Tag: Penn State Basketball

So much about the Wisconsin Badgers’ offense remains the same for reasons which aren’t so good. The 3-point shooting, the lack of a high number of free throw attempts, the lack of a game in which all five starters shoot the ball well at the same time are all continuous elements of an offense which has yet to hit its stride. The Badgers have to win with defense for now, and in January, they have been better in that regard than they were in November and December. The defense is holding this team together (and when the defense doesn’t show up, UW is in big trouble). Meanwhile, the offense just has to be “okay” and not lose games.

Give Greg Gard and the Badgers credit, then: The turnover problem which was pronounced early in the season — during that ugly 5-5 start through 10 games — is being put in the rearview mirror.

If you have noticed, Wisconsin committed only nine turnovers against Penn State. The Badgers have committed under 10 turnovers in two straight games, and they committed exactly 10 against Ohio State. Committing under 10 turnovers in a home game is one thing, though; for Wisconsin to average just 9.5 turnovers per game in its last two Big Ten road games is impressive, and a definite indication that ball security is regularly manifested in this team’s halfcourt offense.

We all know where Wisconsin has to improve right now, mostly in realms of ball movement, drawing fouls, and hitting a higher percentage of shots. The turnover problem, however, has largely been solved. It can be said that if Wisconsin can average 9.5 turnovers per Big Ten road game on a regular basis over the next two months, it will continue to give itself a chance to win games. More precisely, the Badgers will give their DEFENSE a chance to win games.

Know who you are. Know what works. Play in and from and through your strengths. Develop your weaknesses as you go along. These are tried-and-true aspects of sports competition. Wisconsin has established its basic foundation of strong defense and few turnovers. Yes, it will need the offense to get better, but as long as the offense doesn’t give away possessions, this team can stay in the mix in the Big Ten.

On a day when Wisconsin hit only six 3-pointers on more than 20 attempts — a VERY familiar turn of events this season, if you study box scores — the Badgers beat Penn State primarily with defense. Holding the Nittany Lions under 50 points, and just under 33-percent shooting from the field, was the main reason Wisconsin grabbed a second Big Ten road win in 2020 (and in the span of eight days). No one can or should ignore that fundamental point.

Yet, if you have been reading Badgers Wire, you know that we focused on one aspect of the Badgers’ 2020 season which had marked a distinct lack of evolution and development. We pointed out that against Illinois, Ohio State, Tennessee, and even against Rutgers in early December, the Badgers placed just two scorers in double figures. When something like that keeps happening, a team and a coaching staff have to get a greater sense of urgency. It is simply unsustainable for any basketball team to go through a full season of games against Power Five opponents with only two players scoring in double figures.

To be clear, it’s not as though Wisconsin’s offense was especially good against Penn State. The 6 of 21 threes was a central problem (nothing new there, as noted), and the Badgers hit only 8 of 14 free throws. The 23 foul shots earned against Illinois were not and are not reflective of this team’s prowess in getting to the foul line. Many problems remain.

Yet, one thing the Badgers did against Penn State: They created three double-figure scorers. Micah Potter starred with 24, Brad Davison had 11, and Kobe King had 10. No, we shouldn’t throw a ticker-tape parade for UW, especially since two of the three double-figure scorers barely reached 10 points. It’s not as though this was a whole new Wisconsin offense.

It was, however, a small pinch of progress.

When a second scorer has 11 points and a third scorer has only six or seven points, that is reflective of a differential among the non-primary scorers for that game. When the opponent takes away the hot shooter (Potter, in this case, on Saturday), can Wisconsin offer two credible alternatives, not just one? King and Davison both cracking double figures gives Greg Gard a little more reason to think his offense can generate three reliable scorers in a game.

It isn’t a transformation. It isn’t a huge step forward… but it IS a step forward. If Wisconsin keeps making small forward steps with very few backward steps, that’s a good progression for the rest of the season.

Wisconsin plays Penn State on the second Saturday of January. In most years, this would be a game in which Wisconsin is the safe NCAA Tournament team and Penn State is trying to improve its shaky resume.

This isn’t most years.

Both teams need this game, to be sure, but if you had to pick a team which needed this game more, it’s Wisconsin. The Badgers’ win over Marquette is valuable, as is their win at Ohio State. However, their win at Tennessee won’t mean too much since the Vols were without Lamonte Turner and are likely to fall to the bottom of the SEC without him. The win at home against Indiana might have more value later in the season, but the Hoosiers look very unconvincing right now. It is not easy to think that Indiana will make the NCAA Tournament in its current state.

Wisconsin’s resume doesn’t have a lot of meat on the bone. The Badgers don’t have to crush the Big Ten to make the NCAA tourney, but they do have to collect several wins against good teams in the league. In other words, they can’t just sweep Nebraska and Minnesota and beat Northwestern and think they have it made. No, Wisconsin will have to grab a number of wins against the likely NCAA Tournament teams in the conference. This season, that currently includes Penn State. True, PSU could falter, but right now, a win over the Nittany Lions would rate as a solid result which boosts a resume.

The good news for Wisconsin is that Penn State is now a value-bearing opponent on an NCAA resume. The bad news is that in this 2019-2020 season, Penn State — along with Rutgers and Illinois — isn’t a pushover anymore. Penn State shows that Wisconsin’s status as an upper-tier Big Ten team can’t be taken for granted this season. Wisconsin owned a long winning streak over Illinois… until Illinois improved. Wisconsin has a long winning streak over Penn State… but Penn State has improved.

There are more obstacles in Wisconsin’s path this season. Yes, this means that Wisconsin has more chances to polish its portfolio, but if the Badgers don’t convert enough of these chances, their NCAA hopes will take a hit… and teams such as Penn State and Rutgers will earn their dance card.

In a normal college basketball season, Wisconsin would be heavily favored and widely expected to beat Penn State in State College on Saturday. Again, this isn’t a normal season. This isn’t “most years.” It is up to Wisconsin to find a “most years” identity to this year, 2020, which is defined by uncertainty and weirdness in the present moment.