2023-24 Wisconsin Basketball season thread

[Oxy]

I think the biggest weakness is consistency--and related to that is the lack of an alpha-leader.  Who makes sure that every game and every defensive possession is played with the maximum amount of focus and intensity?  Other than Klesmit (and even he started off this season in a fog), every player has a tendency to disappear for long stretches of time.  Part of that is matchups/game-plan, and the fact the we aren't reliant upon one player or one style.  This is a credit to the depth and versatility of the team. Still, I'd like it if a few guys showed a little more fire when fire was necessary.

That said, "fire" probably won't be "necessary" until March, and I don't want them to burn out early...

[Playing Catch]

19 hours ago, Oxy said:

I think the biggest weakness is consistency--and related to that is the lack of an alpha-leader.

I'm not too worried about the leadership part, as Wahl, Chucky, Max and the coaching staff I believe can keep the team focused as needed. I agree about the consistency part, but I think that is coming. I think tomorrow's game will be a good test for this, as well. They are good enough to beat Nebraska by double-digits, but Nebraska has been tough at times this season. A loss or a close win, and I too, will be concerned about consistency, but I'm feeling more of a 78-65 victory, with a pretty decent lead for much of the 2nd half.

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

I'm not too worried about the leadership part, as Wahl, Chucky, Max and the coaching staff I believe can keep the team focused as needed. I agree about the consistency part, but I think that is coming. I think tomorrow's game will be a good test for this, as well. They are good enough to beat Nebraska by double-digits, but Nebraska has been tough at times this season. A loss or a close win, and I too, will be concerned about consistency, but I'm feeling more of a 78-65 victory, with a pretty decent lead for much of the 2nd half.

I'm a little concerned about giving up momentum by getting off to a slow start offensively tomorrow. While their overall sked hasn't been strong, Nebraska has played pretty well the last 3-4 times they've faced better competition. They looked particularly good vs Indiana the other day. Getting Rienk Mast back helps their interior game on both ends. 

I'm still amazed whenever I see them guarding people after the ****show Hoiberg ran out there his first couple years. Establish inside early & defend Wilcher & Tominaga at the 3-point line & we should be OK. They've only played two road games so hopefully that's a factor.

[yourout]

These refs suck.

[Playing Catch]

They really do. Just no consistency.

[Playing Catch]

Every single rotation player has had one or two signature moments this game. And what I continue to marvel at, is that they STILL have lots of room to improve.

[Playing Catch]

I'm sure casual fans will say, "It was just Nebraska at home, who cares?" But I've seen enough...

The Badgers are Final Four-good.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Nebraska maybe isn't as good as their W-L record might show, but they were really impressive--on both ends of the floor--in beating Indiana the other day. No small feat to get out to an early lead, then extend it the way UW did.

What stood out to me on the stat sheet was 36 bench points, and eight different players making a 3pt shot. Both are pretty astounding.

It was a matter of time before Essegian got a little more run in one of these games as Gard was lauding his work in practice. Even though they did it today, it isn't easy to give ten guys meaningful minutes. I'm guessing they felt the on-top screen game from NU's bigs wasn't as tough to deal with than what some other teams do, and as long as he wasn't chasing Tominaga he'd get the job done. Sure is fun to watch him when he gets in a rhythm. With the work Blackwell turns in & McGee shining in his last couple games, it's getting to be incredibly competitive for minutes. Nice problem to have.

[rickh150]

13 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Nebraska maybe isn't as good as their W-L record might show, but they were really impressive--on both ends of the floor--in beating Indiana the other day. No small feat to get out to an early lead, then extend it the way UW did.

What stood out to me on the stat sheet was 36 bench points, and eight different players making a 3pt shot. Both are pretty astounding.

It was a matter of time before Essegian got a little more run in one of these games as Gard was lauding his work in practice. Even though they did it today, it isn't easy to give ten guys meaningful minutes. I'm guessing they felt the on-top screen game from NU's bigs wasn't as tough to deal with than what some other teams do, and as long as he wasn't chasing Tominaga he'd get the job done. Sure is fun to watch him when he gets in a rhythm. With the work Blackwell turns in & McGee shining in his last couple games, it's getting to be incredibly competitive for minutes. Nice problem to have.

The competition for Essegian will continue to limit his minutes. It’s more the other good players (Chuck, Blackwell, Klesmit, Storr) that is limiting him than poor play. Connor is likely gone next year to simply play and play big minutes at another top 50 school. He is risking it to stay.

[Playing Catch]

Gard is a smart coach. There are a lot of ways to win basketball games. It's possible that while Gard will always pay lip service to defense and practicing, that he senses that this team may win by being really good offensively and outscoring teams, and living with less than stellar defense.

[Jim French Stepstool]

6 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

Gard is a smart coach. There are a lot of ways to win basketball games. It's possible that while Gard will always pay lip service to defense and practicing, that he senses that this team may win by being really good offensively and outscoring teams, and living with less than stellar defense.

Their offensive depth & versatility is very impressive. It's good enough that they could win games w/o locking down defensively the way Gard would like to (they did yesterday). But believe me, his emphasis on defense, and on how individuals practice, will always be more than lip service. I get what you're saying........they can now win some games primarily by their ability to score the basketball. But we have a kid that averaged just under 12 PPG last year that was barely seeing the floor due to getting lost defensively. He's always going to put a premium on the defensive rules, and getting stops in crucial moments. It's why Gilmore sees the floor ahead of Marcus Ilver.

[Playing Catch]

58 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

his emphasis on defense, and on how individuals practice, will always be more than lip service.

Oh, certainly, they are perhaps the two most important pillars of the program, so poor choice of words on my part. I just meant -- like you mentioned -- that he may look at the tradeoff with Essegian and believe it's worth it. I'm also not sold on Gard's explanation that Conner has suddenly turned into Gary Payton in practice.

[Jim French Stepstool]

7 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

Oh, certainly, they are perhaps the two most important pillars of the program, so poor choice of words on my part. I just meant -- like you mentioned -- that he may look at the tradeoff with Essegian and believe it's worth it. I'm also not sold on Gard's explanation that Conner has suddenly turned into Gary Payton in practice.

Honestly, I don't think he'd ever give Essegian regular minutes unless his defense improves, which I think is what's happened. And like I alluded to, maybe Nebraska is a team that can be guarded a little more easily on the perimeter. Gary Payton, no. But I believe Gard when he says he's gotten better on that end. Believe me, I saw first-hand his brief performance vs Jax State. There was nowhere to go but up.

One spot on the floor where I think he's done a little bit of a "trade off" is with Storr, not just because of his versatility on offense but that you're playing three guards if he's not on the floor (Blackwell is a legit "3", but doesn't possess the size & strength of Storr at this point).

Pretty much everyone Gard is using right now seems to be either holding their own or trending upward. Hopefully it continues in Columbus.

[RedStickBrew]

Sounds like Crowl is iffy to play tonight. I didn’t hear how he got injured. That would be a big loss if he can’t go

[yourout]

Not feeling good about this one.

[RedStickBrew]

9 minutes ago, yourout said:

Not feeling good about this one.

Not unless Storr scores about 100 points tonight

[yourout]

Bad matchups for Klesmit.

[yourout]

7 minutes ago, RedStickBrew said:

Not unless Storr scores about 100 points tonight

He might get 40+

[RedStickBrew]

The offense is picking up

[yourout]

1 minute ago, RedStickBrew said:

The offense is picking up

Big time.

[RedStickBrew]

2 minutes ago, yourout said:

He might get 40+

He just keeps getting better every game on both ends of the floor

[yourout]

1 minute ago, RedStickBrew said:

He just keeps getting better every game on both ends of the floor

Better enjoy him this year. He might be in the big show next year.

[BrewerFan]

Are the Badgers on Peacock tonight?

And what about Marquette?

[RedStickBrew]

1 minute ago, BrewerFan said:

Are the Badgers on Peacock tonight?

And what about Marquette?

Badgers on BTN

Marquette on CBS Sports

[yourout]

Fouls are getting a bit lopsided.