Wisconsin Badger 2014 Tournament Preview

Tweet

Is this the year Bo Ryan silences the doubters with a Final Four run?

Let’s start out with some comparisons. The 2006-2007 team was by most accounts Bo Ryan’s most successful regular season team. They climbed all the way to a number one ranking in the AP poll, a first in program history. The Badgers also took advantage of the NCAA’s summer exhibition in a foreign country rule and began the year with a trip to Italy. Flash forward to 2014. Wisconsin started the season with a trip to Canada going 4-1 against top college programs north of the border and climbed to a top 5 ranking. But the similarities don’t stop there.

	Record	Highest Rank	Points Scored	Points Allowed	KenPom Off. Effenciency	KenPom Def. Efficiency	KenPom Tempo	NCAA seed
2014	26-7	3	73.5	64.6	119.5	98.7	64.4	#2
2007	30-6	1	70.2	57.9	112.5	89.8	64.4	#2

Don't forget about Brian Butch and Alando Tucker, part of the only Badger team to be ranked #1 in the country

The 2007 and 2014 teams were strikingly similar. This year’s team is better offensively and the Alando Tucker and Brian Butch led team stouter defensively. Even more amazing was both teams averaged 64.4 possessions a game. However, 2014 has one distinct advantage of 2007, this year the Badgers enter the tournament healthy (losing Brian Butch with a dislocated elbow against Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament was a killer for that NCAA tournament run).

In order to avoid the early tournament exit here are few keys for Wisconsin to advance out of the West Region.

How Wisconsin Wins the West

Get Sam Dekker back on track.

Dekker has been in a self-admitted mini slump the past few weeks. After scoring 16 points against Indiana February 25  in a 69-58 win, Dekker was averaging 13.6 points a game. The next five games, including the Big Ten Tournament, Dekker averaged 7.8 points and saw his season average dip down to 12.7 points a game.

More attacking from Dekker will mean a more dangerous offense.

One of the best aspects of Sam’s game is his unselfishness. While his willingness to involve teammates is admirable, especially when the Badgers have plenty of scorers, the NCAA tournament is a different matter. Someone has to be willing to take over games. Frank Kaminsky has shown he can be the go to scorer at times this season (25 and 21 points in road wins against Michigan and Iowa). But Kaminksy also has a penchant for picking up fouls (2 points, 20 minutes, 4 fouls at Illinois and 9 points, 15 minutes and 2 quick first half fouls).

Lack of aggression has plagued Dekker on occasion throughout the season. Against Ohio State Bo Ryan incredulously mocked Sam’s weak-hearted effort cutting the hoop. But when Sam is on the attack, driving to the hoop or grabbing rebounds, the Badgers are better. In Badgers 26 wins, Dekker averages 13.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. In six losses his averages dropped to 10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and less than one assist. Sam is one of the few Badger players that can generate shots off the dribble and when he is aggressive it creates more open shots for everyone.

In order for Wisconsin to advance out the West Region one player will need establish themselves as the go to man. My money is on Slam Dekker.

Freshman Contributions

Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig have emerged as key cogs to a Badger tournament run

Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig were wildcards at the beginning of the season. With one senior playing regular minutes, how quickly the two freshman could adjust to big time college basketball would go a long way toward determining the team's success. Consider Hayes and Koenig as having passed that test.

Hayes really came on during Big Ten conference play, upping his per game average by over three per game.  He gives Wisconsin another mismatch with his offensive versatility.  He can take bigger guys off the dribble with his quickness and patented post move Chocolate Tornado. Conversely he can hit the mid-range jump shot with enough consistency to keep defenders honest.

Koenig on the other hand has had more of an up and down season playing behind three upper classmen in the back court. But after his 14 point outburst against Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, he demonstrated his ability to provide more than just consistent ball handling and decision making off the bench. If Koenig can continue to hit the outside shot, the Badgers will have seven of eight rotation players as legitimate three point threats.

If both Hayes and Koenig can continue their aggressive play they will a great chance to showcase their skills on a national stage in the tournament.

What Sends Wisconsin Home

No Defensive Stops

Without question Wisconsin has struggled on the defensive end this season, sometimes for long stretches. During the January stretch when the Badgers lost five out of six games in two weeks, they allowed opponents to shoot 51.2% on field goal attempts including a blistering 48% from behind the arc. No matter how potent the offense is compared to previous Badger teams, you cannot win allowing teams to shoot nearly 50% from three point land.

Collectively the Badgers have a tendency to lapse into lackadaisical defense. Their miscommunication was on full display in the January 22 loss at Minnesota. Sam Dekker chases non-shooting threat Oto Osenieks out toward the three point line as he attempts to screen Ben Brust guarding Austin Hollins. Brust anticipates Dekker to switch and take Hollins as he drives to the hoop. But Dekker keeps trailing Osenieks(again – a career 23% three point shooter) and Brust turns Hollins loose. The result is painful.

It doesn't get much better either. The following is a list of teams the Badgers could potentially face and their offensive efficiency from KenPom.  If Wisconsin advances to Dallas in the Final Four they will have to beat some of the top offenses in the country. Yikes.

	KenPom Off. Eff.	Rank	Round Facing
American	103.2	200	First Round
BYU	113.7	27	Round of 32
Oregon	117	12	Round of 32
Creighton	125	1	Sweet Sixteen
Baylor	118.5	7	Sweet Sixteen
Arizona	113.1	35	Elite Eight
Oklahoma State	113.9	25	Elite Eight

While they cannot be expected to suddenly turn into a defensive juggernaut, Wisconsin will need to shore up the communication and find a way to get a few big stops in order to keep dancing into March.

Front Court Foul Trouble

Frank Kaminsky and Nigel Hayes must stay on the floor.

The front court depth has been a concern all season. Certainly the emergence of Nigel Hayes has provided some relief, but he still has a tendency to pick up silly fouls. Frank Kaminsky has turned into a reliable defensive anchor and protects the rim well. However, his penchant for challenging shots almost always results in a stretch each game with him on bench infoul trouble.

Behind Hayes and Kaminsky the Badgers are dangerously thin in post players. Sam Dekker and Duje Dukan are more comfortable playing on the wing, freshman Vitto Brown and senior Evan Anderson are not quite ready for long stretches playing big time basketball.

Additionally Hayes and Kaminsky are the most consistent only post threats the Badgers have. Without those two on the floor, the Badgers become way too reliable on outside jump shots. As noted above Wisconsin will have to face some potent offenses to advance out of the region and in all likelihood will have win one game in a shootout (not something Bo Ryan teams are accustomed to).

Certainly the Badgers have enough capable shooters to get hot and bomb three pointers a la Jon Bryant in 2000. But this year the Badgers have been most potent when they work inside out. Without Kaminksy and Hayes getting the ball in the post, the Badgers have become too reliant on outside jumpers. Getting the defense to collapse with those two attacking inside allows the open outside shots to develop.

Unless Dekker is reinvigorated slashing and attacking the rim, Hayes and Kaminsky are the best bets to keep the offensive from being one dimensional. It is imperative to keep them out of foul trouble and out on the floor.

The Verdict

Ben Brust and Sam Dekker have Wisconsin poised for its first Final Four since 2000

I still think this Badger team has shades of Michigan from last year. Both teams were undefeated in non-conference play and struggled somewhat in the rugged and physical Big Ten. Once Michigan entered the tournament, their offensive prowess was on full display and they were 20 minutes of a national title.

Wisconsin is built a lot like that team. Not nearly as defensive oriented as Bo Ryan teams of yesteryear, the Badgers are versatile on offense. They have a nice balance of scoring. 45% of the Badger's points come on two point shots, while 31% are on three point makes. The division one average is 51% and 27% respectively. 

They have also won games in a variety of styles and pace. The Badgers have beaten teams scoring in the 100s, 90s, 80s, 70s, 60s, 50s and 40s, an incredible range that speaks to their flexibility. Tournament games are often about match-ups, and Wisconsin has shown the ability to match anything they face. A good sign for the randomness and unpredictability of March Madness.

Something tells me this will be the year Bo Ryan finally gets to the Final Four. The team is talented, the bracket isn’t overwhelming and eventually, a coach as good a Bo gets to the Final Four, right?

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Neal Olson

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Packers, Brewers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live in-game commentary, breaking news, rumors, previews, and post game discussion. Follow the entire writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin

Grading the 2013 Wisconsin Badgers

Tweet

The Wisconsin Badgers began the 2013 football season ranked 23rd in the AP Preseason polls. At the time I was disappointed in the ranking but could understand reason for doubting the team given the significant changes in coaching staff. Gary Andersen brought a lot of energy and a whole new posse of coaches with him and the team looked sharp, but not many knew what to expect. The result was a very solid season, capped off by a poor showing against Penn State on senior day and a disappointing ending to the Capitol One Bowl against South Carolina. The team finished with a 9-4 record and a 6-2 showing in the Big Ten. Kickers are kickers and punters are punters, but the best way to understand what went well and what didn’t for the team in 2013 is to take a look at each position on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

Quarterback – C. After breaking his collar bone several games into the 2012 season, Joel Stave won the starting quarterback job in camp, beating out sixth-year senior Curt Phillips and transfer Tanner McEvoy. What the coaches most like about Stave is his throwing accuracy and ability to get the ball down field. With Jared Abbrederis returning as arguably the top wide receiver in the Big Ten, many thought it was wise to go with the best throwing QB of the bunch and give the offense its best opportunity to stretch the field. The result was a mediocre season for Stave. He made many great throws, but also missed A LOT. He finished with 22 passing TDs to 13 interceptions and threw for 2,494 yards. He was arguably a better player on the road, throwing just 4 interceptions in 6 road games, versus 9 in 7 games at home. The most glaring issue with Stave seems to be his inability to find the open man. As a young quarterback, this is somewhat understandable, but Stave became a bit predictable in games as he would often seem to lock on a single receiver (usually Abbrederis) before the start of a play and abandon any sense of progression as the play developed. He will most likely have a firm grasp on the starting job heading into 2014, but there is certainly room for improvement.

Melvin Gordon will return for his junior year.

Running Backs – A. The running game was yet again the bright spot for Wisconsin in 2013. The Badgers finished 8th in the country in rushing, combining for 3,689 yards. Melvin Gordon emerged as one of the best backs in the country, leading the team with 1,609 yards while reaching the end zone 12 times and ranking fourth in the country with an impressive 7.8 yards per carry. James White wasn’t far behind, totaling 1,444 yards and 13 scores. Gordon raised eyebrows as many thought he might enter the draft as a potential second or third round draft pick, but the sophomore announced after the regular season that he will return to Madison in 2014 for his junior season. The third shining star in the backfield in 2013 was youngster Corey Clement. The freshman ran for 547 yards on just 67 carries and reached the end zone 7 times. With Clement and Gordon returning in 2014, there’s no reason to expect anything less than another 3,000 rushing yards from the Badger backfield.

Receivers – B. Heading into 2013 the Badgers knew they had something special in senior Jared Abbrederis, the former walk on who had earned first team All-Big Ten honors as a junior. Senior tight end Jacob Pederson was also returning after winning the Big Ten’s Kwalick-Clark award as the league’s top tight end. Beyond these two however, questions remained unanswered heading into the season opener as to who would answer the bill as the team’s number two wide receiver. The questions never really got answered, as no wide receiver outside of Abbrederis caught more than 12 passes. Abby hauled in an impressive 78 catches for 1,081 and 7 touchdowns while Pedersen snagged 39 balls for 551 yards and 3 scores. James White was also incredibly reliable out of the backfield, catching 39 passes for 300 yards and 2 scores. “Old Reliable,” Jeff Duckworth was next on the team with 12 catches for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns. The team will look heavily to youngsters Jordan Fredrick and Alex Erickson in 2014 to step up and carry the load as a receiving corps. Melvin Gordon will also need to play a bigger role out of the backfield than he did in 2013, catching just one pass for 10 yards.

Offensive Line – B. After losing starting center Travis Frederick to the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the NFL Draft, the Badgers offensive line needed some returners to step up. They did fairly well, once again blocking for one of the best rushing attacks in the country and keeping quarterback Joel Stave on his feet. The team ranked 17th nationally with 16 sacks allowed, an average of just 1.2 per game but loses left guard Ryan Groy to graduation. This is a hole that has to be filled, but the unit remains young and full of potential heading into 2014.

Defensive Line – B. With new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda came a new 3-4 scheme that worked surprisingly well for the Badger Defense in 2013. As a unit, Wisconsin ranked 15th in total defense, 6th in scoring defense, and 5th in rushing defense throughout the campaign. The one glaring statistic that keeps this unit from an “A” rating is the disappointingly low sack total. The team totaled just 26 sacks on the season, with 4 of those coming from backup nose tackle Warren Herring. Beau Allen has garnered attention leading into the NFL draft and Pat Muldoon and Tyler Dippel did well managing the ends. Look for the defense to remain consistent in 2014 but look to create more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

This will always be my favorite Chris Borland picture.

Linebackers – A. Moving to a 3-4 scheme as a defense meant shifting Brenden Kelly from his defensive end position to and outside linebacker spot. This freed up middle linebacker Chris Borland to be more aggressive in attacking the ball carrier. Borland had his best season yet, recording 112 tackles and earning consensus first team All-Big Ten honors. Ethan Armstrong and Conor O’Neill were third and fourth on the team with 51 and 41 tackles, respectively and were a big reason for the team’s success against the run. The unit needs to find a way to replace Borland in 2014, but I believe the 3-4 scheme will continue to promote future success.

Secondary – B. After losing both starting corners and a safety to graduation heading into 2013, the Badger defense faced a lot of question marks in the secondary. The unit was good, however, ranking 17th nationally against the pass, allowing 202 yards per game. Senior Dez Southward returned and provided consistency for the group, totaling 40 tackles and nabbing one interception. The bright spot here was true freshman Sojourn Shelton. Shelton made his share of mistakes, as should be assumed from an 18 year old, but also pulled down 4 interceptions and primarily manned opposing team’s top wideout. Shelton receive praise from former Badger standouts Jamar Fletcher and Scott Starks for his confidence and competitive nature, but needs to sure up his coverage, as he was burned a few times too many throughout the course of the season. Michael Caputo was another bright spot, moving from linebacker to safety and looks to have a hold on the spot heading into 2014. Look for this young unit to grow and improve under Aranda.


Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

-Joseph Norton (@JoeP_Norton)

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Packers, Brewers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live in-game commentary, breaking news, rumors, previews, and post game discussion. Follow the entire writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin

Wisconsin Sports Blog is Looking for Writers

Tweet

I am looking to fill a few vacancies to the Wisconsin Sports Blog writing team. Here is the basic/minimal criteria I am looking for:

• Complete knowledge of the Brewers, Packers, Bucks, Badgers, and Golden Eagles, as well as sports in general related to the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NCAA. Knowledge of free agency, prospects, recruits, etc.
• Writing experience is necessary, especially online writing is preferred.
• The ability to construct intelligent, well-written posts summing up the subject at hand.
• Be able to handle constructive criticism.
• Pay attention to detail.
• To use Twitter at it's full capacity, including follower interaction (very important). Also the use of other social media applications.

You'll have an opportunity to write for a blog that has traffic of over 3,000 readers per month...and that number is climbing. The Wisconsin Sports Blog is a growing community.

If you're interested in joining the writing team, email wisconsinsportsblog[AT]gmail[DOT]com and in a couple of short paragraphs, give a sample of your writing and/or why you should write for the Wisconsin Sports Blog (a resume per say).

Thank you in advance for your interest! I will respond to all inquiries.

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

-Andrew Vrchota
Lead Writer/Editor

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Packers, Brewers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live in-game commentary, breaking news, rumors, previews, and post game discussion. Follow the entire writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin

Death, Taxes, and Bo Ryan - A Wisconsin Badger Basketball Preview

Bo Ryan making it rain

Tweet

The college basketball season is upon us, which means Bo Ryan’s Wisconsin team once again figures to finish in the top 4 of the Big Ten and make the NCAA tournament. The bad news - the Badgers have to replace all three starting front court players and only return two post players that averaged more than ten minutes a game. The good news - they return four guards that have starting experience in a Wisconsin uniform, oh let’s not forget Sam Dekker, but more on him later.

For the most part the eight man rotation is set.  F Frank Kaminsky, F Sam Dekker, G Josh Gasser, G Ben Brust and G Traevon Jackson will start. G George Marshall, F Duje Dukan and F Zach Bohannon will start out as the first options off the bench. However, a couple freshmen, F Nigel Hayes and G Bronson Koenig, will make their case for more playing time as the season progresses. In fact, let’s break down the roster.

Each player will be projected into one of the following categories.

Redshirts - these players have either announced a redshirt year or could benefit from a year of development in the program.

Bench Mob – these players figure to play sparingly. Perhaps someone push for playing time as eight or ninth option in the rotation.

Wildcards – freshman who are talented enough to play right away if they can be trusted, could be surpassed by one of the bench mob.

Starting Level Role Players – solid players that due to team needs can/should contribute one or two specific attributes.

Running Mates – high level players capable of carrying the team on some nights and in favorable matchups.

Alpha Dog – can dominate any game against any competition

Redshirts

Aaron Moesch – Preferred walk on needs a year to add strength and develop in order to consistently contribute

Jordan Smith – Guard depth will allow Smith to take a year of development in hopes he can contribute more as a redshirt senior than this year.

Zak Showalter – Same story, loaded guard position this season, will be able to see the floor more as a redshirt junior or senior.

Jordan Hill – Despite no big time college offers out of high school Hill has shown during Canada trip and exhibitions he definitely belongs on this level. Quick feet and aggressive defense means he will be a mainstay in the rotation sometime during his time at Wisconsin. Guard depth and age (won’t turn 19 until December) means he could benefit from another year with the team and not use eligibility.

Riley Dearring – More of the same, guard depth is the biggest reason for him redshirt.  Dearing will be a solid contributor and rotational player in 2-3 years.  He has nice length and a very good outside shot. Dearring will definitely benefit from a year in strength program to add quickness and explosiveness.

Bench Mob

Evan Anderson – Hard to see him on the floor consistently in meaningful action unless there is significant foul trouble along the front court.

Zach Bohannon – A solid player who can be counted on in spurts to play solid defense and play within the offense. He will need to hold off Vitto Brown for playing time as the fifth forward in the rotation. He has earned the coaches trust with his high basketball IQ, he is rarely out of position. However he will be challenged to consistently score on offense against strong and quicker players.

Vitto Brown – Very talented defensively and will use that advantage for playing time in games when the Badgers need more muscle on the board and in post defense. Bo Ryan rarely uses more than eight guys in a consistent rotation and right now Brown is probably running ninth. Will need to show during the non-conference slate he can be counted on in order to get more playing time against Big Ten competition.

Duje Dukan – Redshirted year last year and improved his confidence and assertiveness on the offensive end. During the Canada trip, Dukan averaged 8.8 points a game good for fifth highest production on the team. Playing time will be heavily tied to his energy and effort on the defensive end where he will be asked to guard players with a sizable weight and strength advantage. Will start as the first forward off the bench, but could lose that role to Hayes or Brown as the season progresses.

Wildcards

Nigel Hayes – During the Canada trip in August, Hayes didn’t play much and looked every bit like a freshman experiencing his first major college basketball action.  In the exhibition game against UW-Platteville, Hayes displayed a knack for offensive rebounding and tallied an efficient 8 points on 4-7 shooting in 14 minutes. He also impressed in a combined practice (closed door scrimmage) against DePaul. Hayes pushing for playing time over Dukan and Bohannon is a best case scenario and will translate to a more complete and versatile team. A lot is riding on Hayes this year.

Bronson Koenig – Probably the most college ready player of the freshman. It speaks to Koenig’s talent that he can compete for playing time with all the guard depth. The Badgers will frequently be using three and perhaps four guard lineups. Koenig is comfortable at either guard spot and will not be overwhelmed by the level of competition. He is always in control and excels and running the offense and seeing the floor. If Koenig progresses as expected he will keep the guard rotation with fresher legs, especially as Gasser works back from ACL surgery.

Starting Level Role Players

Josh Gasser – Aside from the freshman, Gasser is the biggest unknown entering the year. When the season starts he will be just over a year removed from tearing his ACL. How close is he to the player that held Vanderbilt’s John Jenkins to his worst shooting performance (13 points on 3-13 shooting, 20 ppg on the season) in the 2012 NCAA tournament? Gasser is an outstanding and versatile defender when healthy. His ability to guard opposing team’s small forwards will determine how successful the Badgers can be using three or even four guard lineups. Gasser also has amazing court presence and is an outstanding rebounder for a guard. Badgers will need their guards to pick up some of the rebound void left by Evans, Bruiser and Berggren. Expect Gasser to lead the way.

George Marshall – Marshall finished last year with the team’s third best 3-point shooting percentage and really established himself as spot up shooter. As he makes the leap from redshirt freshman to sophomore, Marshall will be expected to contribute more than long distance shooting. Last year he had a tendency to play too fast and let his game spin out of control. With another year under his belt, Marshall can focus that energy and provide a nice change of pace off the bench.

Traevon Jackson – Last year was a huge growing up season for Traevon Jackson. He had three different game tying or winning shots but was also good for one extremely lazy turnover and one heated argument with a teammate or official per game. By his own account the biggest thing he worked on to improve his game during the offseason was his maturity. He has earned and cemented his place at the point guard of the team. Expect to see a lot of games similar to the exhibition against Platteville: 7 assists, 1 turnover and a Badger victory. The Badgers do not need Trae to shoulder the scoring burden every night, but having a player with the big shot chops out on the court every night is a luxury few teams have.

Running Mates

Ben Brust – Continues the outstanding tradition of guard development under the tutelage of Bo Ryan. Brust is an accomplished shooter and can get hot and change a game in a hurry. He has made 6 or more 3 pointer three different games. He also is responsible for one of the more iconic shots in Badger history. But he is more than a shooter. Brust has improved in every facet of the game each year since arriving in Madison. He provides above average perimeter defense and rebounding for his position. It will not be unusual to see Brust lead the team in scoring, however, his energy and leadership (1 of 2 seniors on the roster) will be needed most this year.

Frank Kaminsky - Perhaps no other player on the roster enters this season with as much pressure as Kaminsky. Listed at 7’ (just the 5^th 7-footer in program history) he will be shoulder a bulk of the defense and rebounding void left by Berggren, Evans and Bruesewitz. The good news is Kaminsky displayed an assertive offensive game in Canada averaging 15.6 points. His long range shooting (over 30% from 3 point range) stretches the defense and opens up lanes for the guards to drive. The bad news is Frank averaged just 2 rebounds a game last year. Kaminsky will need to rebound at a rate befitting a 7-footer. If Ben Brust is the leading rebounder on the season, it is going to be a long year.

Alpha Dog

Sam Dekker – Bear with me. I promise not to make this Ode to Dekker too long and glowing, but make no mistake, he is going to be really, REALLY good. During the team’s annual preseason media day, Bo Ryan offered up this tidbit on Dekker “He’s in the process of really tinkering with being pretty special”. Dekker played 22 minutes a game even with three senior front court players in the starting lineup and eventually found his role as “instant offense” off the bench. There were moments though, like the 10 straight points against Indiana in the Big Ten Conference Tournament Semi Finals where Dekker hinted it was only a matter of time for him to break out as one the conference’s elite players. During the Canada trip, Dekker averaged 19.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. As impressive as those numbers are, seeing him in action provided more context on how he controlled play and raised his game at the end. Early on, Dekker played within the offense and didn’t force anything. But with the game on the line in the second half, he took over. Devin Harris was the best I’ve seen in a Badger uniform and he was wired the same way. Run the swing offense, assess the other team early and in crunch time, take over. Thus far Dekker has handled the increased pressure of being the go-to scorer and leader. He’s been more vocal in practice and knows other players are following his lead. Yet when asked what has changed now that this as “his team”, Dekker responded “It should never be anyone’s team. It’s Coach Ryan’s team. This is the University of Wisconsin’s team”. And that quote tells you all you need to know about Sam Dekker.

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships.

- Neal Olson (@olewr7) 

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live, in-game commentary, breaking news, previews and post game discussions. Follow the entire Wisconsin Sports Blog writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin.

Meeting the New Badger Basketball Players

Tweet

With football season in full swing and the baseball playoffs ramping up, basketball might not be at the forefront of everyone’s sporting interests. However, the Badger basketball team kicked off (sports pun intended) practice two weeks ago and has an exhibition game upcoming against UW-Platteville on October 30. Needless to say we are due for a basketball preview. First up will be the newcomers to the program, highlighting their potential ceiling and floor compared to previous Badger hoopers. In reality most will fall somewhere in between, but this exercise is meant to help provide some possible expectations for each player. It’s important to note these are career projections and not limited to this upcoming season. Let’s get started.

#5 Aaron Moesch 6’8” 200lbs Green Bay SW HS WI

Chose the Badgers over offers from - Eastern Illinois and preferred walk on at UW-Green Bay.

Aaron Moesch joins the Badgers as a preferred walk on. As a senior he averaged 18.4 points and 12.1 rebounds per game in the competitive Fox River Conference and also earned honorable mention all-state. Moesch is not expected to break into the regular rotation immediately, if ever, but brings a high basketball IQ and versatile game to the team. Check out the ball handling on display in the first five seconds of the highlight tape, pretty smooth handle for a 6’8” player. Moesch will fit in nicely with the scout team and with enough progression could see minutes in the eight or nine man rotation when he’s an upper classman.

Badger comp ceiling – Zach Morley. Morley was a versatile forward that spent two years in community college before joining the Badgers early on during Bo’s tenure. Morley was a key member of the Elite Eight squad in 2004-2005 and used court awareness and savvy to excel against much quicker and stronger players. Like Morley, Moesch could use a few years to develop right out of high school in order to be on par athletically with physical Big Ten wing players.

Badger comp floor – JP Gavinksi. Worst case scenario for Moesch is spending four to five years on a perennial Big Ten basketball power and seeing the floor in already has been decided games.

#10 Nigel Hayes 6’7” 250lbs Whitmer HS OH

Chose the Badgers over offers from – Stanford, Ohio State, Xavier, Cincinnati

Getting Nigel Hayes away from Ohio State was a steal. He grew up a Buckeye fan and his older brother was on the football team (he has since left). Luckily Bo Ryan was one of the first to offer a scholarship and Hayes eventually made the right decision to come to Madison. He was a second team all-state performer in Ohio as a junior and senior and left Whitmer as the school’s all-time leader in blocked shots. He can score in a variety of ways and seems comfortable shooting off the dribble or spotting up. And like the clip above demonstrates, he has no issues attacking the rim.

Badger comp ceiling – Alando Tucker lite. Hard comparison to make since very few athletes have hops like Tucker, but Hayes has the same scorer’s mentality. His ceiling will largely depend on if how easily he can adjust to scoring against top level college defenses. Improved footwork in the post will help diversify his offensive arsenal and should make him a scoring threat capable of 15-20 points per game as an upperclassman.

Badger comp floor – Marcus Landry. Let’s be clear, Landry had a great career as a Badger and is currently playing his way onto the LA Lakers. He’s an extremely talented basketball player.  It seems somewhat off-putting to list a NBA level player as someone’s floor, but this comparison is based more on Landry’s role within the team. Landry was a slasher/scorer in high school but developed more of a low post presence, especially on defense, in Madison. Hayes could find himself in a similar position where he’s not asked to attack from the perimeter or off the dribble as much.

#11 Jordan Hill 6’3” 170lbs Exeter Academy NH

Chose the Badgers over offers from – Brown, Florida Gulf Coast, Yale, Dartmouth, Kent State, Lehigh, Santa Clara

Jordan Hill graduated high school in May of 2012 and spent the 2012-2013 school year attending prep school in New Hampshire. Hill was Class A second team All-New England and helped Exeter win their first ever Class A title. He impressed Bo Ryan with his defense on the AAU circuit and has the quickness and length to really disrupt perimeter players. Hill is somewhat of a late bloomer (he will turn 19 in December) and had plenty of room to develop. An already deep guard rotation seems to indicate Hill will be a redshirt candidate this year, but he has plenty of talent to contribute during his time in Madison.

Badger comp ceiling – Michael Flowers. Flowers was a lock down on ball defender and Hill has a similar tenacity and desire to play defense. Hill is a slightly taller and longer than Flowers which will help him guard everything from point guards to small forwards.

Badger comp floor – Rob Wilson. Wilson had plenty of talent but struggled to pick up Bo’s man to man principles and was challenged to find playing time as a result. Hill could face a similar struggle adjusting to Big Ten basketball and get lost in the deep guard rotation.

#24 Bronson Koenig 6’3” 190lbs Aquinas HS WI

Chose the Badgers over offers from – Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Marquette, Virginia

Bronson Koenig certainly comes to Madison as the most decorated player of this class. He was AP Wisconsin player of the year as a senior and McDonald’s All American nominee (similar to Sam Dekker (whom Koenig was an AAU teammate)). Koenig is one of the more versatile guards in this country. He excels at breaking down defenses off the dribble and creating easy shots for his teammates. Koenig has excellent vision and court awareness, as well as a flare for delivering no look or behind the back passes (note around the 2:20 mark of the video – how does he get that ball through?!?). In addition he’s a willing defender and capable scorer who can play above the rim. He’s probably the most ready player to contribute of the newcomers, but with the depth at guard, playing time will be a challenge. I think his talent will be too much to keep on the bench for long, especially if the Badgers run more three or four guard lineups.

Badger comp ceiling – Devin Harris part II. Pretty lofty comparison I know. Harris was the best Badger basketball player in the Bo Ryan era and Koenig has this type of talent. Harris was a bit taller and probably quicker, but Koenig has the same court awareness and big game ‘sense of the moment’ that Harris had.

Badger comp floor – Boo Wade. Wade unfortunately had his Wisconsin career cut short due to off the court issues, but he was an accomplished point guard and capable defender. Koenig may not reach All American status, but he will be a solid contributor and one of the conferences better guards.

#30 Vitto Brown – 6’8” 240lbs Bowling Green HS OH

Chose the Badgers over offers from – Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa State, Toledo

Vitto Brown joins the Badgers as the reigning Division 2 co-player of the year in Ohio and AP first team all-state, as well as Bowling Green’s all-time leader in rebounding and blocked shots. Brown is well built and conditioned (he also ran cross country in high school) and is physically ready for Big Ten basketball. The other thing that stands out about Brown is his versatility. At around the 1:48 mark in the clip above, Brown blocks a shot, handles the loose ball and goes coast to coast for the lay in. Brown’s game fits well with the Badgers history of skilled big men. Brown’s presence on the defensive end cannot go unlooked. He will need to develop the positioning and footwork needed for consistently defending players his size and bigger, but he has the athleticism and timing to be an effective shot blocker.

Badger comp ceiling – Keaton Nankivil mixed with less explosive Alando Tucker. Brown has a smooth looking jumper for a big man, like Nankivil, but more capable of scoring off the dribble drive. Like Hayes, Brown does not have the explosiveness of Tucker (again no one does) but he does attack the rim similarly.

Badger comp floor – Jored Bergernhoft (Joe Krabbenhoft + Jared Berggren). Krabbenhoft was a monster on the boards, while Berggren is the all-time leader in blocked shots. If Brown doesn’t find the scoring knack at this level he should still provide above average rebounding and shot blocking.

#35 Riley Dearring 6’5 180lbs Hopkins HS MN

Chose the Badgers over offers from – Drake, Northeastern, Illinois State

Dearring played for Minnesota basketball powerhouse Hopkins and was a Minnesota Mr. Basketball finalist his senior year. He has a quick release on his jumper and is a pure shooter through and through. He does not have the elite athleticism you occasionally see in a wing player but has enough length and quickness to be effective on the defensive end. Dearring is a very talented shooter and there is always room in the rotation for guys that can score. He will find himself playing meaningful minutes before too long. Like Hill, the depth at guard makes Dearring a potential redshirt candidate this season.

Badger comp ceiling – Clayton Hanson. Hanson played on some of Bo’s early teams and was a career 41% three point shooter. Dearring can definitely find a niche as a spot up shooter, especially early in his career. Eventually Dearring can develop into a rangy wing defender capable of handling bigger guards or small forwards.

Badger comp floor – Tim Jarmusz. Limited athleticism at the Big Ten level causes Dearring to struggle finding ways to score but still contributes defensively using long frame to guard multiple positions.

(Author's Note - shout out to LeeRide, fellow Badger fan who helped hash out the comparisons.)

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships.

- Neal Olson (@olewr7) 

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live, in-game commentary, breaking news, previews and post game discussions. Follow the entire Wisconsin Sports Blog writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin.

Week 4 Recap Badgers v. Boilermakers

Tweet

The Badgers opened Big Ten play shaking off the hangover from the poor officiated game last week handling Purdue in methodical fashion. It was a decisive response from what had to be a frustrating week dealing with the aftermath of the Arizona State game. It was nice to get back to deciding games on the field instead of analyzing screen shots of Stave's knee and highlighting the rule book. Without further ado, the week 4 Buckys!

James White en-route to the end zone against Purdue

Badgers running game has been nearly unstoppable this year. James White and Melvin Gordon are caught up in an exciting game of ‘anything you can do I can do better’ which has been a treat to watch for Badger fans, and misery for opponents. Currently the Badgers have three running backs in the top 40 for rushing yards Gordon(1), White(10) and Corey Clement (36). Additionally it seems the Badgers are finding ways to get White and Gordon on the field at the same time more often putting even more pressure on defenses. While the rush yards are likely to come a little bit harder in Big Ten play, the Badgers running back traditional is alive and well.

Joel Stave remains inconsistent. For whatever reason he has lost accuracy on his deep throws and has yet to shake off the habit of staring down receivers. Stave will need to be better in order to win at Ohio State this week and come up with two or three big throws to sustain drives or connect on long touchdown pass to swing momentum. As good as the running game has been, Ohio State’s defense will be good enough to shut it down if the offense becomes one dimensional.

One week after struggling big time to shut down the high octane Sun Devil offense, the Badger defense came out and reestablished themselves against Purdue. The Boilermakers came into the game averaging 272 yards of total offense per game, not a juggernaut but any stretch of the imagination, yet the Badgers held them to 180 yards total and just 3.1 yards per play. Sophomore(or hopefully redshirt freshman if his application ever gets approved from the Big Ten) Vince Biegel started at linebacker and was extremely disruptive in the Purdue backfield. True freshman Sojourn Shelton continued his excellent play adding another interception and is really developing into a top flight lock down corner.

Honorable Mention Bucky – no matter how often these happen or how cliché they might seem, they are still awesome

Looking Forward – Ohio State

Another big road test for the Badgers and getting a win over the 4th ranked Buckeyes in Columbus would go a long way to forget the shenanigans that lead to a loss on their last road trip this season. Much like the Badgers, Ohio State has started out the year with an unimpressive non-conference slate. Unlike the Badgers they won their Pac12 road game against California. The biggest question facing the Buckeyes this week is who will start at quarterback? Kenny Guiton has started the past two games for preseason Heisman hopefully Braxton Miller, but most accounts indicate Miller will be healthy enough to play Saturday against the Badgers. The good news is Badger DC Dave Aranda should have enough film on Guiton in the 2+ games he's played to have a plan of attack for either QB. The key to both will be slowing down the read option. Urban Meyer's offense is predicated on getting fast athletes in space to make plays. The front seven has been stout against the run so far and the overall team defensive speed is improved compared to years past. This years defense has the pieces to slow down the Buckeyes offense but it will definitely be the biggest challenge they’ll face all year.

Offensively the Badgers need to find a way to be productive in the passing game. One dimensional offense will not cut it against Ohio State. Look for offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig to work the short to intermediate passing game early via screens and play action to build Stave’s confidence. Running between the tackles will be a challenge this week so anyway to get the ball into the hands of playmakers Gordon, White and Jared Abbrederis attacking the edges of the defense will be huge.

The Badgers quest to go to four straight Rose Bowls largely comes down to winning this game. Stealing a victory against a top five team on the road always requires a few breaks to go your way and this game might come down to a fake punt or other type gadget play to win. The Badgers have enough talent to compete but in the end the quarterback play is the difference.

Final Score: 21-27  Note – this is first Badger loss I predicted for the season, I’d be fine if I’m wrong

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships.

- Neal Olson (@olewr7)

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live, in-game commentary, breaking news, previews and post game discussions. Follow the entire Wisconsin Sports Blog writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, @TABrown23, and @10iskristin.