Official Badger Men's Season Thread '09-'10

[coyote_5]

Red and White scrimmage this Sunday, it's time to get fired up for the season! I don't post around here that often, but it looks like it's time to put last season's thread to bed and start fresh!

Link to Badger Media day coverage:

Meda Day Chatter - UWBadgers.com - The Official Web Site of the Wisconsin Badgers

How difficult will it be to replace Krabbenhoft and Landry's production, and more importantly, presence? Krabby in particular I think is a big loss.

[Bernini]

Last year would have been a good time for some Badger b-ball fans to start taking Meth or Oxy. Myself personally, all the catharsis I need occurs during the games (just ask my neighbors), and then I'm ready to move on shortly afterward. Not that I'd do anything that has long-lasting consequences for sports anyways. Let's not ever lose that perspective....they are just an opiate with less side effects themselves.

But I digress, the biggest reason for optimism this season is that Bucky weren't far away from an extremely impressive record last season. They should have, not could have, won 7 or so more games. That would have given them a 27-6 record overall and an accompanying Big Ten Title. Finishing has just as much to do with psychology as depth/talent, so as long as the Badgers don't have a psychologically destructive game early on (the tentativeness against Marquette I think was the beginning last year), they should win several more games for that factor alone.

As far as the newcomers go, the only one I'm particularly interested in seeing is Berggren. The true freshmen class was going to be nondescript to me even with Diamond Taylor. It was small and included a hustle guy and guy with scoring as his selling point even though he wasn't even the best in that area on his high school team, IIRC.

Bucky will have to win with the holdovers, mostly. The two I'm interested in following are Nankivil and Leuer. That frontcourt is very promising. At small forward, I'm pretty indifferent who starts. Jarmusz has major limitations but Wilson needs to take a major step forward in instincts to surpass him. At the 2, I don't care who starts between JT and J-Slow, I just want to see JT finishing most ballgames. His superior individual playmaking, ball-handling up the court, and man-to-man defending will help win more close games also.

[Jcwisco]

If we find a go to guy down the stretch this year we will be fine in my opinion, that was what sorley lacked from last years team. Replacing Landry and Krabbenhoff should be no where nearly as difficult as it was to replace Butch and Flowers the year before.

Having 2 senoir guards usually bodes well but for any team, to be special we need the unknown to come through in a big way. Fortunatley it usually does under Bo....it better becuase that is what his whole philosiphy hinges on developing players to fit his system..

Bergeran is very important but equally important is the ability of Nankivil and JL to knock down perimeter shots so the guards and wings can start to get back into the paint to score I get the feeling Ryan Evans will eventually excel in this role along with Rob Wilson..... Cant wait till Sunday

[TroyD92]

Rob and Ryan are the two that need to step up, because Im not comfortable playing an athletic team with J-bo and TJ trying to keep up with athletic wings.

[coyote_5]

Originally Posted by Jcwisco

...but equally important is the ability of Nankivil and JL to knock down perimeter shots so the guards and wings can start to get back into the paint ....

I think that is a GREAT point. We were spoiled with Wilkinson and then Butch being able to knock down that perimeter J. Seems to me having a 4 or 5 be able to step out and hit that at the top of the key is a big part of the offense. It really opens up everything else for the rest of the players. Recall how much better they played offensively during those stretches of game when Nankavil was hitting his shots.

They really need Luer in particular to take the next big step in his development.

[badgerbasketball33]

wasn't sure where to ask this question, but which site do you think is better for buying a membership to, scout or rivals?

[TroyD92]

Originally Posted by badgerbasketball33

wasn't sure where to ask this question, but which site do you think is better for buying a membership to, scout or rivals?

Overall Rivals has much more coverage then scout, specifically in football.

[badgerbasketball33]

thanks

[cyismydog]

I'm pumped for basketball season too! It can't get here fast enough!

[Jcwisco]

Down right Brutle offensive performance tonight that was the worst Team I have watched in the last 6 years, turnovers galore horrible shooting no dynamic players, reciepe for a really long year........All that from a scrimage? Yes

[badgerbasketball33]

Yeah I was really bored. But I will say Evans looks to be worth a scholarship. Can't shoot that well. But is a pretty good defender and rebounder

[Jcwisco]

Ryan Evans reminds me of a poor man's Marcus Landry.

[TroyD92]

White night: Nankivil and Evans shine in Scrimmage - UWBadgers.com - The Official Web Site of the Wisconsin Badgers

[badgerbasketball33]

went to the scrimmage last night:

Any chance of berrgeren contributing this in the post this year looks slim. He didn't play a whole lot until the end. Couldn't finish around the rim, looked lost at times. Not sure what Bo is gonna do to get keaton and jon rest. Looks like he'll go small with evans replacing one of the two.

Bruiser looked better tonight he hustled grabbed some offensive rebounds but didn't play until the second half i believe.

Evans again showed off his hops with an amazing alley oop from jbo. Also again got about 3-4 blocks, actually made a nice jumper too.

Keaton and jon were outstanding making almost everything they took.

Hughes also put on a show, scored whenever he wanted, got steals, and dished out a lot of assists.

[coyote_5]

good to hear hughes played well, but look at the competition. On the other hand, if Berg. can't compete against UW Superior??

I didn't see the game so I'm just going off the comments above.