Official UW Season Thread ('08-09')

[TroyD92]

Originally Posted by Bernini

Damn, that really sounded like a sweet win for the Badgers. Too bad I couldn't see the action with my own eyes, but hypothetically if that sacrifice would have meant the difference I gladly would have made it.

Bucky pretty much controlled the entire way. I'm not sure, but were they trailing at any single point?

Really the story of the game was our defense. We held the Toreros to what sounded like mostly stiffly contested points. They were running the clock down to nothing and I don't think their offense is nearly as methodical as ours so it was all our doing. Bucky must have been switching and/or fighting around picks and just cutting off drive lanes with the goal of cutting off their driving lanes at all costs. The Toreros don't possess much shooting outside of Brandon Johnson, who stuck several threes on a tightly guarding Hughes. The few times they were able to penetrate Landry and company were blocking and altering nearly everything. With the stilts having graduating he's clearly putting more onus on himself to protect the rim.

Offensively, Bucky is still a work in progress. Too much tentativeness. The shot clock was winding down too far for us. I can't say if it's the Torero defense without watching. We have a proclivity to do that on a more regular occasion than most so I'm going to assume it's us. They should be pulling the trigger on the first good look because you can't always assume another will present itself. Nankivil sounded like the culprit but his assertiveness picked up throughout the game. J-Bo got a lot of great looks but still can't throw it in the ocean. If it continues he should sit in favor of Jarmusz or Taylor more because outside scoring is supposed to be his primary contribution to the team. Hughes was the only offensive player who played well individually, but being so reliant on one-on-ones will catch up to us eventually. Free throw shooting was the biggest positive for the Badgers as a team by far. I don't think they missed at all down the stretch. Shooting is contagious and tonight it was the cure and not the disease.

Offensive rebounding was the big X-Factor area of the game for the Badgers. I'd like for Jarmusz to get more rebounds in his position on defense, but he's stealing more than he's giving up because of his understanding of the trajectory of the ball off the rim. The majority of rebounds bounce to the weak side.

Go Badgers! Can't wait to see them take on UCONN. We can certainly win that game if we play comparably on defense and on the boards, but are more aggressive and efficient on offense.

Jbo scares me against Uconn whenever Price and Kemba Walker are on the floor together....We are going to see alot of Pop and Jordan Taylor.

[Bernini]

Against UCONN I think Wisconsin should play our regular rotation big before Thabeet proves he's too much of a mismatch. It's not like he's Shaq or Hakeem where he's a proven offensive juggernaut. He's more like Dikembe Mutumbo. And with Mutumbo/Thabeet offensively you want to draw them out of the paint, which Leuer is capable of. Therefore I think he should get the lion's share of minutes tomorrow night at center. That's going to help Landry operate one on one, and if Thabeet is sagging too close, kick it out to Leuer and rotate.

[TroyD92]

Originally Posted by Bernini

Against UCONN I think Wisconsin should play our regular rotation big before Thabeet proves he's too much of a mismatch. It's not like he's Shaq or Hakeem where he's a proven offensive juggernaut. He's more like Dikembe Mutumbo. And with Mutumbo/Thabeet offensively you want to draw them out of the paint, which Leuer is capable of. Therefore I think he should get the lion's share of minutes tomorrow night at center. That's going to help Landry operate one on one, and if Thabeet is sagging too close, kick it out to Leuer and rotate.

Im not worried about Thabeet offensively, he doesn't scare me its on the other side he scares me although if we go with a Landry/Leur combo most of the game his shotblocking can be partially nullified.

[TheFresher]

Is the game gonna be on the BTN tomorrow?

[TroyD92]

Originally Posted by TheFresher

Is the game gonna be on the BTN tomorrow?

FSN Wisconsin I think.

[badgerbasketball33]

krabbenhoft has to come up big for us today. i don't know where he's been this year but he is only player in the starting 5 that we have a true advantage with. Don't they start 3 smaller guards (price, dyson, austrie or walker) I think jeff adrien matches up real nice with landry although landry can probably win the matchup. Thabeet is getting better offensivley. it's his and uconn offensive rebounding ability that worries me.

[Heavystarch]

I think Price will cause us the most trouble... Johnson penetrated at will yesterday. As far as TV I think it is FSN Wisconsin, which is actually a good thing because watching it on FSP was not pleasant yesterday. Just glad that Charter had it so I could watch it at all.

I wouldn't be surprised to see JP or Markolf see time just to frustrate Thabeet

[Bernini]

Originally Posted by Heavystarch

I think Price will cause us the most trouble... Johnson penetrated at will yesterday. As far as TV I think it is FSN Wisconsin, which is actually a good thing because watching it on FSP was not pleasant yesterday. Just glad that Charter had it so I could watch it at all.

The first praise of Charter I believe I've ever heard. But yeah, I would have taken a crappy live stream so put it in perspective.

I wouldn't be surprised to see JP or Markolf see time just to frustrate Thabeet

We'd be playing into their hands. If they force us it'd be stupid not to make the adjustment and slow the bleeding, but we should try to make them bleed first.

[Heavystarch]

I could be wrong, but I think UConn plays a zone on D where Thabeet basically stands around the basket. If this is the case, and I think it is, putting JL in will not get him away from the rim. Personally I think we will use the Mich State strategy in the B10 tourny last year. Look for slashing to the hoop in hopes of getting the big man some fouls. On the other end try and draw some offensive fouls. As good as Thabeet is, he is not the most mentally tough player in college basketball.

With all that said, we still have to slow down UConn's back court, which as many have pointed out may be extremely tough

Should be a fun game, and I am pumped for basketball to be back in full swing! (pun intended)

[Bernini]

Originally Posted by Heavystarch

I could be wrong, but I think UConn plays a zone on D where Thabeet basically stands around the basket. If this is the case, and I think it is, putting JL in will not get him away from the rim. Personally I think we will use the Mich State strategy in the B10 tourny last year. Look for slashing to the hoop in hopes of getting the big man some fouls. On the other end try and draw some offensive fouls. As good as Thabeet is, he is not the most mentally tough player in college basketball.

With all that said, we still have to slow down UConn's back court, which as many have pointed out may be extremely tough

Should be a fun game, and I am pumped for basketball to be back in full swing! (pun intended)

Oh well. Then you thank them for the open 3's they're conceding Leuer and bomb away. If they bring the help then rotate until you find the open guy. Somebody has to be open. Turn this into a 3-pt shooting contest on both ends.

[Heavystarch]

UConn hasn't been known for hitting the deep shots, so that just might work too

[Jcwisco]

The only way we stand a chance today is if Landry plays like a superstar and Bohannon breaks out of his slump. I think that Markoff will probably play today too, remember Bo always plays the matchups, usually its going small though. A win today would be this years Pitt or Texas if we lose we will know where we need to get better, almost a win win situation..

[Heavystarch]

Looking at the FSN tv schedule, looks like the Bucks game will be on, followed by the Badgers being shown at 8:30 (1 hour after listed start time). FCS will have it at 7:30, which is channel 303 on the charter sports tier.

[Jcwisco]

If you have a dish game will be on channel 447 at 7:30 or fschigago at 7:30 fsn starts at 8:30 but its tape delayed. thats dnetwork anyways

[TheFresher]

Originally Posted by Heavystarch

Looking at the FSN tv schedule, looks like the Bucks game will be on, followed by the Badgers being shown at 8:30 (1 hour after listed start time). FCS will have it at 7:30, which is channel 303 on the charter sports tier.

yeah, i don't get that channel.. i hate charter