I truly hate to say this, you know I do, but the Badgers are by far the best team in the conference and it isn't particularly close. I just wrote about how Ohio State has all that crazy talent, but the Badgers were an excellent team last year and have basically the entire squad back. This is usually where I might bash them for not having that much talent on paper and stuff, but at this point that's just stupid. Bo Ryan might never win the recruiting awards or whatever, but he knows how to get players to run his boring system and he knows how to take guys who seem like stiffs for two years suddenly blossom when he needs them to. I can no longer deny his wizardry or his ugly grinch face, but I sure don't have to like it.
Frank Kaminsky is the best example this year, following in the footsteps of all the other ugly white stiffs and becoming a star. Two years ago Kaminsky averaged just 10 minutes per game, shot 44% from the floor, and averaged just 4.2 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. Then Berggren, Evans, and Bruesewitz graduated, and he suddenly averaged 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game and won Big Ten honors. It's some kind of horrible circle of life. Well he's back, and despite being the best player on the team he's probably third in talent level, because Nigel Hayes (conference sixth man of the year as a freshman last season) and Sam Dekker are poised to breakout.
We said the same thing about Dekker last year, and although his improvement wasn't exactly a breakout, it was a step in the right direction (from 9.6 to 12.4 points per game and from 3.4 to 6.1 rebounds). It did come with a minute increase though, from 22 to 29 per game, and his advanced stats were basically stagnant from last season, other than rebounding. Wisconsin's only major loss is Ben Brust, and although they have the pieces to pick up his minutes Dekker may see more time with the ball - this can only help. Hayes is one of my favorites in the conference already, if I could have a favorite who played for Wisconsin, which I cannot. He doesn't fit the Badger model at all since he's an athletic beast, but he's smart and fundamentally sound so he works. He's also a defensive terror, which they like. He doesn't have the three-point shot Sconnie loves, but he does have a smooth jumper out to the perimeter so it wouldn't surprise me if he develops it eventually, maybe this year. He's going to be First Team All-Big Ten eventually.
Like I said, Brust is gone, but Josh Gasser (8.8ppg/1.9apg), Traevon Jackson (10.7/4.0), and Bronson Koenig (3.5/1.1) are all back so there's no shortage of perimeter players. Jackson has turned himself into an awfully good point guard by learning to score while becoming a better distributor at the same time, and Gasser was basically back to the same player he was three years ago prior to his knee injury, so he'll look to take another step forward and take on some of Brust's scoring from last season.
Pretty solid lineup: Jackson, Gasser, Dekker, Hayes, and Kaminsky. This is going to suck.
OTHER PREVIEWS:
#2 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
#3 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
#4 MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS
#5 ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI
#6 MICHIGAN
#7 MICHIGAN STATE
#8 IOWA HAWKEYES
#9 MARYLAND TERRAPINS
#10 INDIANA HOOSIERS
#11 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
#12 NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS
#13 PURDUE BOILERMAKERS
#14 RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS
Showing posts with label Josh Gasser. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Josh Gasser. Show all posts
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Game Preview: Gophers vs. Stupid Badgers
I hope you aren't too disappointed that you didn't get a 10 Things I Liked and Didn't Like about the Iowa Game post. The problem was that I watched it while being jumped on nearly non stop by two young children which, in case you don't know, is non conducive to making observations about some of the minutia going on at the game, which I try to do. Additionally, I didn't work Monday so oops drunk Sunday night. Also it's the kind of game that I didn't expect the Gophers to win and I'm not upset that they lost. Yeah, that 10 point lead in the first half was fun and interesting and all, but unfortunately Iowa is a very good team this year and there's more important games coming up. Essentially Iowa made every god damn open shot they had and when they missed they got the rebound. THE END. That's not very fun to write about, so instead we move on to Wednesday's game against the stupid, stupid Wisconsin Badgers and noted baby eater Bo Ryan.
First things first - this is not your typical Badger team. First of all, this is the fastest paced Wisconsin team since 2007. Second of all, after two years of absolutely elite level defense this year's Badger team is merely very good and after I watched them get torched by both Indiana and Michigan I'm willing to say they might not even be that. I'm not disparaging Wisconsin (the team, I am definitely disparaging the state and do every day) because it would be hard to find a better non-conference resume, but this team is different. The principles are the same, and the things they do well and struggle with are the same as every year under Bo Ryan, but overall it's a more dynamic team, a faster team, and a team that can put up a ton of points in a hurry, as Illinois can tell you. They can still grind it out, see the Virginia game, but unlike years past controlling the tempo and speeding the game up is not necessarily a successful strategy this year.
Maybe their biggest offensive weapon is they can shoot, and that goes for essentially everyone who may get playing time against Minnesota outside of Nigel Hayes, and he adds a whole different dimension I will get into later if I don't forget. Wisconsin has generally been super reliant on the 3-ball for their offense (some things don't change) but this season they can shoot. They're hitting 39.2% of their 3-point attempts, their best mark since Ryan showed up, and at the same time they're shooting fewer of them, the fewest on a % of field goal attempts basis since 2009. It's a more diverse offense because guys like Sam Dekker and Josh Gasser can actually get to the rim, and they have an actual post presence in Hayes, their first real post up guy since maybe Marcus Landry (no, Ryan Evans does not count). In case it's not obvious, yes, I'm very scared of this team and have said so since the preseason.
Fortunately though, as Indiana and Michigan have just shown, they can be beaten. Both were able to torch Wisconsin with hot shooting, and that's really the way to beat the Badgers. They don't cause turnovers much at all so you're going to get your shots, it's just a matter of getting good shots and making them, and if you miss you're not likely getting another chance at it because they rebound well on the defensive end. They still play the same suffocating up the line defense with heavy denials on the wing, so it's essential Mathieu and Dre Hollins can get past their man and into the lane to draw defenders and create open looks, because perimeter ball movement on it's own doesn't work against Wisconsin. Of course, beating them down the court and scoring in transition is always a great option for this team as well.
One other possible advantage the Gophers have is inside, because unlike the majority of Wisconsin team's in my lifetime this team doesn't really have a big body to go up against Elliot Eliason or Mo Walker. Frank Kaminsky is the tallest player on the team at 7-feet, but he's not exactly a banger, although he is a capable shot blocker based on his size and reach alone. Their one rough and tough inside guy is Hayes, but he's just 6-7 and as a freshman has some issues with fouls. I would feel better if the Gophers had more inside options or at least a power forward who is, you know, and actual power forward, but hopefully the EE/Mo combination can take advantage.
Before the Ohio State game I would have said there's no way the Gophers could beat Wisconsin, and even though Ohio State is continuing to struggle that doesn't change anything for me. The game against the Buckeyes showed that Richard Pitino can put together a solid game plan, even one out of his preferred style of play, and the current personnel has the ability to stick to it. Wisconsin is always so good at dictating the game that you usually end up having to adjust, it's just an advantage to the Gophers that this season the Badgers are a little more like a normal, human team.
Both teams have some solid advantages, and luckily for the Gophers their three biggest weaknesses: turnovers, getting killed on the offensive boards, and 2-point defense are things that will matter less against Wisconsin than against most foes. It will all come down to creating open shots and making them on both sides - as long as Wisconsin doesn't shoot lights out from three (and they certainly could) I feel good about the Gophers' chances.
Minnesota 73, Wisconsin 66.
First things first - this is not your typical Badger team. First of all, this is the fastest paced Wisconsin team since 2007. Second of all, after two years of absolutely elite level defense this year's Badger team is merely very good and after I watched them get torched by both Indiana and Michigan I'm willing to say they might not even be that. I'm not disparaging Wisconsin (the team, I am definitely disparaging the state and do every day) because it would be hard to find a better non-conference resume, but this team is different. The principles are the same, and the things they do well and struggle with are the same as every year under Bo Ryan, but overall it's a more dynamic team, a faster team, and a team that can put up a ton of points in a hurry, as Illinois can tell you. They can still grind it out, see the Virginia game, but unlike years past controlling the tempo and speeding the game up is not necessarily a successful strategy this year.
Maybe their biggest offensive weapon is they can shoot, and that goes for essentially everyone who may get playing time against Minnesota outside of Nigel Hayes, and he adds a whole different dimension I will get into later if I don't forget. Wisconsin has generally been super reliant on the 3-ball for their offense (some things don't change) but this season they can shoot. They're hitting 39.2% of their 3-point attempts, their best mark since Ryan showed up, and at the same time they're shooting fewer of them, the fewest on a % of field goal attempts basis since 2009. It's a more diverse offense because guys like Sam Dekker and Josh Gasser can actually get to the rim, and they have an actual post presence in Hayes, their first real post up guy since maybe Marcus Landry (no, Ryan Evans does not count). In case it's not obvious, yes, I'm very scared of this team and have said so since the preseason.
Fortunately though, as Indiana and Michigan have just shown, they can be beaten. Both were able to torch Wisconsin with hot shooting, and that's really the way to beat the Badgers. They don't cause turnovers much at all so you're going to get your shots, it's just a matter of getting good shots and making them, and if you miss you're not likely getting another chance at it because they rebound well on the defensive end. They still play the same suffocating up the line defense with heavy denials on the wing, so it's essential Mathieu and Dre Hollins can get past their man and into the lane to draw defenders and create open looks, because perimeter ball movement on it's own doesn't work against Wisconsin. Of course, beating them down the court and scoring in transition is always a great option for this team as well.
One other possible advantage the Gophers have is inside, because unlike the majority of Wisconsin team's in my lifetime this team doesn't really have a big body to go up against Elliot Eliason or Mo Walker. Frank Kaminsky is the tallest player on the team at 7-feet, but he's not exactly a banger, although he is a capable shot blocker based on his size and reach alone. Their one rough and tough inside guy is Hayes, but he's just 6-7 and as a freshman has some issues with fouls. I would feel better if the Gophers had more inside options or at least a power forward who is, you know, and actual power forward, but hopefully the EE/Mo combination can take advantage.
Before the Ohio State game I would have said there's no way the Gophers could beat Wisconsin, and even though Ohio State is continuing to struggle that doesn't change anything for me. The game against the Buckeyes showed that Richard Pitino can put together a solid game plan, even one out of his preferred style of play, and the current personnel has the ability to stick to it. Wisconsin is always so good at dictating the game that you usually end up having to adjust, it's just an advantage to the Gophers that this season the Badgers are a little more like a normal, human team.
Both teams have some solid advantages, and luckily for the Gophers their three biggest weaknesses: turnovers, getting killed on the offensive boards, and 2-point defense are things that will matter less against Wisconsin than against most foes. It will all come down to creating open shots and making them on both sides - as long as Wisconsin doesn't shoot lights out from three (and they certainly could) I feel good about the Gophers' chances.
Minnesota 73, Wisconsin 66.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Gophers vs. Badgers: Second Half Live Blog
Sure why not? Kids are gone and the wife and I hit the bar across the street for happy hour since the weather was so crappy, and well, it's 4 hours since then. So yeah. Let's go.
20:00 - Wisconsin couldn't shoot, and Ralph Sampson was super aggressive and assertive on the defensive end. I fully expect these things to continue. Also Andre Hollins is clearly a future star, and I do actually expect that to continue for two more years (because he'll go pro after his junior year, obviously).
20:00 - How long is this god damn half-time? I mean jesus, is this the super bowl?
19:46 - Jordan Taylor misses a wide open, and I mean wide open, three pointer. That seems to be the gophers' most effective defense tonight - just let Wisconsin suck. And the whole state does, amiright? I mean, if you put Wisconsin and Iowa into the Large Hadron Collider you'd just get this massive ball of drunken hick douchenss that you could then launch into outer space with some kind of giant water balloon sling shot, right? What?
18:58 - Gophers going clang clang clang like the little engine that could. The Nick Punto of trains, you know.
17:52 - Wide open three for Berggggrren, who misses (might have been Brewsewitz). It's working!!
17:38 - Announcer guy: "sometimes this Gopher team just doesn't think." Amen, brother man.
17:24 - Saul smith is yelling at someone on the Gopher bench. I assume that isn't good.
16:31 - Rodney Williams seems very upset with officials like, all the time lately. He might as well be a Gopher fan with all the bitching, particularly the dude who sits right next to us who has, almost literally, no idea what a foul is and isn't. And for the record, Williams fouled him with the body, even if the block was clean. Gophers 25, Wisconsin 22.
16:04 - 12-2 run by the Badgers to tie the game up. Never saw this one coming. Might just watch the Walking Dead. Yeah, the writing might be meh and the dialogue might be Lucas-esque and the actors might be woodenish, but you know, zombies and shit.
15:19 - Brusewitz misses an open three. Genius strategy by Tubby. Just let 'em shoot. Just like that dude at the Y who thinks he's all like whoa but really kind of sucks and you just let him shoot all game and he keeps missing and then he makes one and looks at you like "you can't lay off me son cuz I'm gonna hit it every time" and that's when you know you got 'em because he's going to just keep chucking and missing and you don't really have to expend any energy on defense anymore so you can save it for when you have the ball and light some chumps up. I love that guy.
14:20 - Sconnie misses a free throw but gets their own rebound. Lol. Doesn't matter though when Gasser misses an open three point shot. Still 25-25.
13:44 - Joe Coleman goes with the Rick Vaughn impression and throws it through the back of endzone at 99mph, looking for I assume a teammate.
12:53 - Now this play right here illustrates why Rodney Williams can be so frustrating. Gets the ball at the key, sees Berggren or some fat white guy on him so he takes it right past him, uses excellent body control to avoid the charge when Brust (might be Gasser) slides over, and makes the easy lay-up. Incredible quickness and athleticism. Just amazing. But three years in and no jumper? Might be easier to handle if he had the aggressiveness he showed on that play more than once a month.
12:43 - Has Julian Welch played tonight? I watched the pre-game and 1st half on the treadmill with no sound so if they said anything I didn't hear it, but I can't remember seeing him tonight.
11:57 - Andre Hollins goes up for a three and has it tipped and it heads straight out of bounds. Austin Hollins completely sells out and sacrifices his body to attempt to save it (even though it's going to be Gopher ball) and just tips it enough to make sure it's Wisconsin's ball. If I could sum up the season in one play I'm pretty sure that's it.
11:57 - By the way, shout out to Mrs. W who, besides being hot, put together our new treadmill all by herself yesterday. Good woman. Also a great cook. Second best in the house.
11:57 - Technical foul on Tubby, which is actually good to see. Actually turns out Hollins' didn't get his shot tipped, he actually got his arm smacked which caused the airball (and should have been a foul) so my bad to Austy. I shouldn't have doubted a kid whose cousin's dad is an NBA coach.
11:15 - It's now 32-27 Wisconsin. Sweet.
9:05 - This game is kind of putting me to sleep. Now 34-29. Also Josh Gasser is a girl.
8:53 - Ralphy!! Hammer dunk!! Doesn't count because he was fouled on the entry pass, but still. Deezam. Not sure on the spelling on that one. Do like this "getting back into the paint" stuff.
8:52 - Osenieks 1-2 from the line. Isn't he supposed to be a shooter but hits less than 50% from the line? Am I wrong here? I hope so, because that don't make no sense.
8:23 - Brust for 3. Huh. Maybe the whole "let 'em shoot" strategy isn't the best one. And that move by Andre Hollins was just ridiculous. Just went right by Jordan Taylor and then right at one of those fat Sconnie dues and made the lay-up. Hollins is going to be a star. Watching him kind of reminds me of watching LeSean McCoy. That either makes total sense to you or is really stupid. I vote for makes sense.
7:40 - Missed Badger free throw, Badger board, Taylor three-pointer, 41-32 Badgers. Any of you basketball nerds know where to find how often a team gives up an offensive board on a missed free throw? Pretty sure the Gophers lead the nation.
7:11 - Two made throws give Sampson 1,000 career points. I remain underwhelmed.
6:47 - Another made three for the Badgers and I'm pretty sure Andre Ingram just blew his knee out again. Poor dude. Actually he looks less knee-blowout-y now. Hopefully he's ok. Based on the nearly constant transfers out of this program you never know, he could be a starter next year.
6:01 - Oto probably just traveled on a fast break lay-up attempt, which he missed, and then tipped in his own miss. I'm trying to decide if that was pretty or ugly. Since I've had a couple beers let's go with the beer goggles and call it pretty.
5:08 - 44-36 Wisconsin. I wish I could just fast forward. This is the kind of game people make fun of nationally.
4:54 - I honestly have no idea which one is Bruskewitz and which one is Berggren. Also Brust vs. Gasser is a challenge. I can pick out Ryan Evans though, thanks to all that time misspent watching Kid N Play movies in my youth.
3:45 - Either an amazing touch pass by Williams or a fortunate bounce leads to a Sampson dunk. 46-40 Badgers. If this was any other B10 team I'd say they were at least in it.
2:42 - Andre Hollins takes a very aggressive, but not ill-advised, three pointer; Williams grabs the o-board by outjumping everyone, misses the putback, gets back up quicker than anyone else to grab another, gets fouled, and makes both free throws. That is exactly what Gopher fans need to concentrate on for next year. That hole sequence actually looked like a good, confident team. Also, if you're scoring at home, I'm now writing effusive praise for a sequence where the gophers shot 1-3 from the floor. Also they just showed a graphic that the Gophers have 3 assists tonight. Which, I suppose, isn't that bad when you consider I think they have about 8 field goals.
1:21 - Austin Hollins travels for no good reason whatsoever.
0:41 - Announcer guys aren't making much sense with their reasons, but the overall point is sound - the Gophers could really use an actual point guard. I love Andre Hollins, but, well, I don't know. I mean I guess he could be an actual point guard in the scoring point vein, but I think the team would be better if he could just be the scorer. They need a Darren Collison to his Russell Westbrook. Good thing they have both a good point guard on the current roster plus one of a quality pedigree coming in next year. The future is bright!
0:00 - Gophers lose 52-45. Sucks because the Gophers really needed this to land a top NIT seed. And thanks a bunch for not covering Badger asses.
20:00 - Wisconsin couldn't shoot, and Ralph Sampson was super aggressive and assertive on the defensive end. I fully expect these things to continue. Also Andre Hollins is clearly a future star, and I do actually expect that to continue for two more years (because he'll go pro after his junior year, obviously).
20:00 - How long is this god damn half-time? I mean jesus, is this the super bowl?
19:46 - Jordan Taylor misses a wide open, and I mean wide open, three pointer. That seems to be the gophers' most effective defense tonight - just let Wisconsin suck. And the whole state does, amiright? I mean, if you put Wisconsin and Iowa into the Large Hadron Collider you'd just get this massive ball of drunken hick douchenss that you could then launch into outer space with some kind of giant water balloon sling shot, right? What?
18:58 - Gophers going clang clang clang like the little engine that could. The Nick Punto of trains, you know.
17:52 - Wide open three for Berggggrren, who misses (might have been Brewsewitz). It's working!!
17:38 - Announcer guy: "sometimes this Gopher team just doesn't think." Amen, brother man.
17:24 - Saul smith is yelling at someone on the Gopher bench. I assume that isn't good.
16:31 - Rodney Williams seems very upset with officials like, all the time lately. He might as well be a Gopher fan with all the bitching, particularly the dude who sits right next to us who has, almost literally, no idea what a foul is and isn't. And for the record, Williams fouled him with the body, even if the block was clean. Gophers 25, Wisconsin 22.
16:04 - 12-2 run by the Badgers to tie the game up. Never saw this one coming. Might just watch the Walking Dead. Yeah, the writing might be meh and the dialogue might be Lucas-esque and the actors might be woodenish, but you know, zombies and shit.
15:19 - Brusewitz misses an open three. Genius strategy by Tubby. Just let 'em shoot. Just like that dude at the Y who thinks he's all like whoa but really kind of sucks and you just let him shoot all game and he keeps missing and then he makes one and looks at you like "you can't lay off me son cuz I'm gonna hit it every time" and that's when you know you got 'em because he's going to just keep chucking and missing and you don't really have to expend any energy on defense anymore so you can save it for when you have the ball and light some chumps up. I love that guy.
14:20 - Sconnie misses a free throw but gets their own rebound. Lol. Doesn't matter though when Gasser misses an open three point shot. Still 25-25.
13:44 - Joe Coleman goes with the Rick Vaughn impression and throws it through the back of endzone at 99mph, looking for I assume a teammate.
12:53 - Now this play right here illustrates why Rodney Williams can be so frustrating. Gets the ball at the key, sees Berggren or some fat white guy on him so he takes it right past him, uses excellent body control to avoid the charge when Brust (might be Gasser) slides over, and makes the easy lay-up. Incredible quickness and athleticism. Just amazing. But three years in and no jumper? Might be easier to handle if he had the aggressiveness he showed on that play more than once a month.
12:43 - Has Julian Welch played tonight? I watched the pre-game and 1st half on the treadmill with no sound so if they said anything I didn't hear it, but I can't remember seeing him tonight.
11:57 - Andre Hollins goes up for a three and has it tipped and it heads straight out of bounds. Austin Hollins completely sells out and sacrifices his body to attempt to save it (even though it's going to be Gopher ball) and just tips it enough to make sure it's Wisconsin's ball. If I could sum up the season in one play I'm pretty sure that's it.
11:57 - By the way, shout out to Mrs. W who, besides being hot, put together our new treadmill all by herself yesterday. Good woman. Also a great cook. Second best in the house.
11:57 - Technical foul on Tubby, which is actually good to see. Actually turns out Hollins' didn't get his shot tipped, he actually got his arm smacked which caused the airball (and should have been a foul) so my bad to Austy. I shouldn't have doubted a kid whose cousin's dad is an NBA coach.
11:15 - It's now 32-27 Wisconsin. Sweet.
9:05 - This game is kind of putting me to sleep. Now 34-29. Also Josh Gasser is a girl.
8:53 - Ralphy!! Hammer dunk!! Doesn't count because he was fouled on the entry pass, but still. Deezam. Not sure on the spelling on that one. Do like this "getting back into the paint" stuff.
8:52 - Osenieks 1-2 from the line. Isn't he supposed to be a shooter but hits less than 50% from the line? Am I wrong here? I hope so, because that don't make no sense.
8:23 - Brust for 3. Huh. Maybe the whole "let 'em shoot" strategy isn't the best one. And that move by Andre Hollins was just ridiculous. Just went right by Jordan Taylor and then right at one of those fat Sconnie dues and made the lay-up. Hollins is going to be a star. Watching him kind of reminds me of watching LeSean McCoy. That either makes total sense to you or is really stupid. I vote for makes sense.
7:40 - Missed Badger free throw, Badger board, Taylor three-pointer, 41-32 Badgers. Any of you basketball nerds know where to find how often a team gives up an offensive board on a missed free throw? Pretty sure the Gophers lead the nation.
7:11 - Two made throws give Sampson 1,000 career points. I remain underwhelmed.
6:47 - Another made three for the Badgers and I'm pretty sure Andre Ingram just blew his knee out again. Poor dude. Actually he looks less knee-blowout-y now. Hopefully he's ok. Based on the nearly constant transfers out of this program you never know, he could be a starter next year.
6:01 - Oto probably just traveled on a fast break lay-up attempt, which he missed, and then tipped in his own miss. I'm trying to decide if that was pretty or ugly. Since I've had a couple beers let's go with the beer goggles and call it pretty.
5:08 - 44-36 Wisconsin. I wish I could just fast forward. This is the kind of game people make fun of nationally.
4:54 - I honestly have no idea which one is Bruskewitz and which one is Berggren. Also Brust vs. Gasser is a challenge. I can pick out Ryan Evans though, thanks to all that time misspent watching Kid N Play movies in my youth.
3:45 - Either an amazing touch pass by Williams or a fortunate bounce leads to a Sampson dunk. 46-40 Badgers. If this was any other B10 team I'd say they were at least in it.
2:42 - Andre Hollins takes a very aggressive, but not ill-advised, three pointer; Williams grabs the o-board by outjumping everyone, misses the putback, gets back up quicker than anyone else to grab another, gets fouled, and makes both free throws. That is exactly what Gopher fans need to concentrate on for next year. That hole sequence actually looked like a good, confident team. Also, if you're scoring at home, I'm now writing effusive praise for a sequence where the gophers shot 1-3 from the floor. Also they just showed a graphic that the Gophers have 3 assists tonight. Which, I suppose, isn't that bad when you consider I think they have about 8 field goals.
1:21 - Austin Hollins travels for no good reason whatsoever.
0:41 - Announcer guys aren't making much sense with their reasons, but the overall point is sound - the Gophers could really use an actual point guard. I love Andre Hollins, but, well, I don't know. I mean I guess he could be an actual point guard in the scoring point vein, but I think the team would be better if he could just be the scorer. They need a Darren Collison to his Russell Westbrook. Good thing they have both a good point guard on the current roster plus one of a quality pedigree coming in next year. The future is bright!
0:00 - Gophers lose 52-45. Sucks because the Gophers really needed this to land a top NIT seed. And thanks a bunch for not covering Badger asses.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Big Ten Preview: #7 WISCONSIN BADGERS
Once again, I see no way Wisconsin can finish in the upper division of the Big 10 this year. Now I fully admit I think this same thing pretty much every year and pretty much every year they prove me wrong, but I'm just not seeing this year.
Obviously everything about the Badgers this year begins and ends with Jordan Taylor, who is not doubt a supreme talent and had a statistically amazing season last year. If you think that year was a fluke or a harbinger of things to come probably has a lot to do with your opinion of the Badgers' fortunes this season. After being a below average shooter in his first two years in the league, Taylor increased his shooting percentage by 40 points from his sophomore to junior year, including raising his 3-point and FT percentages by over 100 points, and put up an absolutely staggering 4.2 assist-to-turnover ratio to lead the nation, a ratio that was more than double nearly every other player who put up a high number of assists. It was a mind-blowing year that pretty much came out of nowhere, and you can firmly put me in the camp that we're going to see some regression to the mean this year, especially without Leuer to take some of the pressure off of Taylor.
Actually I have no idea who is going to take the pressure off of Taylor this season, because G Josh Gasser and F Mophead Bruesewitz are the only guys back who played significant time last year. Gasser had one of the more unlikely triple-doubles in history last year, but is pretty much a meh player and Bruesewitz is more of an energy and effort guy than a true scorer. Then again this is Wisconsin. The laws of time and space and sports cease to function when you cross the border, and guys like Gasser and Mophead who would be bench warmers on other teams become not only significant contributors, but even all-conference types. I don't like Bo Ryan - I'm pretty sure nobody does - but I've learned not to doubt him.
As big of question marks as those two are, behind them things are even more unsettled. Ryan Evans and Jared Berggren both played in a lot of games last year and although they didn't put up the most impressive stats on a consistent basis both showed flashes at times that they could fit in within the world's slowest offense. Ryan also has two years worth of unheralded, barely ranked, few stars recruits that, outside of Gasser, haven't played much and I have no doubt at least one or two of them will make a significant contribution this year.
In short, Wisconsin once again looks like it will be a down year for them on paper. But we've been saying this for like six straight years now and every year they're in contention for the Big 10 title and end up a lock for an NCAA bid by early February, so it wouldn't shock me if that ends up being the case once again. I will say this though - if they end up doing it, it will be the most impressive of their surprisingly good seasons yet, because I see all kinds of troubles in Badgerland.
DWG Over/Under Conference Wins: 8.5
Obviously everything about the Badgers this year begins and ends with Jordan Taylor, who is not doubt a supreme talent and had a statistically amazing season last year. If you think that year was a fluke or a harbinger of things to come probably has a lot to do with your opinion of the Badgers' fortunes this season. After being a below average shooter in his first two years in the league, Taylor increased his shooting percentage by 40 points from his sophomore to junior year, including raising his 3-point and FT percentages by over 100 points, and put up an absolutely staggering 4.2 assist-to-turnover ratio to lead the nation, a ratio that was more than double nearly every other player who put up a high number of assists. It was a mind-blowing year that pretty much came out of nowhere, and you can firmly put me in the camp that we're going to see some regression to the mean this year, especially without Leuer to take some of the pressure off of Taylor.
Actually I have no idea who is going to take the pressure off of Taylor this season, because G Josh Gasser and F Mophead Bruesewitz are the only guys back who played significant time last year. Gasser had one of the more unlikely triple-doubles in history last year, but is pretty much a meh player and Bruesewitz is more of an energy and effort guy than a true scorer. Then again this is Wisconsin. The laws of time and space and sports cease to function when you cross the border, and guys like Gasser and Mophead who would be bench warmers on other teams become not only significant contributors, but even all-conference types. I don't like Bo Ryan - I'm pretty sure nobody does - but I've learned not to doubt him.
As big of question marks as those two are, behind them things are even more unsettled. Ryan Evans and Jared Berggren both played in a lot of games last year and although they didn't put up the most impressive stats on a consistent basis both showed flashes at times that they could fit in within the world's slowest offense. Ryan also has two years worth of unheralded, barely ranked, few stars recruits that, outside of Gasser, haven't played much and I have no doubt at least one or two of them will make a significant contribution this year.
In short, Wisconsin once again looks like it will be a down year for them on paper. But we've been saying this for like six straight years now and every year they're in contention for the Big 10 title and end up a lock for an NCAA bid by early February, so it wouldn't shock me if that ends up being the case once again. I will say this though - if they end up doing it, it will be the most impressive of their surprisingly good seasons yet, because I see all kinds of troubles in Badgerland.
DWG Over/Under Conference Wins: 8.5
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