2023-24 Wisconsin Basketball season thread

[Playing Catch]

8 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

9 hours ago, Samurai Bucky said:

 

I think what they were doing at that point was trying to shrink the game; still get good shots, but take 20-25 seconds.

I actually think this is coached deliberately,  and has been for years. I believe the staff has a ratio of point-spread vs. minutes remaining (probably controlling for a turnover or two), where the team is taught to use clock. Perhaps that's obvious, but it absolutely can explain how blowouts become "close[r]".

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, Playing Catch said:

I actually think this is coached deliberately,  and has been for years. I believe the staff has a ratio of point-spread vs. minutes remaining (probably controlling for a turnover or two), where the team is taught to use clock. Perhaps that's obvious, but it absolutely can explain how blowouts become "close[r]".

Oh yeah, it would be a directive from the bench for sure. And it's smart. Most miracle type comebacks in the final few minutes are fueled by quick empty possessions, missed FTs or turnovers. The "playing not to lose" complaints from fans are largely nonsense.

[Playing Catch]

16 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Oh yeah, it would be a directive from the bench for sure. And it's smart. Most miracle type comebacks in the final few minutes are fueled by quick empty possessions, missed FTs or turnovers. The "playing not to lose" complaints from fans are largely nonsense.

It's actually what gives me hope that the Badgers defense is better than everyone thinks.

[Oxy]

It's also WAYY easier to run clock when you have AJ Storr on the team, as he can get any shot off from just about anywhere...and it even has a chance to go in.  Not just him, but when everybody (except CG) is a decent one-on-one player there is almost always a match-up to find and get a decent shot fairly quickly.

This was a trademark of Bo's teams.

[BrewerFan]

Hey, I know the season is going great and all, but what's the deal with Essegian? I don't watch the Badgers as closely. Usually just have them on in the background, check out the scores late.

Looks like his effort is there on defense. I know it was his D that was the issue...and then his shooting was way off from last year. I know there is far less reliance on him with Storr, but any chance he could be a guy who could come off the bench, give them 15 minutes and get back to his shooting from last year when he was an elite catch-and-shoot guy? 

He's a guy I've thought may look to transfer after this year(hope not)...just curious what the thoughts on him are at this point.

[Jim French Stepstool]

50 minutes ago, BrewerFan said:

Hey, I know the season is going great and all, but what's the deal with Essegian? I don't watch the Badgers as closely. Usually just have them on in the background, check out the scores late.

Looks like his effort is there on defense. I know it was his D that was the issue...and then his shooting was way off from last year. I know there is far less reliance on him with Storr, but any chance he could be a guy who could come off the bench, give them 15 minutes and get back to his shooting from last year when he was an elite catch-and-shoot guy? 

He's a guy I've thought may look to transfer after this year(hope not)...just curious what the thoughts on him are at this point.

He's actually shot the ball pretty well lately. And I agree that he's giving an effort defensively, and has improved on that end (but still can get better, particularly playing/fighting through screens). It's really nothing more than a case of him having to earn minutes from people who have been, frankly, better. He has Klesmit, Storr, and Blackwell to contend with for minutes. And Klesmit (until now) hasn't had to move to PG to spell Hepburn because McGee has been a solid backup. Last year his competition for minutes was Klesmit, Jordan Davis & Isaac Lindsay. Big diff.

The role you're describing for him is kinda what he's been providing lately, except it's been more like 6-8 minutes than 15. Considering the disappointment in the reduced minutes his attitude & effort seems to be good. He's provided a spark in a couple recent games, I hope that's enough to keep him engaged. He can still be an integral part of the team. I get how some people think he might be tempted to go somewhere where he can play 30 minutes, score 18ppg (and maybe give up 20). I just hope his desire is to be as complete a player as possible. In that event he's in the right place.

[Samurai Bucky]

11 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

He's actually shot the ball pretty well lately. And I agree that he's giving an effort defensively, and has improved on that end (but still can get better, particularly playing/fighting through screens).

Earlier in the year, he was a bit of a sieve on defense.  I believe that is because of his injury at the beginning of the year.  It has taken him a little while to get his legs back under him.

Last year when I had gone to the Minnesota / Wisconsin game at the Kohl, I noticed how Essegian would use his own teammates to get around a screen both on the offensive and defensive end.  He would actually put his hand or arm on his own teammate which would slingshot him to where he needed to be.  I saw a little more of that lately, too.

He'll get back to form.  As long as he doesn't get frustrated with minutes due to the points you outlined, I think he will be a solid contributor.  There was a postgame interview with Coach Gard recently where he said that it is a challenge to have a deep squad.

[Jim French Stepstool]

8 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

 

Last year when I had gone to the Minnesota / Wisconsin game at the Kohl, I noticed how Essegian would use his own teammates to get around a screen both on the offensive and defensive end.  He would actually put his hand or arm on his own teammate which would slingshot him to where he needed to be.  I saw a little more of that lately, too.

 

That's interesting. I've seen guys more-or-less "shoved" to where they need to be, but never that. As long as he has the right idea, I guess......

I have seen him try to plow through screeners a time or two lately, which obviously won't fly. I agree that this staff will get him there if he keeps working.

 

[Jim French Stepstool]

20 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

 There was a postgame interview with Coach Gard recently where he said that it is a challenge to have a deep squad.

It isn't easy to effectively play ten. I think he's doing about as good a job of it as you can expect. In McGees' absence, going with Lindsay in the 1st half to absorb a few minutes has worked out really well so far.

Looking forward to seeing what they do with Edey on Sunday (and seeing how the game is called, after what happened in their game last night). I wouldn't be shocked to see Ilver get a minute or two in the 1st half, or even Hodges, especially if Edey shoots FTs the way he did vs Northwestern.

[RobDeer 45]

Worried about this Nebraska game tonight.  I don't want to call it a trap game, because that's not fair to NEB, they are a good team.  Always tough to play on the road so they are really going to have to grind this thing out.  Can't wait to watch!  The last game was a blast.

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, RobDeer 45 said:

Worried about this Nebraska game tonight.  I don't want to call it a trap game, because that's not fair to NEB, they are a good team.  Always tough to play on the road so they are really going to have to grind this thing out.  Can't wait to watch!  The last game was a blast.

it'll be a challenge for sure. Everyone plays better at home than on the road, but with Nebraska it's really pronounced. They shoot just over 30% from 3pt range on the road; In Lincoln it's almost 50%. Plus when guys like Mast, Allick & Gary (if he's back) play with energy & do the "dirty work" they're that much tougher. Despite the relative rankings of the two teams I'd consider this a really nice win if they can get it.

[areacodes]

3 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

It isn't easy to effectively play ten. I think he's doing about as good a job of it as you can expect. In McGees' absence, going with Lindsay in the 1st half to absorb a few minutes has worked out really well so far.

Looking forward to seeing what they do with Edey on Sunday (and seeing how the game is called, after what happened in their game last night). I wouldn't be shocked to see Ilver get a minute or two in the 1st half, or even Hodges, especially if Edey shoots FTs the way he did vs Northwestern.

If Hodges’s sees playing time in the first half against Purdue that means the game is going amazingly well or really bad.

[yourout]

Good start but Nebraska will get it close before it's over 

[yourout]

Allick sure leads with his head a lot.

[yourout]

Enough with the 30 footers.

[RedStickBrew]

6 minutes ago, yourout said:

Good start but Nebraska will get it close before it's over 

Yeah. This one will probably get tight pretty quick. Good team and tough place to play

[RedStickBrew]

Wow Chucky!

[yourout]

5 minutes ago, RedStickBrew said:

Wow Chucky!

Quite a half.

[RedStickBrew]

Just now, yourout said:

Quite a half.

I like that he didn’t force anything either. He’s been great all year

[stoutdude04]

And just like that...19 point lead down to 1. That one dude cant miss right now.

[RedStickBrew]

Second half has been ugly for the Badgers. Let’s see if they can somehow pull this off

[Samurai Bucky]

Live by the 3, die by the 3.  I can see how they are tired from playing defense, but c'mon.

[yourout]

It's just the annoys the crap out of me that guys can just lower their shoulder and plow their way to the basket without an offensive foul call

[RedStickBrew]

I just realized how bad the foul discrepancy is this half - ouch

[yourout]

Bucky's worst half of basketball in a long time.