How do we not have a Wisconsin-Marquette thread?

[bjkrautk]

...they do play this Saturday after all.

 

Let the Hype Commence!

[trwi7]

Go Bucky!

[Glennron]

Doesn't 5:00 Central time seem like a pretty odd time? It's only one game, but if you compare them by how they played Duke, it would seem Marquette has the better team. Then again the Kohl Center can change that, so I'd probably give the slight edge to Wisconsin. I'm a big fan of both, but will be rooting for Wisconsin.

[foamboy1]

MU by 11.

[bork]

I think MU would win on a neutral court, but I think the Kohl Center gives UW the edge. MU is 1-14 at Madison over the past 24 seasons. That lone win coming in their last game at the Field House.

 

MU needs to dictate the tempo, push the ball. No way UW could keep up with MU's quickness. But if UW slows it down and gets into a half-court game, they should win. Rebounding could also be a big problem for MU.

[bjkrautk]

I think the Duke comparison can be a bit misleading, since UW-Duke was a home game, and Duke was on fire from 3-point range in the first half. I don't see the Golden Eagles having a comparable shooting performance at the Kohl Center.

 

That being said, this is another strength v. weakness matchup for both teams: the Badgers have some good guards, but not the quality and depth that Marquette has. If Hughes either gets into foul trouble or tries to force his own shot, the Badgers could lose this game (which is rare for me to admit in this rivalry game.) The Badgers biggest advantage, however, is in the frontcourt; they have so much quality depth that they've had to move Landry to the 3 just to get playing time for everyone. (Speaking of, if this is the game when Landry finally gets comfortable with his role as small forward...that would be a major bonus for this team.) Especially on the home court, I think that the Marquette forwards are going to have their work cut out for them just to avoid foul trouble.

 

I'm picking Wisconsin by about 5. Should be one heck of a game.

[RyDogg66]

Big Badger fan here, and unfortunately I think they'll get creamed.

[Menotti80]

Marquette Alum Here. I think MU is a better team, but UW has more things going for them in a head to head matchup at the Kohl Center that I think gives them the edge.

 

1. 1-14. And nobody beats UW at home. Enough said

2. UWs bigs and their ability to control the tempo

3. (and most importantly for me) a Bo Ryan-Coached UW team will not beat themselves. They dont make many mistakes (especially at home), and they capitalize on other team's mistakes. And I think MU makes wayyy too many mistakes, especially when it comes to stupid fouls. Besides missing a few lay-ups, the only reason they lost to Duke is because Duke was in the Double-Bonus with 9+ minutes left in the game and they made their free throws. I can see the same thing happening tonight. Lots of foul trouble, and Wisconsin gets to the line early and often and makes their free throws.

 

63-58 UW

 

but Go Marquette!!!

[Samurai Bucky]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Marquette use a similar game plan that Duke used -- especially on the offensive side of the ball. They'll set the high pick and have their guards dribble into the lane. I don't think the Badgers really ever play zone, so I'm sure the Warr... I mean Golden Eagles will continue to use their quicker offense.

 

For the Badgers, Brian Butch needs to be able to make some of those bunnies that he gets inside. He may have a lot of offensive boards, so that may help.

 

I think the key for Bucky is going to be Marcus Landry. I seem to remember the Marquette game being a bit of a coming out party for him last year. In the state, he will always be linked and compared to Wes Matthews, so maybe he will step it up a notch. If Marcus can play like he is capable of playing, it will be the Badgers by 10. However, I think Marquette will pull this one out by 5.

[temke]

I don't think the Badgers really ever play zone

pretty much never

 

i wish i was more optimistic for the badgers, but i have a bad feeling.

[owbc]

If there was ever a year for Marquette to win in the Kohl Center, this is it.

 

I'll be cheering for Wisconsin, but 70-69 Marquette will be the final.

[don1481]

68-56 Marquette. UW just has too many holes and quite frankly is just an inferior team this year.

 

The comparisons with Duke are far more apt than you think; the Maui Invite was really like Duke West - look how many people go out to that tourney EVERY YEAR from Duke. MU did very well in a very hostile environment.

 

Badger fans, your run of victories over MU comes to an end.

[Oldcity]

I don't think there's any way Marquette beats Wisconsin by double digits at the Kohl Center. I think it will be really close. I'll say 68-64 Wisconsin.

[pitchleague]

Is this on anywhere besides in Wisconsin? Big Ten network? espnu?

 

anyone? anyone? something-doo economics?

[trwi7]

ESPN2

[danzig6767]

Marquette s clearly the better team, have both teams play on a neutral court 10 times and i think Marquette wins 6 or 7 times. I expect a close game and whoever shoots better from three point land likely wins. If i had to bet who wins, i would have to take UW simple because they always win at home. This is a game though that i wouldn't tough from a betting standpoint except for the casual 20 dollar bet i have with my buddy. He's coming over to watch it and i let him pick who he wants, but he hasn't decided yet. We watch it together each year and bet 20 just so we have a reason to get into the game more by cheering for one team given neither of us likes the Badgers or Marquette more than the other.

[brettac1]

I'm leaning towards UW, due simply to the game being at the Kohl. I agree with others that have said MU has the better team, though.

[homer]

Duke at Cameron is NOTHING like Duke in Maui. Bad comparison. The only way UW loses this game is if they get caught up in the sloppy MU running style (i.e. lots of fast breaks and lots of turnovers). They need to control the clock and play smart. If they do that I think UW wins. If this game is at the BC I'd say MU wins going away but at the Kohl Center UW wins this.

[don1481]

Duke at Cameron is NOTHING like Duke in Maui. Bad comparison. The only way UW loses this game is if they get caught up in the sloppy MU running style (i.e. lots of fast breaks and lots of turnovers). They need to control the clock and play smart. If they do that I think UW wins. If this game is at the BC I'd say MU wins going away but at the Kohl Center UW wins this.

 

No, it's really not a bad comparison at all. I would hardly call Maui a "neutral" court. Did you watch that game? The place was swarming with Duke fans. UW loses this game the same way MU lost last year at the Bradley Center. I just don't see UW this year having the firepower to be able to match Marquette for a full 40 minutes; MU is ridiculously deep in their guard rotation with Ackers and Cubillian. Only chance UW has is to feed the ball down low to Butch, but as we all know, his finishing around the basket isn't really what I'd call "above average." Hayward gives up 4 inches to Butch but is much faster, making it that much harder for Butch to finish.

[TerraceReserved]

I agree with what most have said about MU already. They have a better team and UW can't match their quickness, but its at the Kohl Center and it's tough as heck to win there.

[Roscoe Chill]

Well, I was going to stay out of this because I inserted my foot in my mouth about UW against Duke. But with the recent postings about the HUGE REACH comparing Cameron and a game in Maui just because there are some Duke fans there? Come on. And sure Marquette is deep at guard, but the Badgers aren't exactly chopped liver. don mentioned all the Badgers "holes" and to that I have to say HUH? Where are the "holes?" The Badgers are a pretty damn talented team. No, they don't have Alando Tucker anymore. But the gap between Marquette's backcourt to UW's backcourt is not even CLOSE to the gap between the frontcourts going in Wisconsin's favor. And don, you should look up UW's home record over the last few years, you think they'll lose by 12? HAHAHA!

[tomter38]

You can't compare Marquette and Wisconsin based on a Duke game in common. Not many teams in the country were going to keep it close with Duke the way they started shooting that night at Cameron.

[trwi7]

No, it's really not a bad comparison at all. I would hardly call Maui a "neutral" court. Did you watch that game? The place was swarming with Duke fans. UW loses this game the same way MU lost last year at the Bradley Center. I just don't see UW this year having the firepower to be able to match Marquette for a full 40 minutes; MU is ridiculously deep in their guard rotation with Ackers and Cubillian. Only chance UW has is to feed the ball down low to Butch, but as we all know, his finishing around the basket isn't really what I'd call "above average." Hayward gives up 4 inches to Butch but is much faster, making it that much harder for Butch to finish.

 

Uh my high school gym holds more people than the Maui gym. What's the difference between about 500 Marquette fans and 1,000 Duke fans in one arena and the difference between 10,000 Duke fans in one arena? A lot.

[Mike Felder]

I'm rooting for Wisconsin all the way, but I think Marquette's athleticism is just going to be too much for them, Kohl Center or no Kohl Center.

 

I hope I'm wrong though.

[ccbrew]

This will be one of my last basketball games at Kohl, so I hope that I'll be seeing a good game. I have the same concerns that many others have voiced, and I think the game could get ugly if UW lets the game go at MU's pace. But by principle, I can't make a prediction that Marquette will win.

 

UW by 3.