Tag: wisconsin badgers basketball

Wisconsin-Marquette, in 2019, is extra personal for both sides

The meeting between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Marquette Golden Eagles is very personal, for two clear reasons.

Sunday’s game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Marquette Golden Eagles at the Kohl Center in Madison will be fierce and intense, just as every game is between Wisconsin and Marquette. The two schools always pour their emotions into this game. It always matters. It always stirs the soul.

This year, though, the battle between the Badgers and the Golden Eagles will be even more personal than it normally is. Really, you might be asking? What could be the reason to make a statement like that? The answer to the question is deceptively simple. There are two reasons why UW-Marquette packs more of a punch in 2019. Those reasons are named Joey Hauser and Sam Hauser.

Makes sense, right? Joey and Sam Hauser played for Marquette last season. Now they don’t. Joey transferred to Michigan State, Sam to Virginia. Those two schools are not Wisconsin. We are left with the simple reality that the Hauser brothers didn’t initially go to Wisconsin, and didn’t transfer there. They also, however, left Marquette and didn’t think it was worth it to stick with Steve Wojciechowski. Both schools have been stung by the rejection of the Hauser brothers.

To be clear, what young athletes choose to do with their careers is not a manifestation or reflection of morality or ethics. Playing at one school is not a more noble (or impoverished) decision than playing at another. A transfer is not an act of betrayal. None of this has anything to do with the character of a person, and should not be seen as a direct or implied criticism of the Hausers (or any other athletes who transfer). I am merely noting that in 2019, Marquette and Wisconsin are both taking the court without a Hauser brother in either program. The two brothers from Stevens Point, Wis., will not be found in Madison on Sunday.

You know Marquette wants to prove it can beat Wisconsin for a million different reasons, but winning without the Hausers is certainly one of the more prominent ones. You know Wisconsin wants to pounce on Marquette, early in the season, to make a statement about the balance of college basketball power in this state.

It is sometimes the case that the absence of a person — or two persons — from a building is noticed more than the presence of any other individuals. Wisconsin will feel the absence of Micah Potter from this game, but other than Potter, are two people going to be noticed more by their absence from Sunday’s contest than Sam and Joey Hauser? Those brothers, no longer playing college basketball in the state of Wisconsin, will definitely be noticed on Sunday. The next question: Which school will lament that absence more when Sunday’s game is over?

Marquette comeback against Purdue gets Wisconsin’s attention

Looking at the Marquette Golden Eagles’ win over the Purdue Boilermakers before Marquette faces the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday.

The shiny object found in the Marquette Golden Eagles’ 65-55 win over the Purdue Boilermakers on Wednesday night was the 40-point second half the Golden Eagles slapped on Matt Painter’s crew. If Marquette has established an identity in recent years, it is that it can explode on offense at any time. Markus Howard can break free. Seton Hall might have Myles Powell, but Howard makes sure that Marquette always has as much firepower as the opposition, if not more. A 40-point second half is on brand for MU and Steve Wojciechowski.

Yet, while looking at the shiny object — 40 points after halftime in a relatively low-scoring game — one shouldn’t ignore the more substantive aspect of a game in which Marquette came back from a 13-point halftime deficit (38-25). The Golden Eagles held Purdue to just 17 points after the intermission.

If Marquette — which got run off the floor by Ja Morant and Murray State in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament — is to improve as a program and become more of a national force in the Big East Conference, it will come at the defensive end of the floor. Being good enough and tough enough to hold Purdue to 17 points in a half sends a very positive message before Marquette faces the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday. Such a feat is… well… very Wisconsin-like.

As we size up the Golden Eagles before they visit the Kohl Center on Sunday afternoon, we are brought in touch with a fundamental question: As good as Marquette was in that second half, was the 40-17 drubbing the Golden Eagles handed to the Boilermakers a primary product of MU’s ability to adjust, or was it more a result of Purdue not finding an answer to the departure of Carsen Edwards?

From the Marquette side of the equation, the Golden Eagles have to feel confident they can defend at a high level. They can’t control Purdue’s limitations; they got punched in the mouth in the first half and could have wobbled. Instead, they roared back against a team which came within an eyelash of making the Final Four last spring. Marquette did what was within its power to do. To that extent, the Golden Eagles deserve ample credit.

It is the Purdue dimension of this question which is more encouraging to Wisconsin. Purdue, for those not getting up to speed on college basketball as football enters its crucial home stretch, lacked answers at crunch time versus Texas — in Mackey Arena — a few days earlier. If Purdue had solved Texas but then stumbled against Marquette, the Golden Eagles could be viewed in a more favorable light. Because Purdue couldn’t use home-court advantage well against a previous opponent, however, this loss to Marquette seems like a trend more than a plot twist or an aberration.

Wisconsin can therefore look at Purdue and arrive at the conclusion that Marquette pounced on an especially vulnerable opponent. Wisconsin can look at the statistics and see that Marquette shot just 7 of 25 from 3-point range and won by 10… because Purdue was just 6 of 24 from long distance and a shocking 9 of 21 from the free throw line. If Purdue can’t stand on its own this season without Carsen Edwards, Wisconsin — lacking Micah Potter for no legitimately good reason — can stand on the strength of its balance and its defense.

Wisconsin doesn’t just have a chance to beat Marquette this Sunday. The Badgers can send a message to Purdue and the rest of the Big Ten about their resourcefulness, their balance, and their quality. Just imagine what a win without Potter could do for a team which is still settling into this season. A win over Marquette would settle some scores and enable Wisconsin to feel a lot more settled and calm about its long-term prospects.

Three Marquette players who Badger fans need to know

Wisconsin hosts Marquette at the Kohl Center this weekend. Badger fans should be sure to know these three opposing players.

Wisconsin hosts Marquette at the Kohl Center on Sunday afternoon in this year’s chapter of one of the nation’s most heated rivalries.

The Badgers are 2-1 following their 83-63 victory over McNeese State at home on Wednesday night, while the Golden Eagles are 2-0 and coming off of an impressive 65-55 win over a solid Purdue team in Milwaukee that same evening. Marquette has maintained bragging rights over Wisconsin the last two seasons, taking care of business against Bucky at the Fiserv Forum in a 74-69 overtime thriller a year ago.

While the Golden Eagles lost two huge pieces of their program as a result of the Hauser brothers’ decisions to transfer, head coach Steve Wojciechowski will still have plenty of talent at his disposal this season, and this should be a Top 25-caliber group all year long.

Here are the three Golden Eagles who Badger fans should keep a close eye on throughout Saturday’s contest.

1. Markus Howard – Guard

2019 stats: 28.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 53.1% FG, 58.8% 3P, 92.3 % FT

You can’t break down Marquette’s roster by starting with any player other than Howard, the Golden Eagles’ all-time leading scorer who just went over 2,000 points for his career this week.

The 5-11 senior has become a household name as a result of the monster scoring numbers he has put up throughout his career. Last season was his best yet, as Howard was the Big East Player of the Year and earned consensus Second Team All-American honors after ranking fifth nationally in scoring at 25 points per game.

Howard is off to another scorching start this year for the Golden Eagles through two games, opening the season with a 38-point outburst against Loyola Maryland and following up that performance with 18 points in Marquette’s victory over Purdue.

He has averaged 24 points per game against Wisconsin throughout his career, including 27 in Marquette’s overtime win at Fiserv Forum last year. However, Howard was held largely in check by the Badgers in terms of his production from the field, shooting just 7-29 for the game.

2. Theo John – Forward

2019 stats: 6.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 4.5 bpg, 55.6% FG, 50.0% FT

Feb 12, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles forward Theo John (4) blocks a shot by DePaul Blue Demons forward Paul Reed (4) during the first half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nuccio DiNuzzo-USA TODAY Sports

The Big East’s leader in blocks per game last season, the 6-9, 255-pound John is a force to be reckoned with in the paint. The junior forward isn’t exactly an impact player from a scoring standpoint, but he has utilized his massive frame to become one of the nation’s top post defenders and a monster on the boards to boot.

It’s safe to assume that John will likely be matched up with Nate Reuvers quite a bit on Sunday, which does not bode well for the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week’s production down low in this matchup. In fact, with him looming in the paint, the Badgers as a whole could have a rough go of it scoring near the basket.

What does this mean? For a team that has often been either extremely hot or cold from beyond the arc with little room in between so far this season, Wisconsin better hope the shots are falling from long range in this one.

3. Koby McEwen – Guard

2019 stats: 17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 50% FG, 60% 3P, 88.9% FT

With Sam and Joey Hauser out of the picture after packing their bags for Virginia and Michigan State, respectively, there were questions surrounding this Marquette team leading into the season regarding who on the roster would step up as a secondary scoring option to Howard.

After the Golden Eagles’ first two games, it appears as though McEwen may be the answer.

The redshirt junior sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules after coming over from Utah State, where he averaged 15.3 points per game in his two seasons there. McEwen was a Third Team All-Mountain West selection in 2017-18 after leading the Aggies in scoring and rebounding at 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

The 6-4 guard has clearly been Marquette’s second-best player so far, making an impact as a scorer, facilitator, rebounder, and defender. McEwen heads into Saturday’s matchup with Wisconsin on the heels of an impressive performance against Purdue in which he racked up 23 points, five rebounds, and 4 assists.

Steven Crowl Signs National Letter of Intent with Wisconsin Basketball

Steven Crowl signed his national letter of intent on Wednesday becoming the latest member of 2020 class for Greg Gard.

Steven Crowl

6’9″, 210, center, Eagan, Minn. (Eastview)

Crowl used a strong summer in front of the Wisconsin coaches to earn his offer from the Badgers this past July. After taking an official visit to Wisconsin in September he made his commitment to the Badgers in mid-September. Crowl officially became a Badger on Wednesday when he signed his letter of intent to play for Wisconsin.

Crowl and Ben Carlson will complement each other well when the duo are on the floor together. Similar to Carlson, Crowl is able to stretch the floor in addition he’s able to make an impact on the defensive side too. Crowl could use a redshirt year as it would be beneficial for him to continue to add strength in addition due to the depth Wisconsin has in the frontcourt.

Note: All quotes/stats provided by uwbadgers.com

Crowl chose Wisconsin over other offers from: Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Northern Iowa, and South Dakota

Crowl’s Accolades: Three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals … his junior season, led Eastview High School to the Minnesota Class 4A state tournament while averaging 19.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, shooting 39% 3FG from beyond the arc … scored 630 points as a junior and 470 points as a sophomore giving him 1,100 career points entering his senior season … first-team South Suburban All-Conference in 2019 and second-team in 2018 … plays travel basketball for D1 Minnesota, the same program as current Badgers Nate Reuvers and Tyler Wahl.

Gard on Crowl: “Steven has so many of the characteristics that we look for, both on and off the basketball court. He has excelled at a high level both on the court and in the classroom. From the first time we saw him, Steven has continued to grow and develop as a player. He has a great feel for the game and he will be able to utilize all those skills as he continues to develop. Steven has the ability to score both inside and out, which will add him to a long list of big men who have come through this program over the years. We are excited to add Steven to the Badger basketball family.”

Jordan Davis Signs National Letter of Intent with Wisconsin Basketball

Jordan Davis is the latest 2020 member to sign his letter of intent to play basketball for Greg Gard.

Jordan Davis

6’4″, 185, guard, La Crosse, Wis. (Central)

After receiving his offer in early June it didn’t take long for Davis and his brother Jonathan to commit to Wisconsin as they added their names to the 2020 class on the same day in June. Jordan Davis made it official on Wednesday by signing his letter of intent to play for his home state Badgers along with his brother Jonathan.

All five players in Wisconsin’s 2020 recruiting class can bring something to the table. For Jordan his defensive game is ahead of his offensive game. Although Jordan will likely redshirt his first year on campus due to the depth at the guard position will allow for Jordan to continue to develop his offensive game while continuing to add strength.

Note: All quotes/stats provided by uwbadgers.com

Davis chose Wisconsin over other offers from: UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee, UNLV

Davis Accolades: Three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals … as a junior, averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals per game at La Crosse Central, earning first-team all-conference honors and named the team’s defensive player of the year … his sophomore season, averaged 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals per game, garnering first-team all-conference honors … along with brother, Johnny, helped lead Central to the WIAA Division 2 state tournament each of their three years on the varsity team, including a title in 2017 with current Badger Kobe King … on the football field, Davis is also an impressive wide receiver for the Red Raiders, posting 358 receiving yards with 5 TDs through three games before suffering a season-ending injury … hauled in 49 receptions for 873 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior.

Gard on Davis: “We are thrilled to welcome Jordan to our program.  His commitment and work ethic on the basketball court and in the classroom is exactly what we look for in a Wisconsin student-athlete. Jordan brings a certain level of toughness to the basketball court that has been developed on the football field as a star receiver. He comes from a winning culture at La Crosse Central and knows what it takes to compete for championships. He has known Badger Basketball his entire life and his commitment shows how much pride he has in representing Wisconsin.”

Top remaining targets for Wisconsin in the class of 2021

With the all of the members of the 2020 recruiting class signed, here’s a look at Wisconsin’s top remaining targets in the class of 2021.

Wisconsin has officially secured its five scholarship commits in the class of 2020, as Ben Carlson, Johnny and Jordan Davis, Lorne Bowman, and Steven Crowl all put pen to paper and signed their letters of intent to play for Greg Gard on the first day of the early signing period yesterday.

As it has been a while now, all eyes are now on the 2021 class, where the Badgers are off to a fantastic start early on with commitments from Matthew Mors, Chris Hodges, and Chucky Hepburn. However, the staff is looking to add at least one and possibly even two more prospects to this class.

Here the top three remaining targets on Wisconsin’s board.

1. Julian Roper – Shooting Guard

Hometown: Franklin, Mich.

Rankings (per the 247Sports composite): 4-star (No. 36 SG, No. 152 overall)

Other offers: Northwestern, Alabama, DePaul, Illinois, Iowa, Miami (Ohio), Missouri, Ohio State and Toledo

Wisconsin has been a major player in Roper’s recruitment since extending an offer to the 6-3, 183-pound prospect in February, to the point where the Badgers could very well be the favorite as things stand today.

An athletic, high-upside guard who can slash to the basket and knock down shots from outside, Wisconsin doesn’t have players like Roper in its backcourt very often, and Gard and company have heavily prioritized him as a result. Additionally, it certainly doesn’t hurt the Badgers’ chances that they have Bowman, a high school teammate of Roper, in his ear about continuing their partnership in the backcourt at the next level.

Wisconsin is in such good shape here that many Badger fans felt there was a possibility Roper would pull the trigger and commit during his official visit last weekend, though that ultimately did not come to pass.

While Wisconsin has been trending in Roper’s recruitment, if it isn’t able to lock him down before the start of the AAU season in the spring, the competition is likely to ramp up significantly given his talent and the fact that he plays on the high-profile Nike EYBL circuit. Keep a particularly close eye on what in-state powers Michigan and Michigan State do here, as the Wolverines and the Spartans remain in play even though offers haven’t been extended.

2. Logan Duncomb – Center

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

Rankings (per the 247Sports composite): 4-star (No. 15 C, No. 123 overall)

Other offers: Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Miami (Ohio), Winthrop and Xavier

Wisconsin already has a couple of frontcourt prospects committed in Mors and Hodges, but the staff wouldn’t mind adding a center to this class as well.

The Badgers have offered two 4-star recruits at the position in Duncomb and Jackson Grant (Olympia, Wash.), but the latter is off the board after committing to Washington last week. However, the good news is that Wisconsin appears to be sitting in a pretty good position for Duncomb at the moment.

The 6-9, 225-pound center has the typical skill set that the Badgers love to have in their system with his versatile, inside out offensive package, so it’s no surprise that Duncomb has become a priority target for the staff.

As with Roper, the Badgers were able to snag a crucial official visit from Duncomb in October.

An Iowa legacy, the Hawkeyes are a major factor in the recruitment as well, and Wisconsin is also facing stiff competition from Indiana and Ohio State at the moment.

3. Patrick Baldwin Jr. – Small Forward

Hometown: Sussex, Wis.

Rankings (per the 247Sports composite): 5-star (No. 2 overall)

Other offers: Duke, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Marquette, North Carolina, Northwestern, Arizona State, DePaul, Iowa, Kansas State, LSU, Minnesota, Missouri, UCLA, UNLV, USC, Wake Forest and UW-Milwaukee

Baldwin could give 2020 Duke signee Jalen Johnson a run for his money as the best player to ever come out of the state by the time his prep career is over.

There’s also a strong case to be made that the 6-8 forward is the nation’s best player in the class of 2021 with his package of excellent positional size and length, lights-out shooting, athleticism, intangibles and advanced skill set. Baldwin will almost certainly be a one-and-done prospect for whichever college program is fortunate enough to secure his services for a season, and we could potentially be talking about a lottery selection in the NBA draft if all goes according to plan.

As a result, it’s no surprise that Baldwin is being heavily pursued by teams that make up the royalty of college basketball, such as Duke, Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina. The Blue Devils, in particular, appear to be out in front to land the best prospect in Wisconsin for the second straight season as things stand today.

While the chances of Baldwin ending up in Madison are incredibly slim, don’t be surprised if the Badgers hang around in this recruitment for a while given the proximity to home and a longstanding relationship between assistant coach Howard Moore and his father, UW-Milwaukee head coach Patrick Baldwin.

Ben Carlson Signs National Letter of Intent with Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard recieved Ben Carlson’s letter of intent on Wednesday as part of the Badgers five man 2020 recruiting class.

Ben Carlson

6’9″, 205, forward, Woodbury, Minn. (East Ridge)

Carlson made his commitment to Wisconsin in September making him the last member of the 2020 class. On Wednesday Carlson made it official by signing his letter of intent to play for the Badgers.

Carlson skillset certainly fits well for Wisconsin as he’s able to score around the basket in addition to stretching the floor. With basketball becoming more positionless the ability to have a forward who’s able to attack opposing defenses in a multitude of ways will only help Wisconsin and is one of the reasons why Carlson is ranked No. 88 in the ESPN 100.

Note: All quotes/stats provided by uwbadgers.com

Carlson chose Wisconsin over other offers from: Colorado, Creighton, Davidson, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, Stanford, and Xavier

Carlson’s Accolades: Four-star recruit by ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals … ranked No. 88 in the ESPN 100 for 2020 … Carlson currently has 1,299 career points, 745 career rebounds, 109 career blocks, 115 career assists and 83 career steals, making him the top rebounder and shot blocker in East Ridge High School history … as a junior, led East Ridge to the Minnesota Class AA state tournament while averaging a double-double (16 ppg, 11.3 rpg) … two-time all-SEC conference player … an AP scholar with honor, Carlson is a member of National Honors Society with a 4.1 GPA.

Gard on Carlson: “We are very excited to add Ben to our program. His commitment to academic excellence is extremely impressive, even on a national level. He has challenged himself year in and year out to become as well rounded a student as possible and he’s looking forward to continuing to develop at our prestigious university. On the court, Ben has a tremendously diverse skillset that should ultimately allow him to be effective in the post, off the dribble and from the perimeter as a shooter. His skills, combined with his great athletic ability, has us excited to begin working with Ben to help him reach his goals as a Badger.”

Jonathan Davis Signs National Letter of Intent with Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin Head Coach Greg Gard received Jonathan Davis letter of intent on Wednesday as Davis is a part of a five-man 2020 recruiting class.

Jonathan Davis

6’4″, 185, guard, La Crosse, Wis. (Central)

Davis held a Wisconsin offer since December of 2017 but he didn’t verbally commit to play for the Badgers until June of 2019. Davis officially became a Badger on Wednesday when he faxed in his letter of intent to play for his home state Badgers.

There were many aspects about Davis’ game that Greg Gard was drawn to but Gard appreciates and enjoys recruiting players who have played multiple sports in high school and Davis certainly fits that bill. Outside of being a standout basketball player, Davis has also excelled on the football field as he has served as La Crosse Central’s starting quarterback. The competitive nature that Davis has developed playing both football and basketball will certainly serve him well when he enrolls at Wisconsin.

Note: All quotes/stats provided by uwbadgers.com

Davis chose Wisconsin over other offers from: DePaul, UW-Green Bay, Iowa, UW-Milwaukee, Minnesota, Northern Iowa, UNLV, and West Virginia

Davis Accolades: Four-star recruit by Rivals … conference player of the year averaged 23 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists per game as a junior for La Crosse Central, earning unanimous first-team all-state selection and first-team all-conference honors … La Crosse Tribune Coulee Region Player of the Year in 2018-19 … as a sophomore, averaged 22.7 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists per game and earned first-team all-conference and first-team all-state honors … along with brother, Jordan, helped lead Central to the WIAA Division 2 state tournament each of their three years on the varsity team, winning the state title in 2017 with current Badger Kobe King … on the football field, Davis is also a standout three-year starter at quarterback, passing for 6,572 yards and 56 touchdowns, while rushing for more than 2,000 yards and scoring another 34 touchdowns on the ground.

Gard on Davis: “Johnny is the ultimate competitor. He’s proven that on the basketball court, on the football field and in the classroom. Johnny’s ability to play and guard multiple positions is extremely valuable in today’s game. He brings a tremendous toughness and competitive spirit to both ends of the floor. His experiences as a high school quarterback will serve him well as he makes the transition to a collegiate basketball player. He has grown up watching Wisconsin Basketball and takes pride in wearing our colors. We’re excited to get to work with him and to help him reach his potential as a Badger in the years to come.”

Lorne Bowman Signs National Letter of Intent with Wisconsin Basketball

Lorne Bowman becomes the latest member in the 2020 recruiting class to sign his letter of intent to play for the Wisconsin Badgers.

Lorne Bowman

6’2″, 180, guard, Detroit, Mich. (St. Mary’s)

Bowman became the first commit in Wisconsin’s 2020 recruiting class when he made his verbal commitment to Wisconsin in November of 2018. Bowman made it official on Wednesday by signing his letter of intent to play for Wisconsin.

The Badgers are getting a talented playmaker who is able to not only create shots for himself but also for his teammates. Despite D’Mitrik Trice, Brad Davison, and Trevor Anderson being ahead of Bowman when he arrives on campus the trio will all be seniors. There may not be many minutes available to Bowman in his first year but it could be beneficial to him to see the floor as a true freshman to gain some valuable experience before he officially takes over once Trice, Davison, and Anderson have exhausted their eligibility.

Note: All quotes/stats provided by uwbadgers.com.

Bowman chose Wisconsin over other offers from: Iowa, Nebraska, Buffalo, Oakland, Toledo, and Valparaiso

Bowman’s Accolades: Four-star recruit by ESPN … ranked No. 94 in the ESPN 100 for 2020 … standout at St. Mary’s High School is a two-time Class A All-State honoree in Michigan, earning first-team honors in 2019 and honorable mention in 2018 … averaged 23.1 points and 5.1 assists per game during his junior season … averaged 22.5 points and 4.9 assists per game as a sophomore … in AAU, member of EYBL where he excelled at the Nike circuit, averaging 13.5 points and 3.6 assists through his first six games.

Gard on Bowman: “We are ecstatic to have Lorne join our Badger family. He’s the ultimate competitor, both on the court and in the classroom, and we can’t wait to begin working with him. It was evident early on that Lorne is exactly what we look for and he’s only continued to improve. Lorne plays at his own pace, always under control, giving his team whatever it needs in the right moments with a skillset that can turn from scoring guard to playmaker in an instant. He has a great ability to get the ball where it needs to be and can also create shots with his tremendous pull-up game. Lorne displays natural leadership, both by his extreme work ethic and also through his communication on and off the court.  Lorne and his family are a pleasure to be around and represent everything that being a Badger is about.”

 

Game Day Grades – Wisconsin vs. McNeese State

Grading the Wisconsin Badgers basketball performance against McNeese State.

Offense: B

Wisconsin’s offense in the second half was much improved compared to the first half. For starters, Wisconsin shot 60.7 percent (17-for-28) from the field over the final 20 minutes compared to shooting 44.4 percent (12-for-27) in the first half.

The Badgers were able to generate looks for themselves in the first half that simply didn’t fall, compared to the second half. The one constant, though, was the Badgers were able to consistently set their shots up by registering an assist as Wisconsin registered 19 assists on their 29 made field goals.

Eight different players for Wisconsin registered an assist and seven of the eight registered at least two. Trevor Anderson led the way with four assists off the bench as he played 13 minutes.

Wisconsin did well at generating points in the paint in the second half as 16 of Wisconsin’s 30 points in the paint came in the second half. Although Wisconsin finished the game with 30 points down low, the Badgers were able to do most of that damage without Nate Reuvers. Reuvers dealt with foul trouble throughout the game as he finished with four fouls in 21 minutes on the court.

Reuvers still finished the game with 10 points as he was one of four Badgers to reach double figures. Brad Davison led the way with 24 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the field, Aleem Ford finished with 16 points, and Brevin Pritzl had 13 points.

Defense: B

Wisconsin’s defense in the first half against McNeese State wasn’t very good, as the Badgers allowed the Cowboys to shoot 45.5 percent (10-for-22) from the field.

In particular, Wisconsin’s defense didn’t have an answer for Sha’Markus Kennedy, as the Badgers allowed him to score 18 points in the first half alone. But the Badgers defense was able to tighten in the second half defending him as he only scored two points on 1-for-2 shooting from the field in the second half.

With Wisconsin limiting Kennedy in the second half and making sure he couldn’t gain the same kind of comfort, he was forced to try and set up one of his teammates on offense. Kennedy finished the game with three assists all coming in the second half as he was one of three players for McNeese State to finish the game with three assists.

A.J. Lawson was the only other player for McNeese State to finish the game in double figures with 10 as the Cowboys finished the game 21-for-45 (46.7 percent) from the field.

Although Lawson did reach double figures he did struggle taking care of the basketball as he finished with six of the Cowboys 18 turnovers. With Wisconsin creating such a high amount of turnovers against McNeese State the Badgers did an excellent job of capitalizing their mistakes into 30 points.

Wisconsin was able to register 10 of McNeese State’s 18 turnovers off of steals.

Overall: B

Wisconsin didn’t play a great first half as the Badgers were only up by three at halftime. Wisconsin was able to get on track and officially put the game away in the second half when the Badgers went 13-for-15 from the field over the first 10 minutes of the second half including making 10 straight field goals over that stretch to put the Badgers up 71-to-52.

During Wisconsin’s hot streak a number of players contributed as Ford scored 10 points, Pritzl had seven points, Davison registered six points, and D’Mitrik Trice chipped in with two points.

In the stretch where Wisconsin made 10 straight of their shot attempts it also included the Badgers knocking down all four of their 3-point attempts. It was good for Wisconsin to finally see the three falls for them considering their struggles from the perimeter to begin the season. The struggles from the perimeter continued in the first half as Wisconsin went 3-for-13 but in the second half, it seemed like they couldn’t miss as they went 7-for-15.

Five different players for Wisconsin made at least one three and four of the five made at least two of their 3-point attempts. Walt McGrory was one of the five players to make a three as he finished the game with a career high nine points. McGrory was able to provide a spark for Wisconsin off the bench in the first half as he finished the game with two rebounds, two assists to one turnover in 24 minutes on the floor.

Wahl played a bench high 26 minutes and in his time on the floor, he was productive on both ends. Wahl finished the game with three points on 1-for-2 shooting from the field but he also registered three rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Game MVP: Brad Davison

Davison certainly had his shot falling as he finished with a season high 24 points on an impressive 7-for-8 shooting from the field and 3-for-4 from 3-point range. In addition, Davison went 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Davison was able to set up his teammates as he finished the game with two assists and registered three rebounds. Not to mention with McNeese State struggling to take care of the basketball it wasn’t surprising to see Davison contributing in creating those extra offensive possessions as he had a team high four steals.