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.