Tag: Micah Potter

Game Day Grades: Wisconsin vs. Tennessee

What grades did Wisconsin earn in their first road victory of the season over Tennessee?

Offense: A

Wisconsin’s struggles away from the Kohl Center have been well documented but considering how well Wisconsin shot the basketball at times against Tennessee one would have thought the game was being played in Madison instead of Knoxville.

Wisconsin finished the game 25-for-57 (43.9 percent) from the field and 11-for-26 (42.3 percent) from three, which includes the Badgers shooting 53.8 percent (7-for-13) from three in the first half.

The way Wisconsin shot the basketball in the first half allowed for not only Wisconsin to lead throughout the game but also take a 14-point lead into halftime.

One of the constant themes throughout the game against Tennessee for Wisconsin’s offense was the constant ball movement helping create those open looks. The Badgers registered eight of their 13 assists in the first half as D’Mitrik Trice, Brad Davison, and Aleem Ford all registered three assists.

Wisconsin was able to build a double-digit lead thanks to their ability to create and knock down their open 3-point attempts. The two key players to fuel Wisconsin’s 3-point shooting were Trice and Brevin Pritzl. Trice and Pritzl both went 4-for-8 from three as Trice finished the game with a team high 21 points and Pritzl was second with 17 points.

Brad Davison was the only other player to make at least two three’s as he finished the game with eight points while Nate Reuvers hit his lone attempt as he finished with nine points.

Wisconsin finished the game with nine turnovers marking the fourth game over their last five games where the Badgers have committed nine or fewer turnovers. Trice led the team with three turnovers as Tennessee cashed Wisconsin’s mistakes into seven points.

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3-Point Shot Wisconsin vs. Tennessee

What are three things Wisconsin needs to do in order to pick up their first road win of the season?

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.

Micah Potter gets his feet wet, as Wisconsin tries to swim

More on Micah Potter’s first game of the season

The timing of Micah Potter’s first game in this 2019-2020 Wisconsin basketball season was 10 games too late. Potter deserved to be able to play in Game 1 against Saint Mary’s. The NCAA was very tardy — and arbitrary — in its dealings with Potter. It was not and is not a happy occurrence that Potter was able to play for the Badgers this late into the season. Wisconsin’s record would probably be a few games better than 6-5 had Potter been around from the jump.

That having been said, at least Potter didn’t come one game later than he did. At least Potter was able to play on Saturday versus Milwaukee. At least Potter was able to flush some nerves out of the system and take the floor in a game the Badgers were able to comfortably win by 19 points, 83-64. At least Potter was able to get his return done with, so that he and the rest of us don’t have to speculate or guess or live in lingering uncertainty:

The bad news — Potter not being able to play in any of the first 10 games of the season — outweighs the good, but the good news exists: Potter scored 12 points and pulled down five rebounds in his Wisconsin debut. He gained live action with his teammates. Greg Gard got to see him play in various combinations with other players. Now Wisconsin, its players, and its coaches all have a better idea of what they can do — and what they can expect — heading into a very important non-conference game with the Tennessee Volunteers on Dec. 28.

Wisconsin badly needs that game against the Vols for NCAA Tournament purposes. It might be too much to say that it’s a must-win, given all the quality-win opportunities the Badgers will have in a very deep Big Ten Conference, which has a dozen teams in or near the KenPom top 60. However, getting a win away from the Kohl Center against a good team is something Wisconsin’s resume needs in bulk numbers. Wisconsin can’t go to the committee in March and turn in a report card which has practically no road or neutral wins. The Badgers need to start accumulating those results. With Potter having a game under his belt, that contest is genuinely winnable. We will truly begin to see what this team is capable of with Micah Potter on the floor.

It seems premature to say we know what Potter will be able to achieve after a 19-point win over a struggling mid-major. (Milwaukee is 5-7 after this loss.) What is safe to say, though, is that the nerves have been flushed out of the system. The thick layer of uncertainty hovering over this team has thinned out — it hasn’t been eliminated, but it is much less pronounced. Now this team can loosen up and play. Hopefully, Potter will help unlock this team’s best basketball away from home on the final weekend of the year and the decade.

Game Day Grades: Wisconsin vs. UW-Milwaukee

What grades did Wisconsin earn from their 83-64 victory over UW-Milwaukee?

Offense: B+

The combination of D’Mitrik Trice and Nate Reuvers were terrific against UW-Milwaukee on Saturday. The two combined to score 53 of Wisconsin’s 83 points and shot a combined 19-for-26 (73.1 percent) from the field.

In terms of the rest of the Badgers they struggled to find the bottom of the net with the same kind of consistency as Trice and Reuvers. As the rest of the Wisconsin team shot a combined 7-for-26 (26.9 percent) from the field. Overall Wisconsin finished the game shooting 50 percent (26-for-52) from the field and shot 45.5 percent (10-for-22) from three.

Between Trice and Reuvers, Trice lead the two in scoring with a career-high 31-points on 11-for-14 shooting from the field and went an impressive 5-for-6 from three. Reuvers registered his third game of at least 20 points this season and his second over the Badgers last three games finishing the game with 22 points.

The only other Badger to reach double figures was Micah Potter as he scored 12 points in his season debut. Potter was actively looking for his shot as he went 3-for-6 from the field and his activeness around the rim allowed him to get to the free-throw line. Considering, half of his points came from the free-throw line as he went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.

Wisconsin finished the game with 26 points in the paint as Reuvers was able to find success both around the rim and from the perimeter. Reuvers finished the game 8-for-12 from the field and 2-for-4 from three.

Wisconsin was able to play in an offensive rhythm through most of the game thanks to them taking care of the basketball. Entering the game against UW-Milwaukee the Panthers were forcing their opponents into a high number of turnovers but Wisconsin only turned the basketball over nine times. Potter led the team with three turnovers as the Panthers turned Wisconsin’s nine turnovers into 14-points.

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3-Point Shot Wisconsin vs. UW-Milwaukee

What are three things Wisconsin needs to do against UW-Milwaukee on Saturday?

After splitting their first two Big Ten games the Badgers will return to the court on Saturday as the Badgers resume non-conference play against UW-Milwaukee. The Badgers have beaten there previous two in-state opponents in Marquette and UW-Green Bay and they’ll look to complete the season sweep of in-state teams against UW-Milwaukee as the Panthers have lost their last four games.

In this Badgers Wire feature, we will look at the three keys or questions for Wisconsin as they prepare to play UW-Milwaukee.

LAYUP: THE DEBUT OF MICAH POTTER

The much anticipated debut of Micah Potter will officially begin against the Panthers. What Potter brings to Wisconsin against UW-Milwaukee and the rest of the season will still be seen but Potter will give a small sample size on Saturday.

For starters, Potter will help Wisconsin on the glass. In particular, the Badgers will need to do a better job of keeping opposing teams off the offensive glass.

Wisconsin on the season is allowing 8.1 offensive rebounds per game but over Wisconsin’s last two games they allowed a total of 24 offensive rebounds. Between the play of Potter and Nate Reuvers, they should be able to reduce that number.

Potter and Reuvers will get their first test on Saturday against UW-Milwaukee as the Panthers are averaging 13.1 offensive rebounds a contest. In the Panthers loss to Kansas, they were able to register 11 offensive rebounds but only registered nine-second chance points.

What hurt Wisconsin in their loss to Rutgers was the fact that they allowed 23-second chance points on 14 offensive rebounds. In order to control the game, the Badgers will need to limit the Panthers second chances and that will begin with Potter attacking the defensive glass.

If the Badgers allow the Panthers to consistently come up with second chances they’re allowing Darius Roy (16 ppg), Te’Jon Lucas (14.2 ppg), or Josh Thomas (11.8 ppg) another chance of generating points as all three average double figures in scoring.

MID-RANGE: CAN WISCONSIN PROTECT THE BASKETBALL?

After turning the basketball over a season-low four times in the win over Indiana the Badgers committed 14 turnovers against Rutgers, marking the fourth time Wisconsin has turned the basketball over at least 14 times this season.

Wisconsin once again will receive another test of showing they’re capable of taking care of the basketball as the Panthers are forcing an average of 16.8 turnovers a game.

Wisconsin is going to need to start protecting the basketball and with this being the first game back in 10 days there could be some uneven play to begin the game.

UW-Milwaukee was able to force Kansas into 12 turnovers, which they turned into 19 points. The Badgers on the season are allowing 11.6 points off of their turnovers making it important that the Badgers don’t allow for the Panthers to generate any fastbreak points.

About a third of the turnovers UW-Milwaukee does create comes off of steals as the Panthers are averaging 5.6 steals a contest. Wisconsin’s ability to protect the basketball should allow for the Badgers to generate the offensive rhythm they need in order to create separation against the Panthers.

3-POINTER: SLOWING DARIUS ROY DOWN

In order to take UW-Milwaukee out of its rhythm on offense, the Badgers are going to need to slow the Panthers leading scorer in Darius Roy down. Roy is averaging 16 points per game and is shooting 39.7 percent (54-for-136) from the field.

However, in road games, this year Roy has averaged 13.5 points per game and is shooting 41.7 percent from the field. Roy is coming off his second straight game of scoring at least 20 points as he scored 24 points in the loss to Eastern Illinois and in the previous game he scored 25 points on 9-for-16 (56.3 percent) shooting from the field against Kansas.

Roy is a volume shooter as his 13.6 field goal attempts leads the team. Meaning he’ll get his shots off but the key will be trying to limit his quality looks when he does attempt a shot in order to make sure he simply can’t catch and shoot.

If the Badgers can disrupt his offensive game and prevent him from getting into a consistent rhythm on offense that’ll be a win considering over the last five games he has registered 16 assists to 12 turnovers.

Micah Potter won’t eliminate all of Wisconsin’s problems

More on Micah Potter being allowed to play for Wisconsin.

It is undeniably a very, very good thing that Micah Potter will be able to play for the 2019-20 Wisconsin Badgers basketball team. Potter should be able to help this team in a number of ways. We discussed this point on multiple fronts. Wisconsin should be better. No one would disagree with that claim.

The obvious but necessary question to ask: Will Wisconsin improve enough to significantly change this team’s fortunes and the trajectory of the season? Right now, Wisconsin has an NIT-level resume. The Marquette and Indiana wins are good, but a .500 record without top-tier wins won’t cut it. The Badgers’ lack of a single win away from the Kohl Center won’t cut it. The committee needs some road and neutral results on the nitty gritty report. Micah Potter’s task is clear.

However, we shouldn’t think that a limited team will suddenly become transformed due to the arrival of one player. Improved, yes, but transformed? That’s a bigger word and a higher standard to reach. Potter should improve the passing on this team. He should simplify Wisconsin’s approach in ways which will relieve pressure on the backcourt. He gives Wisconsin more size and length on the glass, to avoid future backboard blowouts such as the 14-3 advantage Rutgers gained on the offensive glass this past Wednesday. However, Potter doesn’t eliminate every problem on this team — far from it.

Potter won’t solve the 3-point-shooting problem. He won’t solve the lack of a dribble-drive dynamo who can get eight, nine, 10, 11 foul shots in a game and put the opponent in foul trouble. Most of all, Potter can’t guarantee that his presence will make every other Badger tough enough to win games. Wisconsin’s toughness was lacking against Rutgers. It was lacking against North Carolina State, when — remember — the Wolfpack scored 26 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

The bright, shiny object — the thing which is easiest to notice — with Wisconsin in the first few weeks of the season was the bad offense. In the last two games, Wisconsin has shot well and escaped the rock fights in the low 50s. The Badgers haven’t meaningfully improved. A lack of defensive toughness is the biggest obstacle to success, because it is the most fixable problem on the team. You don’t need All-Americans to play great defense. You need a focused, disciplined team. Potter can help the defense with his physical attributes, but he can’t make his teammates defend better, box out better, and fight better.

Potter can be accountable to himself. He can unlock certain opportunities and lines of attack on offense. He can’t help his teammates rebound better. There are some things which don’t occur within a team context in basketball. Blocking out your man is one of them. No one else can do it. The player himself has to handle his own business.

It is undeniably great that Micah Potter is back. Just don’t think he will cure every ailment afflicting the Badgers right now. He will make the patient healthier, like a stent which opens clogged arteries, but the patient has to avoid smoking and drinking excessively to participate in a process of full recovery and restoration. That is Wisconsin’s task. This team can’t assume Micah Potter will make every problem disappear.

Micah Potter arrives not a moment too soon for Wisconsin

Micah Potter will play in Wisconsin’s next game.

Micah Potter of the Wisconsin Badgers said what every UW fan has been waiting to say for weeks:

Finally, indeed, Micah Potter will play in a real, live basketball game for Wisconsin this season. It should never have come to this. Potter should have been allowed to play from the beginning of the season. Wisconsin wouldn’t be 10-0 with Potter, but it probably wouldn’t be 5-5, either. At least the Badgers get him back now.

A few thoughts on Potter are warranted here. There will be plenty of additional thoughts in subsequent articles at Badgers Wire. Let’s start with a few basic points of emphasis:

First, Potter being back right now means he gets one manageable game — Milwaukee on Dec. 21 — before the big Tennessee game on Dec. 28. Potter can ease his way into the lineup. The Milwaukee game can give Potter a chance to work off the rust, gain a better and more fluid on-court chemistry with his teammates, and carry the Badgers into the Tennessee game, which could provide an important boost to a thin resume. It is a lot better for UW to have Potter against Milwaukee than to have him debut against Tennessee.

Second, Potter can make life a lot easier for the two players who struggled to score against Rutgers on Wednesday night: Nate Reuvers and D’Mitrik Trice. Potter will enable Reuvers to work more within the offense, because Reuvers won’t think he has to be the sole low-post scorer on this team. Reuvers will have to shoulder less of the burden to carry this team at the offensive end of the floor. Moreover, one can readily imagine Reuvers and Potter working together in high-low combinations to easily feed the low post. They will sometimes be able to throw passes over the top of the defense, which should cut down on turnovers and create more layups or dunks.

As for Trice, Wisconsin’s guard play has been conspicuously lacking. Now that Trice and the rest of the backcourt have another big man to feed, the offense should become less complicated. The Badgers’ offense should flow through the frontcourt. The bigs should get touches every time down the floor. Trice can worry less about shooting and his own offense. He can focus on getting the ball to Potter and Reuvers. The Badgers are now in a position to play inside-out, with the bigs dictating what the defense does. Trice’s offense should come from catch-and-shoot threes when defenses double-team Potter or Reuvers and create a kickout.

Micah Potter gets a warm-up game before Tennessee on Dec. 28. He gets to relieve Nate Reuvers’ burden and simplify the task for D’Mitrik Trice. Those are the most immediate ways in which Micah Potter can help Wisconsin. It isn’t a moment too soon.