How deep is Wisconsin?

 

I feel like they only play about 7.

 

PG Treveon Jackson is now back and they'll possibly go a little deeper, but the top 5 will eat the majority of the minutes with the #6 getting about half the total clock and the #7 could do the same depending on how healthy Jackson is. He sat out most of the year with injury but came back during the Sweet 16, IIRC. Maybe they have one or two guys that were forced into action while Jackson was out, but yea... no deeper than 7 for significant minutes and so far in the tourney, it's really more like 6.

Who did Cal have on Kaminsky last year? Did Poythreis guard Decker last year?

 

Was at the game, and it seemed like there were a few guys rotated on Kaminskyy. Remember thinking that Dakari was on him awhile, possibly the same for Randle in bits, and I'm thinking Lee on occasion (if nothing else, they were switching on him off screens or guarded him for at least couple of possessions however the rotation ended up). However, last year, we were also thrown into a situation where we were without WCS too, but Lee stepped up huge (especially in the Michigan game). Not 100% sure about Dekker, but my first guess would be Young/Randle/Harrison.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z35vw0CrSw

 

First few possessions were Randle on Dekker & Dakari on Kaminsky.

I agree that Wisky doesn't have guards the quality of Grant and Jackson to attack off the bounce, but ND was isolating their wings off the side ball screen and UK was blowing assignments left and right for a large portion of the game. You can obviously defend it differently because guys like Koenig and Gasser can't penetrate the D at that level, but they can space and catch for open looks at a much higher clip. UK will still have to stay spaced and run them off the line against a 4 and 5 out offense that can score from every spot.

 

I tend to agree with putting WCS on Dekker, but that likely puts Lyles on Frank and Towns on Hayes. That puts at best one rim protector in the paint at any given time with all three bigs required to defend out to 25 feet. That puts it on the Wisky staff to find a game plan the can exploit the space. Easier said than done, but getting two trees focused on closing out the wing/corner 3 is a start.

 

The angle most aren't looking at is Wisky being a very low turnover and foul team. Get them up to normal numbers and UK is in great position. If Wisky turns it over 7 times and only puts UK on the line 15 times the game is going to the final seconds again...

I agree that Wisky doesn't have guards the quality of Grant and Jackson to attack off the bounce, but ND was isolating their wings off the side ball screen and UK was blowing assignments left and right for a large portion of the game. You can obviously defend it differently because guys like Koenig and Gasser can't penetrate the D at that level, but they can space and catch for open looks at a much higher clip. UK will still have to stay spaced and run them off the line against a 4 and 5 out offense that can score from every spot.

 

I tend to agree with putting WCS on Dekker, but that likely puts Lyles on Frank and Towns on Hayes. That puts at best one rim protector in the paint at any given time with all three bigs required to defend out to 25 feet. That puts it on the Wisky staff to find a game plan the can exploit the space. Easier said than done, but getting two trees focused on closing out the wing/corner 3 is a start.

 

The angle most aren't looking at is Wisky being a very low turnover and foul team. Get them up to normal numbers and UK is in great position. If Wisky turns it over 7 times and only puts UK on the line 15 times the game is going to the final seconds again...

 

 

#Preach

 

Nice perspective. Hadn't personally thought of the foul line angle that you mentioned, but a very good point.

#Preach

 

Nice perspective. Hadn't personally thought of the foul line angle that you mentioned, but a very good point.

 

Zona attacked and got enough calls to make it an issue. Wisky isn't going to foul 12 times a half even if they get a bad whistle. You just have to make sure when they do foul it is because you are attacking and getting to the line. That is going to be on the twins...

This is one game where I think UK will miss Poythress. He would be the ideal matchup for Dekker on defense. Dekker is likely one guy they really have no answer for with his skill and size. WCS can do some but ideally a long 3 man would be nice and Lyles could draw that assignment as well.

 

UK really struggled with ND on ball screens, in particular Towns who was awful but you had to stick with him because of the offense he was giving you. Against ND UK was so concerned about running ND off the three point line that they gave up too much dribble penetration. ND has better drivers than Wisky, but Wisky is bigger and has a couple of iso threats.

 

UK's bugaboo was with penetrating guards once they spaced them out. Against ND and Wisky, WCS had/will play away from the basket.

 

The Cats will have to communicate better and not get caught up on rear screens all night in the swing offense. Wisky is not going to hurt you putting it on the deck and driving it, but will get more open shots from spacing and movement. UK will have to man the defensive boards better than they have recently. ND was much more aggressive on the offensive glass than normal considering they were not a great offensive rebounding team. Wisky is not that good of an offensive rebounding team either. They are more inclined to fall back and not get beat in transition.

 

Defense is one thing, but UK is going to have to be more in attack mode than they were against ND. Penetration will open up the offensive glass for UK. On offense, UK is going to have to force the issue and make Wisky defend. Both Oregon and UNC did a pretty good job of pressuring Wisky in the halfcourt with drives and such.

You are more inclined to hurt Wisky on defense by spreading them out and attacking.

 

KAT is going to have to stay out of foul trouble, but luckily UK can rotate bigs on Kaminsky. Frank the Tank struggled with UK's size last year.

 

In my opinion, it is going to come down to who can win the guard battles. Harrison's, Ulis and Booker versus Koenig, Gasser and Jackson.

 

Can UK get into Wisky's legs by the 5 minute mark of the second half? I think you saw some signs of fatigue with ND down the stretch. Can UK's depth wear them down?

 

I like UK by 4.

Zona attacked and got enough calls to make it an issue. Wisky isn't going to foul 12 times a half even if they get a bad whistle. You just have to make sure when they do foul it is because you are attacking and getting to the line. That is going to be on the twins...

 

We're in good hands. I'm a UK fan, but objectively speaking, I'll take the Harrison twins and Jackson even if not coming off of an injury and Gasser.

 

Throw in whoever Wisky brings off the bench and I'll take Ulis and Booker over them as well. Cat fan, but (at least trying to be) objective. Hope that doesn't come back to bite me as a UK fan.

 

Put Jerian Grant in the group of UK guards, and he's probably the first pro that I'm drafting if I'm an expansion franchise. If Wisky wins, it will definitely have to be no less than a tremendous team effort.

 

Per se, one-on-one matchups might not win the day for UK, but I think they have too much talent across the board that you hold all else equal and don't take them.

This is one game where I think UK will miss Poythress. He would be the ideal matchup for Dekker on defense. Dekker is likely one guy they really have no answer for with his skill and size. WCS can do some but ideally a long 3 man would be nice and Lyles could draw that assignment as well.

 

UK really struggled with ND on ball screens, in particular Towns who was awful but you had to stick with him because of the offense he was giving you. Against ND UK was so concerned about running ND off the three point line that they gave up too much dribble penetration. ND has better drivers than Wisky, but Wisky is bigger and has a couple of iso threats.

 

UK's bugaboo was with penetrating guards once they spaced them out. Against ND and Wisky, WCS had/will play away from the basket.

 

The Cats will have to communicate better and not get caught up on rear screens all night in the swing offense. Wisky is not going to hurt you putting it on the deck and driving it, but will get more open shots from spacing and movement. UK will have to man the defensive boards better than they have recently. ND was much more aggressive on the offensive glass than normal considering they were not a great offensive rebounding team. Wisky is not that good of an offensive rebounding team either. They are more inclined to fall back and not get beat in transition.

 

Defense is one thing, but UK is going to have to be more in attack mode than they were against ND. Penetration will open up the offensive glass for UK. On offense, UK is going to have to force the issue and make Wisky defend. Both Oregon and UNC did a pretty good job of pressuring Wisky in the halfcourt with drives and such.

You are more inclined to hurt Wisky on defense by spreading them out and attacking.

 

KAT is going to have to stay out of foul trouble, but luckily UK can rotate bigs on Kaminsky. Frank the Tank struggled with UK's size last year.

 

In my opinion, it is going to come down to who can win the guard battles. Harrison's, Ulis and Booker versus Koenig, Gasser and Jackson.

 

Can UK get into Wisky's legs by the 5 minute mark of the second half? I think you saw some signs of fatigue with ND down the stretch. Can UK's depth wear them down?

 

I like UK by 4.

 

Good stuff and everything follows pretty logically. Agree that getting into Wisconsin's bench is a good thing for UK. I think that Duje Dukan is a really smart player if nothing else (his Dad works with the Bulls, IIRC), but UK definitely has the advantage with the bench.

 

To me, I haven't really focused on the bench a lot because I think the biggest factor in terms of minutes played is Jackson's health. If he's healthy (or healthier), then he's going to see his minutes go up. Koening can get away with minutes against some teams moreso than others, and I don't think UK is one of them.

ND had and NBA guard running the show. Wisconsin does not. Even when ND took Grant off the point, UK didn't pressure the other ball handlers very well. Likely for fear of the back cuts.

 

Ball pressure will bother Wisconsin if UK chooses to extend. That's their Achilles IMO.

Gasser probably going to guard Andrew? Andrew has to win that matchup for the Cats to win IMO.

I wonder if we could possibly get Daxter Miles from WVU to make a statement on how there is no way that U.K. beats the Badgers ? After all, its not like he has a game this weekend.

This game scares the bejesus out of me. The team being so close to the best season in history is putting a ton of stress on ME. I hate it lol. I don't feel overly confident period. I wish I could make time skip ahead 6 months lol, this tourney will be the death of me.

Probably the only pre-game trash talk we're going to get:

 

 

Burst plays oversees now. Scored 15 points in the matchup last year.

Probably the only pre-game trash talk we're going to get:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]49889[/ATTACH]

 

Burst plays oversees now. Scored 15 points in the matchup last year.

 

And lost. Who in the world wants to be Wisconsin?