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Arizona Vs Wisconsin 🏀 Game Preview/Discussion Thread 12/9/23 At 115pm ESPN
Playing its first game as the No. 1 team in the country, the Arizona Wildcats will play host to No. 23 Wisconsin Badgers at the McKale Center on Saturday, with tip-off scheduled for 1:15 p.m. MST on ESPN with Dave Pasch and Jay Bilas. The Wildcats have started the season 7-0 and have two wins over Top 25 opponents on their ledger already this season while the Badgers are 7-2 and have won six games in a row.
Wisconsin Just Continues to Win
Wisconsin has found a whole lot of success heading into this game and they have had some big wins this season. Just two games ago they beat Marquette 75-64 and in the last game against Michigan State they won 70-57. AJ Storr was the top player for Wisconsin in the last game putting up 22 points and five rebounds. Wisconsin is averaging 73.6 points while their defense is giving up 63.1 points per game. AJ Storr has been the top player averaging 14.2 points while shooting 42.7 percent from the field.
Another Test for Arizona
Arizona hasn't played the toughest schedule but they do have wins already over Duke Blue Devils and Michigan State. In the last game against Colgate, Arizona scored 82 points but even better was the defense giving up only 55 points. Caleb Love did have a strong game scoring 14 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Arizona on the season is averaging 93.4 points while their defense is giving up 62.6 points per game. In this game the defense is going to need to step up in a big way to put the pressure on Wisconsin. On the season Love is averaging 13.3 points while shooting 39.5 percent from the field.
STARTING FIVE
1) For the first time in the Tommy Lloyd era, Arizona is ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 this week. Overall, it's the 38th week in program history being at the top spot and the first time since January of 2014.
2) Since arriving at Arizona prior to the 2021-22 season, Tommy Lloyd is 13-4 against AP Top 25 teams, the best winning percentage (.765) in the country.
3) Caleb Love has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.38 this season, easily ahead of his career ratio of 1.28. He also leads the team in scoring (13.3), assist (31) and steals (11).
4) Sophomore guard Kylan Boswell ranks fourth in the country in 3FG%, connecting at a 54.3% clip so far this season. He's a 43.8% 3FG shooter for his career (42 games).
5) Arizona leads the country in rebound margin (+19.1 per game), is second in scoring margin (+30.9), third in scoring (93.4) and fourth in assists per game (21.0).
SERIES VS. WISCONSIN
• Wisconsin leads the all-time series, 5-2, with the last meeting coming in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Touranment, a 85-78 Wisconsin win in Los Angeles on March 28, 2015.
• Lloyd was part of the Gonzaga coaching staff that beat Wisconsin, 74-61, on Nov. 24, 2009.
• This will be the first visit to Tucson for the Badgers. Arizona will make the return trip to Madison on Nov. 15, 2024.
• According to KenPom, Arizona plays at the 5th-fastest tempo in the country while Wisconsin's tempo ranks 343.
BDU's Free Pick
Arizona is the #1 team in the country for a reason and I think they are going take care of business at home. Wisconsin beat a very good Marquette team by nine points, and they are going to find success again here. Wisconsin's defense is going to step up and slowdown the Arizona offense and that is going to be the difference here as Wisconsin is going to get the job done. Wildcats win, but Wisconsin covers the spread here.
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Full Digital Program ⤵️
arizonawildcats.com/documents/2023/12/7/Notes-G8-Wisconsin.pdf
Arizona is favored at -8.5 and the Over/Under is 145.5
Let's talk about the Wildcats Vs Badgers!
BEARDOWN!!!
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Probably will be our toughest game of the year so far. Wisconsin will play their asses off since we're number one. Hard to get players ready for the kind of play we'll see in the first half. All shots will fall, terrifying defense. Cats could wind of behind by a lot and have to climb back into it
The game is on ESPN, not FS1
Will the McKale crowd remember just what we owe Wisky? They better show up big time for our guys on Sat.
Please, no more tall white dudes going off on us raining threes. Getting smoked by a Sam and a Frank was enough.
Bear Down boys, smash em for some payback!
Nick Johnson's "charge" is still the worst call in the history of college basketball. Screw the flopping badgers.
Quote from: Deb on December 06, 2023, 08:55:27 AMWill the McKale crowd remember just what we owe Wisky? They better show up big time for our guys on Sat.
Please, no more tall white dudes going off on us raining threes. Getting smoked by a Sam and a Frank was enough.
Bear Down boys, smash em for some payback!
Yes, they have a white Center that can hit 3's unfortunately.
The line on this game will be very close to Arizona -6.5 imo
I was impressed with his 3 point effectiveness. Overall... he appears to not be very quick or athletic. He poses a threat in shaking up opposing defenses. Wisconsin has some bright spots in their guard play. They take care of the ball. I noticed that they have a tendency to play hero ball when pressed hard on defense. Oh and good grief they travel A LOT. That's not going to favor them like it did against MSU.
Quote from: Eurozona on December 07, 2023, 09:08:15 AMQuote from: Deb on December 06, 2023, 08:55:27 AMWill the McKale crowd remember just what we owe Wisky? They better show up big time for our guys on Sat.
Please, no more tall white dudes going off on us raining threes. Getting smoked by a Sam and a Frank was enough.
Bear Down boys, smash em for some payback!
Yes, they have a white Center that can hit 3's unfortunately.
Quote from: Eurozona on December 07, 2023, 09:08:15 AMQuote from: Deb on December 06, 2023, 08:55:27 AMWill the McKale crowd remember just what we owe Wisky? They better show up big time for our guys on Sat.
Please, no more tall white dudes going off on us raining threes. Getting smoked by a Sam and a Frank was enough.
Bear Down boys, smash em for some payback!
Yes, they have a white Center that can hit 3's unfortunately.
Quote from: Eurozona on December 07, 2023, 09:08:15 AMQuote from: Deb on December 06, 2023, 08:55:27 AMWill the McKale crowd remember just what we owe Wisky? They better show up big time for our guys on Sat.
Please, no more tall white dudes going off on us raining threes. Getting smoked by a Sam and a Frank was enough.
Bear Down boys, smash em for some payback!
Yes, they have a white Center that can hit 3's unfortunately.
It's up to those who sit on their iron thrones aka the best seats in the house to show up ON TIME and create a hostile atmosphere. People who witnessed the 2 years of Wisconsin barely scraping by us in the Dance may have long passed their seats down to next of kin via back room dealings and Trusts may not be with us anymore.
I call to action, any and all who will take up vocal arms and be the force that shatters the dreams of everyone who comes hunting the #1 Ranked Team in all the land.
Fin.
Wisconsin podcast. One guy thinks they win 78-67, the other guy predicts a 10 point ARIZONA win.
They think they can out rebound the Cats slow us down. We'll see.
https://player.fm/series/the-bucky-report/wisconsin-badgers-vs-arizona-wildcats-3-big-things
The Big-10, especially Wisconsin, know how to slow down the tempo and play the most boring brand of basketball on earth.
It's definitely Gard's game plan but I can't envision them outrebounding the Cats.
It could be close if the 3-balls down fall for us.
https://uwbadgers.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2023-24
Wisconsin BB schedule this year. They are doing well and playing better ball as the season goes on. I do not think this will be an easy game, but I believe we will win it in the end because of our depth and balance.
https://twitter.com/Zona_Briggs/status/1733520392952926648
https://twitter.com/AZATHLETICS/status/1733580623863017530
Game Notes:
1. Best thing I saw was we didn't let Wisconsin play their game. In the litany of playing these type of games as the underdog, the underdog usually comes in with the mindset of giving their best punch, seeing if they can take down the Giant, and in the end if they fail, they learn something about themselves. I don't think Wisconsin learned anything. This was a "flush the deuce" game for them. For that reason, I think this was an A+ win for us. "Don't allow anyone to feel like they got better" for playing against us.
2. Caleb Love attacking the rim. It is the answer I have been looking for. Smart teams know they can't foul him because of his Free Throw shooting ability. Love and Pelle must keep attacking the rim. I was a bit surprised Pelle missed so many FT's today, but Pelle has been the most consistent at getting to the line (without being Hack-A-Ballo'ed) and I feel that is important for his style of play. The 3pt shots Pelle hits is like icing on the cake. Quietly Pelle has been a good 3pt shooter. Love is hit or miss, but his aggressiveness within the flow of the game is going to be needed.
3. Defense was good for about 60% of the game. I think we got very complacent down the stretch. 25pt win is phenomenal, but the tale of the tape says this was more like a 35pt win. I don't think hypercriticizing that is necessary. I am sure the team knows they let up a bit. When an opponent doesn't go away, we have to remember to match the intensity. I think KJ Lewis consistently is involved in the moments where games have turning points for us. Usually either a late-pull away/finish, or today he was in there making some high energy plays that really just put the final nail in the coffin for Wisconsin's hopes of any sort of comeback. I believe he played 17 minutes today. He is turning into a 6th man of sorts. I also like that Tommy isn't ignoring Bradley. Both are energy guys for this team and aren't just coming in because it is a blowout. They are on the court throughout the game. Krivas wasn't too necessary today, but I think he needs to get some more minutes.
4. Boswell is not playing at his peak performance. I think he has a lot more he can give and that is a great problem to have. He seems to be too passive once he dribbles into the arc and stops too often around the FT line to pass. If he ever bulls to the rim, he will become a major force. I would like to see him get to the line at least 3 times a game for 6 shots. That isn't too lofty of an expectation.
5. Making a lot of 3pt shots is not something I am used to seeing consistently, so when we are cooking it looks great. Just can't fall in love with the 3 early if the shots aren't there and moreover if they aren't falling. I want to see some more 3pt pump fake's with back door cuts + pass to the rim and get to the line.
Oddball Stat - Borovician got to the line for 6 attempts. Went 4-6... in 3 minutes? Weird. I'd like to see Boswell going 4-6 from the line every game. He needs to force the issue. Way too strong to not take some contact entering the lane.
We will see what this team does vs Purdue. A conventional strategy that has seen success vs Purdue is to go Smaller and Quicker. I think we have all the tools to play our style and not change too much. Just need to make sure to guard the perimeter well vs Purdue after collapsing on their version of a Moonball Lob to Yao Edey and isolate their scoring into tough contested 2's in the lane. Don't give Purdue FT's, don't get in foul trouble (Keshad). It will also be interesting to see how big "Mount" Krivas really is when next to Edey. I suspect he isn't as big as some say, but I am happy to be wrong and watch a couple of Ogres compete.
Onward and Up
Beardown
It was just a solid all around game. The passing was solid. No ugly transition turnovers (besides one sloppy lob to Ballo).
Defense was stellar. Blocked shots, running through screens and solid switching on perimeter shooters.
They boys played with intensity and if this pace of play continues, we won't lose this season (which obviously won't happen).
Next!
Quote from: arxpert on December 09, 2023, 04:15:59 PMWe will see what this team does vs Purdue. A conventional strategy that has seen success vs Purdue is to go Smaller and Quicker. I think we have all the tools to play our style and not change too much. Just need to make sure to guard the perimeter well vs Purdue after collapsing on their version of a Moonball Lob to Yao Edey and isolate their scoring into tough contested 2's in the lane. Don't give Purdue FT's, don't get in foul trouble (Keshad).
Alabama was in the driver's seat against Purdue due to a hot start, but it was pretty clear that it wasn't going to last. When 70+% of your FG attempts are threes and pretty much everybody is in foul trouble, expect to learn the hard way why you shouldn't have played that way. We can't afford to get cute and dick around with a gameplan that stupid.
Quote from: |ᴘ|ʀ|ʏ|ᴍ|ᴇ| on December 09, 2023, 08:51:44 PMQuote from: arxpert on December 09, 2023, 04:15:59 PMWe will see what this team does vs Purdue. A conventional strategy that has seen success vs Purdue is to go Smaller and Quicker. I think we have all the tools to play our style and not change too much. Just need to make sure to guard the perimeter well vs Purdue after collapsing on their version of a Moonball Lob to Yao Edey and isolate their scoring into tough contested 2's in the lane. Don't give Purdue FT's, don't get in foul trouble (Keshad).
Alabama was in the driver's seat against Purdue due to a hot start, but it was pretty clear that it wasn't going to last. When 70+% of your FG attempts are threes and pretty much everybody is in foul trouble, expect to learn the hard way why you shouldn't have played that way. We can't afford to get cute and dick around with a gameplan that stupid.
Sounds like a Nate Oats coached team. When it works, you get what happened with Buffalo vs Arizona. When the shots stop falling, good teams will take control back and push ahead. That's why March Madness is so dangerous. Any team can have 1 game.
Quote from: arxpert on December 09, 2023, 10:37:33 PMQuote from: |ᴘ|ʀ|ʏ|ᴍ|ᴇ| on December 09, 2023, 08:51:44 PMQuote from: arxpert on December 09, 2023, 04:15:59 PMWe will see what this team does vs Purdue. A conventional strategy that has seen success vs Purdue is to go Smaller and Quicker. I think we have all the tools to play our style and not change too much. Just need to make sure to guard the perimeter well vs Purdue after collapsing on their version of a Moonball Lob to Yao Edey and isolate their scoring into tough contested 2's in the lane. Don't give Purdue FT's, don't get in foul trouble (Keshad).
Alabama was in the driver's seat against Purdue due to a hot start, but it was pretty clear that it wasn't going to last. When 70+% of your FG attempts are threes and pretty much everybody is in foul trouble, expect to learn the hard way why you shouldn't have played that way. We can't afford to get cute and dick around with a gameplan that stupid.
Sounds like a Nate Oats coached team. When it works, you get what happened with Buffalo vs Arizona. When the shots stop falling, good teams will take control back and push ahead. That's why March Madness is so dangerous. Any team can have 1 game.
It was reckless and idiotic. Oats gets paid a lot to be like "dgaf bro lol". Wouldn't surprise me if they had some hot game and set a school record for most 3FGA and 3FGM. We can still withstand a fluke game like that, though, if we don't take the bait and copy them. Both teams 90+?