in above comments, he's not helping much either.

 

I hope this team finds some players in recruiting, they are losing Koenig, Hayes, and Brown after the season. Without an impact recruiting player, I don't see the team being competitive after this season. Certainly not top 25.

[DHonks]

MrTPlush, maybe in a vacuum, but other teams have struggles as well. An 8-seed would mean they shouldn't be Top 25. I may not like them, but they likely should be in the Top 25.

[brewcrewdue80]

MrTPlush, maybe in a vacuum, but other teams have struggles as well. An 8-seed would mean they shouldn't be Top 25. I may not like them, but they likely should be in the Top 25.

 

Ive tended to look at seeding that way too. I know its not always the case... Wasnt Gonzaga like a top 10 rank one year and seeded like 6? Probably a differrent school just remember a year like that.

Honestly, WI fits that perfect 5 vs 12 mismatch matchup the committee likes to put together. An underrated 12seed with a star player vs an overrated big conference school. I imagine a big center or Forward who can score and rebound being the problem player put against WI as a 5seed.

[Baldkin]

Gard will tighten the lineups, just like he did last season in the Big 10 Tournament and NCAA tournament.

 

He went from playing 9 guys all season to playing 7 in the tournament, outside of the game Hayes & Brown both got into foul trouble.

[pacopete4]

I think this team is a 2-win tourney team. Obviously it all is about matchups come tournament time. In the Big Ten tourney, if they see Purdue earlier than the ship, they'll get outed. They just do not matchup against that team.

[DHonks]

MrTPlush, maybe in a vacuum, but other teams have struggles as well. An 8-seed would mean they shouldn't be Top 25. I may not like them, but they likely should be in the Top 25.

 

Ive tended to look at seeding that way too. I know its not always the case... Wasnt Gonzaga like a top 10 rank one year and seeded like 6? Probably a differrent school just remember a year like that.

Honestly, WI fits that perfect 5 vs 12 mismatch matchup the committee likes to put together. An underrated 12seed with a star player vs an overrated big conference school. I imagine a big center or Forward who can score and rebound being the problem player put against WI as a 5seed.

 

My favorite was College of Charleston in 1997 was #16 in the nation and a 12-seed.

[fondybrewfan]

Lets hope when UW gets in the tournament the other team is stupid and just doesn't hard double team Happ when he gets the ball. Teams have been doing this for 3 weeks now and UW still hasn't figured out. Well I guess they have figured it out but if you can't hit shots it doesn't really matter.

 

Kind of sad to see how much Hayes has regressed offensively in the last 2 years. He was a great complimentary piece with Dekker/Kaminsky but he just isn't an Option #1 type of guy. Still a pretty good rebounder and defender though. Great to see Koenig get his stroke back; they will need him in the tournament big time.

[tmwiese55]

He could've easily been a #1 if he didn't completely screw his game up trying to play on the wing and changing his form. Basically supplant his soph year game/self to now and he'd be a fine #1 and this team would be what we thought it could be. I don't remember a player ever regressing so much in college.