Wisconsin Basketball 2025-26

[adambr2]

Far and away above anything else, rebounding is what will keep this teams’ ceiling lower than it otherwise would be.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Gard said he thinks they're rushing a bit on some of their possessions, and I would agree. Illinois is able to get into the lane more comfortably than UW, which is putting more stress on the defense and will lead to them probably getting to the line much more. Unless Rapp & Bieliauskas can start pulling their bigs away from the cup w/some makes, the driving lanes mostly won't be there. So you're left with 23😲 3pt attempts in one half, and five makes won't get it done.

[Jim French Stepstool]

15 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

Far and away above anything else, rebounding is what will keep this teams’ ceiling lower than it otherwise would be.

It's been a problem lately, and is why getting Winter back is so important. Today they're battling (down 20-15), and it's a group effort so we probably won't see many runouts. Illinois is so damn big, so I think they pretty much have to continue to send five crashing to survive. 

I think Garlock has had a nice aggressive half trying to be a factor there. But his hands aren't the best at this stage of his career.

[homer]

They could lose round one or go all the way to the Final Four.

[sveumrules]

Wasn't able to watch. Did the Badgers win, or was it just a massive gag job by Illinois?

[Joseph Zarr]

March Madness is nearly always dictated by the quality of a team's back court.

You'd be hard pressed to find a back court duo playing more impactful basketball at just the right time than Bucky's Boyd and Blackwell. My goodness, have a tourney.

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Gard said he thinks they're rushing a bit on some of their possessions, and I would agree. Illinois is able to get into the lane more comfortably than UW, which is putting more stress on the defense and will lead to them probably getting to the line much more. Unless Rapp & Bieliauskas can start pulling their bigs away from the cup w/some makes, the driving lanes mostly won't be there. So you're left with 23😲 3pt attempts in one half, and five makes won't get it done.

Shows what I know. One 3pt make from the bigs in the 2nd half + OT, and they still found a way to carve out penetration, makes & FTs. I've seen some terrific performers wear the Wisconsin uniform. But Nick Boyd---I just have no words.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, sveumrules said:

Wasn't able to watch. Did the Badgers win, or was it just a massive gag job by Illinois?

I think we can pretend it's both - for morale!

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, homer said:

They could lose round one or go all the way to the Final Four.

I know what you are saying here and I generally agree but also: it's March Madness and that can essentially happen to anyone. It is such a spectacle.

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Wasn't able to watch. Did the Badgers win, or was it just a massive gag job by Illinois?

IMO a combo but mostly the former. I think Illinois relaxed a little when they went up fifteen (like UW did yesterday) and had some huge FT misses late. But UW's relentlessness---they kinda take the lead from Boyd that way, and their offensive makeup allows them to cut into a deficit quickly. 

We beat them in Champaign when they were down a couple players. And in Chicago when WE were down a couple. Feels damn good.

Is there a Craig Counsell jinx, and if so does it extend to other sports?

[Jim French Stepstool]

7 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

March Madness is nearly always dictated by the quality of a team's back court.

You'd be hard pressed to find a back court duo playing more impactful basketball at just the right time than Bucky's Boyd and Blackwell. My goodness, have a tourney.

They both have the talent to put it on the deck AND shoot from deep, which is such a headache for a defense. Add a healthy (hopefully) Winter next week & it should be that much tougher to contain (although I really miss Winter more defensively).

[yourout]

12 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

March Madness is nearly always dictated by the quality of a team's back court.

You'd be hard pressed to find a back court duo playing more impactful basketball at just the right time than Bucky's Boyd and Blackwell. My goodness, have a tourney.

Guard play is THE most ingredient in long tourney runs. 

 

[Samurai Bucky]

4 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

They both have the talent to put it on the deck AND shoot from deep, which is such a headache for a defense. Add a healthy (hopefully) Winter next week & it should be that much tougher to contain (although I really miss Winter more defensively).

I know I am jumping the gun here.  I wonder if there will be a top-quality guard who would take over Boyd's place from the portal next year?

[Jim French Stepstool]

Stat highlights:

We live & die by the three. I've alluded to that myself. Today they went 10-41--under 25%--& still found a way. "Finding a way" is becoming a credo with this group, it seems. Helping overcome that of course was the penetration from Boyd. Overall the team went 18-25 inside the arc & 25-30 from the line. After the first 20 minutes if you told me they were going to shoot thirty FTs I'd have tested the content of your gummie. Amazing.

They outrebounded Illinois for the game 36-34, with the double-double machine welded to the bench. I'm just speechless as to the growth of Bieliauskas & Rapp. Nine boards each against some huge & effective size. They were both grown-ass men today, and Gard needed them to be.

Five turnovers in 45 minutes.

[Jim French Stepstool]

10 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

I know I am jumping the gun here.  I wonder if there will be a top-quality guard who would take over Boyd's place from the portal next year?

There's already a rumor or two about Shellstad of Oregon, who hasn't played for a long while & some speculate it's less about the injury & more about that he can't stand Altman. Other than that, yes, you're jumping the gun.😁

I wouldn't dismiss Kinziger as a possible starter next year. When I watch the terrific freshman at Northwestern (Jake West), I see Kinziger as a possible comp for him if he develops.

But you're right to speculate. Look at the numbers Storr, Tonje & Boyd have put up after coming to UW compared to their previous stops. Wings & PGs in the portal HAVE to notice that.

[yourout]

I didn't get to watch but read something about Gard commenting on a play. 

Any info on what he said and what it was about?

[adambr2]

I think regardless of what happen against Michigan, the Badgers have earned at least a 5 seed. 

Now whether a 5 seed is even desirable or not is a whole different discussion.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

We ran two very bad out of bounds plays late, one a TO and one the long outlet to Carrington who's not the guy you want at the line there.

Still, that's easy to see and call out because this team did so many things well tonight. One thing I noticed is that, a few times in the last ten minutes and OT, Boyd was in a hurry to switch back on Wagler, even though Rapp's length and size seemed to bother him. Toward the very end, UW let Rapp guard, and he mostly did a great job. 

Similar vein, Rhode got left on an island in the paint a few times, but I think that wasn't as bad as the commentary made it seem. Sometimes you'll give up a two to avoid an open kick. Credit to Illinois for finding the mismatch.

After the Badgers took a lead and then Illinois came back to tie it in the second half, they took a timeout. Gard drew up a great play to get Blackwell an open 3. Huge possession.

Free throws made a huge difference late. I worry a little bit about hanging on to leads late with this team, but they were awesome today. Sometimes I think they do go into clock melt mode a little quickly, though that felt more like the case yesterday than today.

Can't say enough about the guards and Rapp. He's really stepped up in all aspects. 

Is it crazy to think the Badgers have a shot at a 4? I mean, they should really be seeded equal to or better than Purdue. Feels like a 6 is the absolute floor, regardless of manana.

 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

3 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

I think regardless of what happen against Michigan, the Badgers have earned at least a 5 seed. 

Now whether a 5 seed is even desirable or not is a whole different discussion.

I know the 12-5 scares folks, but I still think you'd much rather be a 5. Positions you much better for a shot at the second weekend. I think that's especially true this year, where the bubble is weak, weak, weak. Between that and a lot of 1 seeds (Belmont, Wilmington, etc) losing in the one-bid leagues, the bottom of the bracket could be soft.

11 seeds might well be undefeated Miami OH and SEC/B1G schools, or SMU or something. Full respect for a team like Northern Iowa or Liberty or South Florida, but I think you'd prefer them over any of those others.

[Jim French Stepstool]

24 minutes ago, Cool Hand Lucroy said:

We ran two very bad out of bounds plays late, one a TO and one the long outlet to Carrington who's not the guy you want at the line there.

Still, that's easy to see and call out because this team did so many things well tonight. One thing I noticed is that, a few times in the last ten minutes and OT, Boyd was in a hurry to switch back on Wagler, even though Rapp's length and size seemed to bother him. Toward the very end, UW let Rapp guard, and he mostly did a great job. 

Similar vein, Rhode got left on an island in the paint a few times, but I think that wasn't as bad as the commentary made it seem. Sometimes you'll give up a two to avoid an open kick. Credit to Illinois for finding the mismatch.

After the Badgers took a lead and then Illinois came back to tie it in the second half, they took a timeout. Gard drew up a great play to get Blackwell an open 3. Huge possession.

Free throws made a huge difference late. I worry a little bit about hanging on to leads late with this team, but they were awesome today. Sometimes I think they do go into clock melt mode a little quickly, though that felt more like the case yesterday than today.

Can't say enough about the guards and Rapp. He's really stepped up in all aspects. 

Is it crazy to think the Badgers have a shot at a 4? I mean, they should really be seeded equal to or better than Purdue. Feels like a 6 is the absolute floor, regardless of manana.

 

Agree re the OB execution late. Rohde seemed to lead Blackwell too much on the first one. On the second one, yeah you'd rather the ball go to Blackwell or Boyd. But if they're being denied, Carrington IS shooting about 75% from the line, and it's a pass Rohde seems to be pretty good at. But yeah, a little scary.

Winters' been surprisingly good switching & holding his own vs guards, but you're right, Rapp seems to be getting the hang of it too. Wagler had his late drive blocked, was that Rapp? Whoever it was, it was a colossally important play. I thought we were trying to limit the penetration a lot, and rolling the dice on some open Illinois threes. And yeah, the Illini are terrific at finding the mismatches. I kinda have to give Rohde credit a few times for simply walling up & making sure he didn't create an and-1 opportunity.

Some talking heads brought up the idea of them being a four. I'd put it in the 'possible but unlikely' category.

[Jim French Stepstool]

36 minutes ago, Cool Hand Lucroy said:

I know the 12-5 scares folks, but I still think you'd much rather be a 5. Positions you much better for a shot at the second weekend. I think that's especially true this year, where the bubble is weak, weak, weak. Between that and a lot of 1 seeds (Belmont, Wilmington, etc) losing in the one-bid leagues, the bottom of the bracket could be soft.

11 seeds might well be undefeated Miami OH and SEC/B1G schools, or SMU or something. Full respect for a team like Northern Iowa or Liberty or South Florida, but I think you'd prefer them over any of those others.

After UMass beat them, I had a sudden thought of Miami (OH) playing in Dayton, winning, then playing UW two days later. That seems diminished now.

[adambr2]

I know I’m generally pessimistic, so I wanted to prove the faith I had in the Badgers today when they were down 8. (No, I know I’m not a high roller, lol)

 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

10 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

After UMass beat them, I had a sudden thought of Miami (OH) playing in Dayton, winning, then playing UW two days later. That seems diminished now.

I had a similar thought.

I don't think Miami has any business in Dayton,but I imagine it goes that way because the committee can easily justify it as a "compromise" between poor computer numbers and an undefeated regular season. Shrug. One of the massive issues in CBB is the abject fear big programs have of scheduling capable mids, especially in road/neutral environments. To earn an at-large Miami had to basically win every game. That they did it and still might end up one of the last four in, when the rest of bubble is SO bad, reflects poorly on the sport.

Put them in the big bracket already (and away from UW).

[yourout]

UCLA is going to be a good sleeper pick. 

They have the guards to make some noise.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Of course the team doesn't feel this way, but from a fan perspective todays' game feels so much like found money. Even from Michigan's perspective---I don't think there's anything that can knock them out of a one-seed.

Bieliauskas went nuts on them in Ann Arbor--Five 3s IIRC--and that effectively kept Mara on the bench since he couldn't guard out there effectively. So a repeat of that would be nice.

I've never been to the BTT. But from what I've heard, it's an ongoing thing that the neutral fans are usually heavily anti-Michigan. Any little edge, I'll take it.

Nolan Winter has been upgraded to 'questionable', which is interesting.