2023-24 Wisconsin Basketball season thread

[homer]

And we haven't seen Gus Bus yet. 

[RedStickBrew]

22 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Such a bonus to be able to look down the bench & find someone with his athleticism & energy. And he's making shots, which if I was a betting man I'd say the coaches weren't expecting quite yet. As long as Klesmit gives them performances like today I'd keep Blackwell in this role.

He really has been a nice surprise on the offensive end. I imagine as he gets scouted more, teams will adjust to him and cut off driving lanes etc. His ability to get to the free throw line should continue to translate though

[RedStickBrew]

11 minutes ago, homer said:

And we haven't seen Gus Bus yet. 

Did you see him going nuts on the bench after the Gilmore follow up dunk?

[RedStickBrew]

 

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 hours ago, RedStickBrew said:

 

Interesting.

 With two players redshirting, they have sixteen on the roster but I believe you still can only declare fifteen before a game. At this point it looks like an uphill struggle for Gus to get minutes, but we're only five games in. What's nice is with all that's happened he appears to still want to be a part of things.

[Playing Catch]

Such a satisfying win yesterday. (Note that a week ago, I was so frustrated with UW sports, that I literally turned the Providence game off. I've never done that before).

Per the conversation about the progression/regression of players under Gard, I think it's due almost entirely to guys needing to play outside of their role, or outside of their abilities, for the sake of the team. Wahl looks awesome when he can defend-rebound-faciliate, but when he's asked to score 15 points he struggles. Guys like Crowl, Wahl, and Klesmit were never meant to provide the scoring bulk on a championship team. But that's where Storr and Blackwell come in...

A poster here or elsewhere said of this team after an earlier game that this team was "Too much glue, not enough wood." Cue Storr and Blackwell. They can be the wood to provide scoring as they both can score at all three levels and at the line, thus allowing the Wahls and Klesmits of the world to do what they do best. If Josh Gasser was expected to carry the scoring load night in and night out, he would have been frustrating to watch.

Earlier Jim French mentioned the depth earlier. But he was especially correct mentioning the most important element of depth... defense. They can maintain the defensive intensity long enough to truly give Chucky, Crowl, and Wahl breathers. This will be vital whenever foul trouble hits, too.

And we haven't even seen what a healthy CE3 can provide, and I have a lot of confidence that Winter will grow into a force as well.

So long as guys like Gus keep rooting on the guys in front of them rather than become a distraction, this team has some really good ingredients.

[stoutdude04]

Is Connor still hurt? I am getting a funny feeling that maybe he isn't and is just being outplayed for minutes.

[homer]

51 minutes ago, stoutdude04 said:

Is Connor still hurt? I am getting a funny feeling that maybe he isn't and is just being outplayed for minutes.

I think Blackwell is just a better overall player

[stoutdude04]

31 minutes ago, homer said:

I think Blackwell is just a better overall player

Id agree.  Stinks because I thought he made some big strides last year.

[homer]

31 minutes ago, stoutdude04 said:

Id agree.  Stinks because I thought he made some big strides last year.

I think he'll have a role at some point. They'll need his three point shooting.

[RedStickBrew]

2 hours ago, stoutdude04 said:

Is Connor still hurt? I am getting a funny feeling that maybe he isn't and is just being outplayed for minutes.

I read from one of the Badger writers that he is not injured, but not all the way back yet either- whatever that means.

[CheezWizHed]

Last night was also my first game to watch.. I'm guessing @homer and I swung the tide with our viewership! 😂

The game started out very much like last year (including almost the same players) and I was a bit dismayed.  But the bench was night-and-day better than last year.  I'll second (third?...eleventh?...) uh, agree that Blackwell looked exciting out there.  He and Chuckie in the backcourt was fun to watch.  Storr was kind of quiet last night, but had his moments. 

How soon until the team is ranked?  I'm not stamping my ticket to the final four yet, but surely they are a top 25 team (just beating #24).

Fun to beat Tony Bennett also!  Man he looks just like his dad... I was having major flashbacks. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 hours ago, stoutdude04 said:

Is Connor still hurt? I am getting a funny feeling that maybe he isn't and is just being outplayed for minutes.

I think what happened, is he wrenched the back vs Arky State, had to take it a little easy in practice, and the reps that others got in his place put him behind the 8-ball a little bit. I mentioned that I watched him in pregame before the Tennessee game & he wasn't moving well at all. Gard mentioned the other day using him for scout team stuff to help him get work.

The main reason to have him out there, of course, is his shooting. And right now his shot is off. But he seemed to be focused defensively last night in the few minutes he got, and the ability to read the overplays & go back door is still there. Whether it's health related or just shaking off rust, I think he's simply working his way back. And they don't have to force feed it because like Homer said, others are playing better.

[Jim French Stepstool]

23 minutes ago, CheezWizHed said:

 

Fun to beat Tony Bennett also!  Man he looks just like his dad... I was having major flashbacks. 

When Tony was coaching Washington State in Milwaukee years ago, his dad was at the game. I approached him & brought up the 1975 WIAA tournament which he coached in & I attended as my old high school was participating. It was impressive listening to the number of details he recalled. Just a very, very nice man.

[Oxy]

I bet that the utter dominance on the offensive boards versus UVA was a specific strategic point by Gard.  If a team will barely even threaten to play in transition, it only makes sense to crash the boards as much as possible on the offensive end.  For years, Bo would forego offensive rebounding for the sake of transition defense, but if you are playin a team that almost refuses to play in transition, what's the point in getting back so soon?  Go get the rebound.

[nate82]

This team is looking like a 10-14 seed tourney team.  Really early right now and they could pull off some upsets but I just can't see this team being anything better than a 10 seed.  Maybe I am wrong but this looks to be another disappointing year for the Badgers. 

[Brewin]

21 minutes ago, nate82 said:

This team is looking like a 10-14 seed tourney team.  Really early right now and they could pull off some upsets but I just can't see this team being anything better than a 10 seed.  Maybe I am wrong but this looks to be another disappointing year for the Badgers. 

I think you might be underestimating them a little bit. UW historically gets better as the season goes on. I see them as more of a 7-10 seed come Selection Sunday

[homer]

1 hour ago, nate82 said:

This team is looking like a 10-14 seed tourney team.  Really early right now and they could pull off some upsets but I just can't see this team being anything better than a 10 seed.  Maybe I am wrong but this looks to be another disappointing year for the Badgers. 

You might be right but it's weird timing for that post considering they just walloped a top 25 team on a neutral court.

[CheezWizHed]

2 hours ago, Oxy said:

I bet that the utter dominance on the offensive boards versus UVA was a specific strategic point by Gard.  If a team will barely even threaten to play in transition, it only makes sense to crash the boards as much as possible on the offensive end.  For years, Bo would forego offensive rebounding for the sake of transition defense, but if you are playin a team that almost refuses to play in transition, what's the point in getting back so soon?  Go get the rebound.

The announcers made the point (repeatedly and ad nauseum) at how small Virginia was and how Florida got 21 rebounds (seriously, they said it close to 10 times) against Virginia.  So I'm sure that will be the main blueprint to beat VA this year.  

FYI, WI got 20 offensive rebounds against VA. 

[nate82]

22 minutes ago, homer said:

You might be right but it's weird timing for that post considering they just walloped a top 25 team on a neutral court.

Much better to be pessimistic after a big win then you can’t be disappointed.  

[Playing Catch]

I think I'm optimistic because of the depth. I know, I know, Gard only plays 8 guys, so what's the point of having "depth"? The point is that in all of those games last year where the guys faded at the end of games, this year, they can be strong and finish games strong. The guys can play more aggressively throughout the game, trusting that if they get in foul trouble, or get winded, a legitimate player on the bench can step in and step up. And we've already seen that our bench guys are good enough to do that.

[Oxy]

2 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

The announcers made the point (repeatedly and ad nauseum) at how small Virginia was and how Florida got 21 rebounds (seriously, they said it close to 10 times) against Virginia.  So I'm sure that will be the main blueprint to beat VA this year.  

FYI, WI got 20 offensive rebounds against VA. 

Oh.  I was at the game, didn't hear the announcers 😎

[Jim French Stepstool]

3 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

I think I'm optimistic because of the depth. I know, I know, Gard only plays 8 guys, so what's the point of having "depth"? The point is that in all of those games last year where the guys faded at the end of games, this year, they can be strong and finish games strong. The guys can play more aggressively throughout the game, trusting that if they get in foul trouble, or get winded, a legitimate player on the bench can step in and step up. And we've already seen that our bench guys are good enough to do that.

Yeah, you always hear rumblings about the depth, that they can go 9-10 deep, and it never seems to happen. But he's been playing 9 or 10, even vs the better teams. And one of the people getting fewer minutes than the others was a starter last season. So as long as people come off the bench & guard, I think the lengthened bench is a real thing.

[Jim French Stepstool]

6 hours ago, nate82 said:

This team is looking like a 10-14 seed tourney team.  Really early right now and they could pull off some upsets but I just can't see this team being anything better than a 10 seed.  Maybe I am wrong but this looks to be another disappointing year for the Badgers. 

I don't know if it's possible for a P5 team to be a 13 or 14 seed just based on the structure of the NCAA tournament, but either way I'm not sure how disappointing any season can be in which you make the tourney.

Then again, I'm a big picture kinda-guy.😐

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 hours ago, Oxy said:

Oh.  I was at the game, didn't hear the announcers 😎

Just had to rub it in, huh?🍹🏝️

I understand Barry Alvarez made the trip too.