The Wisconsin Badgers’ improved run of form in recent weeks has acquired many different dimensions. It isn’t just one facet of play which has improved; everything about this team has improved in the process of forging a four-game winning streak and five wins in six games, two progressions which have put UW fairly safely into the NCAA Tournament, very nearly a lock as we head into the final few days of February.
One of the dimensions of competition in which the Badgers have grown over the past three weeks: many more assists and a lot fewer turnovers, with very consistent low-turnover numbers, which is conspicuously better than a lower overall average which still has some occasionally high single-game turnover counts:
#Badgers D'Mitrik Trice in last 11 B1G games has 61 assists (5.5 per game) and 21 turnovers (1.9 per game).
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) February 23, 2020
Another number that illustrates #Badgers' growth: UW had at least 12 turnovers in 6 of first 10 games, including 4 games w/14 or more. Since then, UW has one game of more than 11 turnovers (Rider) and 10 games of single-digit turnovers.
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) February 24, 2020
#Badgers' ball movement/passing has been outstanding — 62 assists on 98 FGs in last 4 games. Go to 3:18 mark 2C Trice dribble right to draw 2 defenders; Potter prep for a 3; but then hit Ford when he sees Harper Jr. come out too far. https://t.co/9BfjCp0tOI
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) February 24, 2020
The play of D’Mitrik Trice has been a central engine for the Wisconsin offense in this period of time, but it also has to be said that the emergence of three different players — Aleem Ford, Brevin Pritzl, and Micah Potter — has been a catalyst for Wisconsin’s noticeably superior offense, which is now posting scoring totals in the 70s against non-Nebraska opponents. It was one thing when the Badgers torched Nebraska a few times, but they are scoring well against Purdue and Rutgers. They also scored in the 70s against Ohio State on Feb. 9. That win over the Buckeyes looks better and better, given how well OSU has played in recent weeks, specifically in its defeat of Big Ten-leading Maryland this past Sunday.
Wisconsin’s offense had a ceiling of roughly 60 points in most of the first 20 games of the season, but the Badgers have now raised their ceiling into the 70s. It can legitimately be said that UW has raised its ceiling because it is generating this increased scoring output regularly, not just against tomato-can opponents such as Nebraska.
More assists, fewer turnovers. Trice dishing, yes, but Potter, Ford and Pritzl are also finishing the plays Wisconsin didn’t finish as often earlier in the season. Assists are products not only of good passing, but of made shots. On both sides of this equation, the Badgers have found a new and better standard of performance. Let’s see how much longer they can sustain it.