Wisconsin Basketball Thread 2020 - 21

[Underachiever]

The Big Ten is also insanely good. Depending on the NCAA tournament draw they have a reasonable chance at making it past the first weekend.

I'm really down on this team. While your statement is certainly true, I see this team as more like the 2013 team that went one and done, losing to Marshall Henderson and Ole Miss 57-46. I don't think the matchup mattered in that game. The team played so badly that they would have lost to just about anyone. I mean, Henderson was 1 of 13 at one point, Ole Miss only scored 57 on offense while doing nothing special on defense, and that team was never in the game. This team is capable of that type of performance. Consider that in the Iowa game that guys not named Potter went 3-27 on TWO point shots. They have just not been fun nor exciting to watch.

[OldHeidelberg]

The Big Ten is also insanely good. Depending on the NCAA tournament draw they have a reasonable chance at making it past the first weekend.

I'm really down on this team. While your statement is certainly true, I see this team as more like the 2013 team that went one and done, losing to Marshall Henderson and Ole Miss 57-46. I don't think the matchup mattered in that game. The team played so badly that they would have lost to just about anyone. I mean, Henderson was 1 of 13 at one point, Ole Miss only scored 57 on offense while doing nothing special on defense, and that team was never in the game. This team is capable of that type of performance. Consider that in the Iowa game that guys not named Potter went 3-27 on TWO point shots. They have just not been fun nor exciting to watch.

 

Agree, I don't really like watching this team at all, probably the least I have watched Badger buckets in 20 years. But I think part of it is they were so good in those back to back Final Four's that we have lost appreciation for just having an OK make the tourney team every year. Even the Hayes/Koenig upper classmen years were a lot more fun than this.

[brooks_quichenick]

It’s been a very disappointing slog watching this UW team, especially with the pre-season expectations being what they were. But, I feel like this team could very well still put together a deep run in March somehow. They hit their stride very late last year, and it could happen again. The more involved and confident Jonny Davis gets offensively, the better this team is imo, and he seems to be progressing nicely. It really helps having a guy who can create his own shot off the dribble like he can.

[Oxy]

The Big Ten is also insanely good. Depending on the NCAA tournament draw they have a reasonable chance at making it past the first weekend.

I'm really down on this team. While your statement is certainly true, I see this team as more like the 2013 team that went one and done, losing to Marshall Henderson and Ole Miss 57-46. I don't think the matchup mattered in that game. The team played so badly that they would have lost to just about anyone. I mean, Henderson was 1 of 13 at one point, Ole Miss only scored 57 on offense while doing nothing special on defense, and that team was never in the game. This team is capable of that type of performance. Consider that in the Iowa game that guys not named Potter went 3-27 on TWO point shots. They have just not been fun nor exciting to watch.

 

That team went 4-0 against national runner-up Michigan and a top 10 Indiana team with Zeller and Oladipo. It had one of the best defenses in the kenpom/efficiency era. And was absolutely terrible on offense.

 

This team is much better offensively than that team. And much worse defensively.

 

The second half against Michigan (and the first Michigan game) was one of the only times I really thought the offense struggled to get decent looks. They just have to go down. Everybody is a streaky shooter...hopefully they all get hot at once.

[Oxy]

It’s been a very disappointing slog watching this UW team, especially with the pre-season expectations being what they were. But, I feel like this team could very well still put together a deep run in March somehow. They hit their stride very late last year, and it could happen again. The more involved and confident Jonny Davis gets offensively, the better this team is imo, and he seems to be progressing nicely. It really helps having a guy who can create his own shot off the dribble like he can.

 

Everybody always says this...and everybody said this about Kobe King for 2+ years...then when King left the team won 8 in row. I love Davis and he is already a much much better player than King at almost every facet of the game, I'm just saying that the ability to create one-on-one shots is over-rated.

 

I think the main problem is exactly the opposite. There isn't enough man movement and ball movement to make defenses work. Everything is a high pick and roll or a post feed to Potter.

[Underachiever]

The Big Ten is also insanely good. Depending on the NCAA tournament draw they have a reasonable chance at making it past the first weekend.

I'm really down on this team. While your statement is certainly true, I see this team as more like the 2013 team that went one and done, losing to Marshall Henderson and Ole Miss 57-46. I don't think the matchup mattered in that game. The team played so badly that they would have lost to just about anyone. I mean, Henderson was 1 of 13 at one point, Ole Miss only scored 57 on offense while doing nothing special on defense, and that team was never in the game. This team is capable of that type of performance. Consider that in the Iowa game that guys not named Potter went 3-27 on TWO point shots. They have just not been fun nor exciting to watch.

 

That team went 4-0 against national runner-up Michigan and a top 10 Indiana team with Zeller and Oladipo. It had one of the best defenses in the kenpom/efficiency era. And was absolutely terrible on offense.

 

This team is much better offensively than that team. And much worse defensively.

 

The second half against Michigan (and the first Michigan game) was one of the only times I really thought the offense struggled to get decent looks. They just have to go down. Everybody is a streaky shooter...hopefully they all get hot at once.

Hard to say "much better offensively" KenPom has them at 112.1 in offensive efficiency this year, 108.3 in 2013. They are still 8th in Defensive efficiency (89.8 this year, 85.2 in 2013), so it's not like they are horrible on defense. But, forget the stats, there's what I'm seeing with my eyes. My point was that they are absolutely capable of barfing up a performance like the 2013 team did, where they weren't going to win that game, period. When they go the last 7 minutes against Maryland without a basket, or the last 4.5 minutes against NW without scoring a point, thinking, "well, at least they are better offensively than the 2013 team" is no comfort.

[Oxy]

Sure. My eyes tell me that this is a streaky shooting team that relies upon knocking down 3 pointers to score a lot of points. This team RARELY struggles to get open looks, but can at times miss those open looks en masse (most losses this year). They can also make those looks en masse (Louisville game). When a team can't find decent looks (the 2013 team often had many desperate possessions) then it is a poor offense. I don't see that very often from this team--the 2nd half of the Michigan game being the exception.

 

Also: this is a very good defensive team, but excellent offenses have shown the ability to find a vulnerability and exploit it again and again. UW's best defenses could even shut down the best offenses, or at least make them struggle mightily. This unit pretty much can only do that against mediocre teams.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

My overly simple explanation: there are no pros.

 

Davis may get there, but this is a roster of good college players. That used to be okay (and sometimes could be an advantage), but today's game makes the UW style harder. More posessions, freedom of movement, emphasis on athleticism, and there are a lot of 6' 10" guys who can shoot (many of whom are WAY quicker and mor springy than Reuvers and Potter). UW's philosophy keeps them competitive, but they really need to develop pros ala Kaminsky, and even Dekker, Leuer, etc. Devin Harris isn't walking through that door anytime soon, and, while I think Gard's done a good job and this year is just too hard to judge on any level, I do worry a bit about lack of improvement during his tenure.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

The Big Ten is also insanely good. Depending on the NCAA tournament draw they have a reasonable chance at making it past the first weekend.

 

If UW, MIN, or PUR are on the 8 or 9 line opposite Gonzaga it will be a very tempting upset pick. Hopefully UW will win a game or two and stay away from that line. I'm hoping for a 7 seed opposite Houston as the 2 seed...

 

I think lots of folks are skeptical of Gonzaga, but, man. They are SO much better than UW, MIN, or PUR. I'd take them at -10 or -12, I think.

[rickh150]

It’s been a very disappointing slog watching this UW team, especially with the pre-season expectations being what they were. But, I feel like this team could very well still put together a deep run in March somehow. They hit their stride very late last year, and it could happen again. The more involved and confident Jonny Davis gets offensively, the better this team is imo, and he seems to be progressing nicely. It really helps having a guy who can create his own shot off the dribble like he can.

 

Everybody always says this...and everybody said this about Kobe King for 2+ years...then when King left the team won 8 in row. I love Davis and he is already a much much better player than King at almost every facet of the game, I'm just saying that the ability to create one-on-one shots is over-rated.

 

I think the main problem is exactly the opposite. There isn't enough man movement and ball movement to make defenses work. Everything is a high pick and roll or a post feed to Potter.

 

The ability to get other people open is not overrated, and it is an issue on the team. They also struggle getting points from the block. Potter and Reuters both seemed better down under last year.

[AKCheesehead]

Could this be the day my losing streak is broken I wonder.

[AKCheesehead]

That was nice they seemed to really mentally settle in for that little run.

[nate82]

This team sucks offensively. I think this is a one and done team in the tournament.

[homer]

Trice just scored 13 points in less than 2 minutes. Jordan Taylor-esque

 

edit - now 16 in just over two minutes. Wow. Probably won't be enough but heck of a performance

 

edit - make it 19. Maybe it will be enough!

[homer]

Gah. Oh well. Illinois didn't miss any free throws at the end.

[bjkrautk]

This team sucks offensively. I think this is a one and done team in the tournament.

 

It's hard to look at how bad this team has shot the ball over the course of the last month and feel much differently. The team is so bad right now, that it's hard to believe they're the same team that faced Loyola and that non-conference schedule earlier this season.

 

 

...at least the end of the Illinois game showed signs of life, but it's been tough sledding as a fan.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

This team sucks offensively. I think this is a one and done team in the tournament.

 

It's hard to look at how bad this team has shot the ball over the course of the last month and feel much differently. The team is so bad right now, that it's hard to believe they're the same team that faced Loyola and that non-conference schedule earlier this season.

 

 

...at least the end of the Illinois game showed signs of life, but it's been tough sledding as a fan.

 

Agree. Offense is stagnant; if they don't hit shots, they have nothing. Reuvers has been replaced by Charles Thomas (actually, that's unfair to Charles Thomas). It's bad.

 

Here's what's giving me hope:

 

1) 3 pt. shooting is essentially random. They can beat anyone if they even shoot it pretty well.

 

2) More important: The B1G is so good (and SO well-scouted), I'm hopeful you can have more luck offensively against less-prepared teams.

 

3) They may start 5 30-year-olds next year, and I'm only slightly exaggerating.

[Mr Southpaw]

Illinois did not have their best player play. Hard to be optimistic about this team.

[yourout]

This team is circling the drain right now.

They may end up with a worse record next year but I'm guessing that group will actually have a higher ceiling eventually.

[yourout]

This team is circling the drain right now.

They may end up with a worse record next year but I'm guessing that group will actually have a higher ceiling eventually.

[RobDeer 45]

Man this has been tough the last few weeks. I don't know what's going on. I keep hoping they will get it together for the tournament but they are running out of time. I do think the tournament will be different for them, getting out of the Big Ten, but man, this stretch is not good. Has anyone had the thought that Reuvers has been checked out this year? I loved him the last couple years, but he just doesn't seem like himself. I know the last year has been crazy and some are thriving and some are struggling with the dynamics. I'm not blaming him, just curious if others feel like he's off, too.

[RobDeer 45]

Man this has been tough the last few weeks. I don't know what's going on. I keep hoping they will get it together for the tournament but they are running out of time. I do think the tournament will be different for them, getting out of the Big Ten, but man, this stretch is not good. Has anyone had the thought that Reuvers has been checked out this year? I loved him the last couple years, but he just doesn't seem like himself. I know the last year has been crazy and some are thriving and some are struggling with the dynamics. I'm not blaming him, just curious if others feel like he's off, too.

[stoutdude04]

I won't speak to that about Reuvers, but he has been by far the most disappointing player in my eyes. If the Badgers run into any skilled big in the tournament I think they lose pretty easily. Purdue scored 37 of 43 points in the second half in the paint or from the line. That's awful.

[stoutdude04]

I won't speak to that about Reuvers, but he has been by far the most disappointing player in my eyes. If the Badgers run into any skilled big in the tournament I think they lose pretty easily. Purdue scored 37 of 43 points in the second half in the paint or from the line. That's awful.

[homer]

Looks like Lorne Bowman is back in school full time. Too bad about him and Ben Carlson. I think both would have been contributors this year.