Arizona Vs Wisconsin 🏀 Game Preview/Discussion Thread 12/9/23 At 115pm ESPN

[KansasCityCats]

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.

[Little George]

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.

[WILD]

https://twitter.com/Zona_Briggs/status/1733520392952926648

[WILD]

https://twitter.com/AZATHLETICS/status/1733580623863017530

[arxpert]

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

[KansasCityCats]

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!

[|ᴘ|ʀ|ʏ|ᴍ|ᴇ|]

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).

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.

[arxpert]

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).

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.

[|ᴘ|ʀ|ʏ|ᴍ|ᴇ|]

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).

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+?