Wisconsin Basketball Thread 2021-2022

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Saw the Badger's men's schedule this morning, and it looks pretty decent. Providence and Georgia Tech are good challenge games in the sense that they'll be winnable for a young team but still provide some scheduling cred. The Maui field is similar: good teams and maybe the chance for a marquee game, but nobody who scares you that much.

 

No idea what this year brings. Feels like the basketball program needs to turn the page, and I hope they have more success doing so than the football crew. Gard will likely face pressure from fans, but I doubt he's in any serious jeopardy until next year.

[MrTPlush]

The difference between the basketball team and the football team: Football team had high expectation (I guess since they were ranked #12 coming in) and the basketball team has pretty low expectations.

 

I don't think it is a good basketball team at all. I think they might be better than their expectation which is like #10 in the Big Ten, but it seems like it may be a rough year. I just cannot see Brad Davison leading a young team to the tough wins they will need to make the tourney.

[Oxy]

I tend to enjoy seasons with new faces and no expectations. At the very least there is little chance of being frustrated and/or disappointed as a fan; and who knows, they might be pretty good.

 

I think they'll hold their own on the perimeter, but I'm afraid they might really get beat up inside on the boards and w/o any experienced defenders. If Wahl is stronger this year or if that big Vogt guy from Cincinnati is any good that would help immensely.

[JohnBriggs12]

The difference between the basketball team and the football team: Football team had high expectation (I guess since they were ranked #12 coming in) and the basketball team has pretty low expectations.

 

I don't think it is a good basketball team at all. I think they might be better than their expectation which is like #10 in the Big Ten, but it seems like it may be a rough year. I just cannot see Brad Davison leading a young team to the tough wins they will need to make the tourney.

 

 

This team isn't all that young. It's only "young" by Wisconsin standards. Besides Davison who'll be playing his 5th year, the starters should include a senior, Chris Vogt, who's started 50 games at Cincinnati, a junior, Tyler Wahl and a sophomore, Johnny Davis. Both Wahl and Davis have extensive experience. Depending on the lineup, they could start a freshman PG, Chucky Hepburn, a 4 star recruit, but they also could go with junior transfer Jahcobi Neath who's played extensively at Wake Forest, or sophomore Ben Carlson who was ticketed to see extensive action last year before getting injured.

This turnover isn't uncommon at all at in major college basketball. At most they'll have maybe 3 freshmen in their rotation. Stephen Crowl is the one sophomore besides Carlson who figures to have his role expanded significantly.

[PlayerHader]

The difference between the basketball team and the football team: Football team had high expectation (I guess since they were ranked #12 coming in) and the basketball team has pretty low expectations.

 

I don't think it is a good basketball team at all. I think they might be better than their expectation which is like #10 in the Big Ten, but it seems like it may be a rough year. I just cannot see Brad Davison leading a young team to the tough wins they will need to make the tourney.

 

 

This team isn't all that young. It's only "young" by Wisconsin standards. Besides Davison who'll be playing his 5th year, the starters should include a senior, Chris Vogt, who's started 50 games at Cincinnati, a junior, Tyler Wahl and a sophomore, Johnny Davis. Both Wahl and Davis have extensive experience. Depending on the lineup, they could start a freshman PG, Chucky Hepburn, a 4 star recruit, but they also could go with junior transfer Jahcobi Neath who's played extensively at Wake Forest, or sophomore Ben Carlson who was ticketed to see extensive action last year before getting injured.

This turnover isn't uncommon at all at in major college basketball. At most they'll have maybe 3 freshmen in their rotation. Stephen Crowl is the one sophomore besides Carlson who figures to have his role expanded significantly.

 

I’d be very surprised if Vogt started or played more than 15 minutes a game or so. Crowl or Carlson start at the 5.

 

11 of the 15 scholarship players are in their first or second year of college and 2 of the other 4 ‘ship guys are in their first seasons with UW. This is a young team that has very little experience playing together.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

I can see calling it a "new" team instead of a young one.

 

I think Briggs is right in the sense that it feels different for Wisconsin to be rolling with so many transfers, but you just have to do that these days, and I'm glad they have.

 

I was impressed with Wahl last year as an energy guy. Davis looked like a first year who had loads of athleticism but wasn't really comfortable. If those two can make a leap, this team might surprise some people.

 

Davison needs to make shots and be a glue guy. If the Badgers are deferring to him in late-clock, that's trouble.

 

I'll go with Oxy. I think I'll enjoy the fresh look and low expectations more than watching a team tread water. They got really hot pre-pandemic, but for most of Davison's career, this has been a team that hasn't improved like Badger teams usually do. Very static. Would like to see a bit more change and development over the season.

[PlayerHader]

I can see calling it a "new" team instead of a young one.

 

I think Briggs is right in the sense that it feels different for Wisconsin to be rolling with so many transfers, but you just have to do that these days, and I'm glad they have.

 

I was impressed with Wahl last year as an energy guy. Davis looked like a first year who had loads of athleticism but wasn't really comfortable. If those two can make a leap, this team might surprise some people.

 

Davison needs to make shots and be a glue guy. If the Badgers are deferring to him in late-clock, that's trouble.

 

I'll go with Oxy. I think I'll enjoy the fresh look and low expectations more than watching a team tread water. They got really hot pre-pandemic, but for most of Davison's career, this has been a team that hasn't improved like Badger teams usually do. Very static. Would like to see a bit more change and development over the season.

 

They have two guys who transferred in who may have regular rolls. This is a young team by just about any standard outside of comparison to teams like Kentucky or Duke.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Matt Norlander @CBS (one of my favorite CBB writers) has the Badgers 53rd in his annual 1-358 rankings. He also called the Gard/personnel/Tucker turmoil "not all that unusual."

 

Tons of error bars around that particular exercise, but it's a useful conjecture from a guy who pays attention. That would put Wisconsin right on the cut line, but the Big Ten Is loaded. I can see the Badgers being relatively high at KenPom and something like 7-13 in league.

 

I'll go on record as saying this team beats expectations. I think it's a tournament team, though maybe in First Four territory.

[Oxy]

Too bad Hepburn and Bowman missed the Red-White game. Those were the 2 most exciting new guys to hear reports about (from practice reports it sounds like Hepburn is a lock to start and hit the ground running at the PG spot while Bowman might still be adjusting to college life and college game speed).

[Oxy]

Game #1 tonight vs. St. Francis. Only on BTN+...$10/mo subscription. Get the GB game, the Ill St game and all the volleyball games.

[homer]

Looking forward to seeing Hepburn, the frosh point guard, play.

[Oxy]

Hodges and Mors to redshirt. Not much room for them with Ilvers as another Frosh playing the same position as those guys (not to mention Carlson and Wahl and Gilmore). Perhaps they develop, perhaps they transfer, but likely a good decision for this year as it was tough to see how either would play meaningful minutes this year.

[Oxy]

42-21 at the half. St Francis isn't good. Badgers have looked as good as could possibly be hoped though. Bowman, Hepburn hitting 3s. Good defense.

[yourout]

if They run into a team that's got decent Biggs inside they're going to be in a world of trouble

 

Will be enjoyable to watch them grow as I think they'll be better than I was expecting.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Yeah, nice to win handily even when you absolutely should. After GB Friday, the schedule provides genuine competition quick. All major conference competition through the next 6 or 7, pending Maui (in Vegas). Georgia Tech dropped a game to Miami OH (who's picked to be a decent MAC team), but going there will be a nice true road test early.

[PlayerHader]

if They run into a team that's got decent Biggs inside they're going to be in a world of trouble

 

Will be enjoyable to watch them grow as I think they'll be better than I was expecting.

 

Maybe, but I think Vogt fills a big need there. Be nice if they guy had a lick of offense, though.

 

Gonna be a roller coaster year. Soooo young. Looks like GG gonna let them push the ball up the court. Definitely a more athletic team, but there will be major lumps taken.

[nodakfan17]

I’m a big UWGB basketball fan, but I don’t think the Badgers have much to worry about tonight. This team doesn’t have the horses.

 

Greg Gard interviewed twice for the UWGB job and lost out both times to Brian Wardle (2010) and Linc Darner (2015). I think he’s still bitter about it because he declined to renew their series. Obviously, with Will Ryan on the bench now, he seems to be willing to mend fences. UWGB needs this game (financially) so much more than the Badgers. It’s a bus game for them without hotels. Due to their geographic isolation and limited resources, it’s challenging for them to fill their non-conference schedule every year.

[OldHeidelberg]

Off topic but the UWGB post reminded me UWM got Baldwin Jr and I think some transfers, just checked and they didn't get any votes in either poll just curious for anyone who knows if they have the players around him to make a sweet 16 type run. Looks like their toughest noncon games will be at Florida and at Colorado. Baldwin had 21/10 in his debut against Badger nemesis North Dakota. Too bad badgers left them off this year but then again maybe not.

 

Edit: It was North Dakota State that beat us, North Dakota was Frank the Tanks big 40 point game, I think they usually suck

[Oxy]

Great defense tonight. Similar to St. Francis, GB isn't a good team and isn't very big, so not a lot can be evaluated from this game. The offense is still pretty sloppy and not particularly focused, but we've completely out-talented the teams we've faced. Not only will that not happen in the B1G, it will likely be the opposite in that we will need to play complete team offense to get good shots. The defense is playing as a unit wonderfully so far though.

 

Looking forward to the next month! Providence in the Gavitt Games, the Las Maui tourney, GT in the ACC/B1G challenge and then a couple of early December B1G conference games. We should know what we have by Christmas, but so far I would be surprised if they aren't a tourney team.

[nodakfan17]

Off topic but the UWGB post reminded me UWM got Baldwin Jr and I think some transfers, just checked and they didn't get any votes in either poll just curious for anyone who knows if they have the players around him to make a sweet 16 type run. Looks like their toughest noncon games will be at Florida and at Colorado. Baldwin had 21/10 in his debut against Badger nemesis North Dakota. Too bad badgers left them off this year but then again maybe not.

 

Edit: It was North Dakota State that beat us, North Dakota was Frank the Tanks big 40 point game, I think they usually suck

I can confirm (unfortunately) that North Dakota is not very good at basketball (although legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson played at UND). NDSU has enjoyed some success lately in the Summit League, but it’s a weak basketball conference. From 2007-2014, they were coached by Wisconsin (Reedsburg) native Saul Phillips, who played for Bo Ryan at UW-Platteville and coached on Bo’s staff at UW-Milwaukee. Will Ryan coached on Phillips’ staff at NDSU and later at Ohio before becoming the head coach at UW-Green Bay.

 

Assuming Green Bay isn’t in contention for the Horizon League title, I’ll be rooting for the Baldwin family at UWM. The Panthers have had 4 consecutive losing seasons under Baldwin Sr., so I’m not sure if Baldwin Jr. has the cast for a deep tournament run. I think most fans would consider a tournament appearance to be a hugely successful season. Baldwin Jr. is also a Green Bay native (born while his dad was an assistant with UWGB).

[yourout]

Bucky is going to struggle to score in this one.

 

With Davis out for the bruised heel they are pretty much screwed in this one.

[yourout]

.500 and a NIT invite is probably the ceiling for this year.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Ugly offensive half there. Davis is good, but this half is not a good first impression for Wisconsin.

 

Providence isn't all that impressive either, but they have a lot more athleticism, especially down low.

 

So very early. We'll see if this group can gel.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

If you're not athletic, you have to make 3s. The Badgers did not tonight.

 

When Brad Davison is your go-to scorer, you're in trouble. Davis injury is keeping me from being too worried. I did watch a Sweet Sixteen team lose to Western Illinois in November not that long ago. But hopefully Maui gets them a decent win or two.

[Oxy]

It was a very even game slightly in UWs favor except for the last 8 minutes of the 1st half when Crowl and Vogt were on the bench and their big guy Watson dominated. They missed free throws, we missed 3s.

 

And, obviously, without Davis we are limited on offense to say the least. The D is and was still pretty impressive though. This team fights hard.