You might get tired of reading the same — or at least, similar — themes in the coverage of the Wisconsin Badgers’ basketball season. Yet, if you have ever taken a class in sports journalism, you know that this business involves saying the same things over the course of a season. The trick in this profession is to try to use fresh language or an original perspective (if not both) in the attempt to convey familiar themes and describe enduring realities in a team’s journey from November to March (or in football, late August to early January).
One theme we have repeated a lot at Badgers Wire in recent weeks is the penchant for Wisconsin to have only two double-figure scorers per game, and for the need to create at least three double-figure scorers per game. We hit on this after the Illinois loss. We noted that Wisconsin did generate three double-figure scorers against Penn State, but that the second- and third-leading scorers had just 11 and 10 points.
Guess what? Against Maryland, Wisconsin once again produced three double-figure scorers, but this time, the second- and third-leading scorers both had 14 points. Three scorers posted at least 14 on the board for the Badgers. That is better than what we have seen in the Badgers’ previous 16 games, adjusted to the level of competition. (In other words, we’re not focused on cupcake games, just the formidable opponents.)
The point being made here is not just about the need to have more players contributing, which everyone can readily understand. The more precise lesson to take away from the Maryland win is that with three effective offensive threats, not two, it was harder for the Terrapins and coach Mark Turgeon to defend the Badgers at the very end.
Who was going to get the ball for Wisconsin? Brad Davison would up taking and making the winning shot, but Nate Reuvers had to be considered. From more options come more problems for the opposition. From more diversity comes more leverage in late-game situations.
I promise not to harp on this theme more than necessary, but on a team without a dominant “takeover” player — a cutthroat superstar who stops everyone else and says, “This is MY game; climb aboard!” — Wisconsin needs more diverse scoring production.
The next frontier: four double-figure scorers per game. Let’s see if the Badgers can get there. They will be even tougher to defend late in games.