Can Wisconsin pick up its first road win of the season as they play Tennessee for the first time on the road since 2000? Although Wisconsin has won their past two meetings against the Volunteers with the most recent meeting coming in 2016 the Volunteers have posted a 6-1 home record this season.
In this Badgers Wire feature, we will look at the three keys or questions for Wisconsin as they prepare to play Tennessee.
LAYUP: THE PLAY OF WISCONSIN’S BENCH
Micah Potter’s debut off the bench against UW-Milwaukee was strong considering how long it has been for him since he’s played in an actual game. Potter played 13 minutes as he scored 12 points and registered five rebounds.
Potter will need to be able to deliver a similar performance against Tennessee in order for the Badgers to have success. Potter’s ability to do so will take pressure off of Nate Reuvers.
One area where Potter had success against the Panthers was the fact he found ways getting to the free throw line as he went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. Potter and Wisconsin will need to be aggressive against the Volunteers defense in order to get them into foul trouble, in addition, to try and generate points from the free throw line.
Tennessee is allowing their opponents to average about 15 free throw attempts a game while Wisconsin is averaging about 18 free throw attempts a game.
Tyler Wahl has also demonstrated his aggressiveness at times through the early portions of the schedule. Wahl’s ability to attack the basket and take his defender off the dribble will be important if Wisconsin wants to try and generate high percentage shots around the basket.
Between Potter and Wahl they’ll also need to continue to find ways of attacking the glass considering between the two they combined for 10 rebounds against UW-Milwaukee. Potter and Wahl’s ability to limit the Volunteers to one shot per possession either by contesting the shot or grabbing a rebound will be important in making sure Tennessee struggles to generate an offensive rhythm.
MID-RANGE: LIMITING TENNESSEE’S BALL MOVEMENT
One area where Tennessee has had success through 11 games this year is thanks to their ability to work the basketball around on the offensive end. Tennessee on the year is averaging 15.9 assists per game on an average of 24.1 made field goals a game.
Making it important that Wisconsin finds ways to cut off passing lanes to help disrupt the ball movement the Volunteers have displayed this year.
In particular, Wisconsin will need to focus on Lamonte Turner who leads the team with 78 assists. With Turner handling the basketball so much it does leave him prone to turning the basketball over at a high rate as he has registered at least four or more turnovers in six games this season.
Whoever does end up defending Turner for Wisconsin will need to make sure he can’t beat them off the dribble and prevent any open passing lanes. If Wisconsin can force him into a miscue with the basketball the Badgers will need to try and cash his mistake into points as the Badgers are averaging 5.7 fastbreak points a game and are averaging 13.5 points off turnovers this season.
Disrupting Turner on the offensive end will help take away one of Tennessee’s most important playmakers on offense as he’s one of four players to average double figures. Turner’s 12.3 points per game rank second on the team behind Jordan Bowden’s 13.5 points per game.
3-POINTER: CAN WISCONSIN SHOOT THE BASKETBALL EFFECTIVELY?
It is no secret that Wisconsin in the five games they have played away from the Kohl Center the Badgers have struggled to find the bottom of the net.
Considering, the 47.9 percent (23-for-48) the Badgers shot in their most recent road game against Rutgers is the best shooting percentage on the road this season.
In the other four road games, Wisconsin has shot a combined 78-for-211 (36.9 percent) from the field.
Which Wisconsin road team will show up against Tennessee?
Hopefully, it is the one that shot 47.9 percent against Rutgers considering if Wisconsin can shoot with that same kind of consistency they’ll give themselves a chance of pulling the upset as the Volunteers are allowing opponents to shoot 38.1 percent (233-for-612) from the field this year.
One reason why Wisconsin was able to shoot a high percentage against Rutgers was they did better of moving the basketball around on the offensive end compared to their previous matchups away from the Kohl Center.
Against Rutgers, they registered nine assists on their 23 made field goals, which is the most assists the Badgers have registered this season on the road. Wisconsin’s ability to be patient on the offensive end and work the basketball around should help open up open looks for Wisconsin. Making it a matter of Wisconsin simply making their shots to help keep the game close.
It will also be important that the Badgers are fighting for offensive rebounds once a shot goes up too. Wisconsin can’t allow for Tennessee to consistently hold them to one shot per offensive possession if they do it will prevent the Badgers from being able to get into an offensive rhythm.