2018-2019 B1G Basketball Thread

[847badgerfan]

Disastrous second half for the Buckeyes.  

The tiers were spot on this weekend, all six games came out as expected.  

Well at least we have that. It's been a while.

[bayareabadger]

My brain might be more confident than it should be about tomorrow. 

[bayareabadger]

So, a look at where UW sits. 

Badgers are coming off a seven game run I figured would make or break the season. They took two must-win games (NU, at Ill), then three against not-top-3 teams (at Neb, Md, at Minn) then lost to Mich/MSU. Going into the last 6, I woulda been ecstatic with 4-2, but with how the games went and some MSU stutters, I was left hoping for a little more. Damn psychology. 

Looking to the next six, UW should be favored or in tossups the rest of the way. Here’s the KenPom percentages for each, best to worst
Ill: 87
PSU: 85
Iowa: 74
At NW: 68
At IU: 62
At OSU: 56

KenPom projects 4-2. I’d be OK with that. 5-1 would be ideal and 6-0 ecstatic. 3-3 would be a little annoying, but 20 wins.

The issue is he questions. UW’s offense has lost its spirit, but that might be mainly on tow great defenses. Is ILL for real? PSU’s feistiness an issue? IU and OSU aren’t consistent. Iowa has an assassin and good offense. Not sure where to go with it. 

[MaximumSam]

I think OSU is remarkably consistent.  They will play strong defense, but their offense is stymied by turnovers and less than stellar shooters.  They were actually must more aggressive against MSU going to the basket, which although they ran out of gas is hopefully more of a sign to come.  They can get too passive in their halfcourt sets because no one is very confident in their offense.  

[bayareabadger]

I think OSU is remarkably consistent.  They will play strong defense, but their offense is stymied by turnovers and less than stellar shooters.  They were actually must more aggressive against MSU going to the basket, which although they ran out of gas is hopefully more of a sign to come.  They can get too passive in their halfcourt sets because no one is very confident in their offense.  

A. I’m trying to decide how to feel about the game at season’s end, and The run of win at IU, lose at home to Illinois, hang with MSU until getting blown out by a lineup missing a bunch of the best players doesn’t help.
B. After looking at that defense, not the most excited for UW to visit. 

[bayareabadger]

Update: Wisconsin's start is not promising 

[grillrat]

Wisconsin just scored a basket with 7:45 left in the first half, and increased their score by 33%.

[bayareabadger]

Wisconsin just scored a basket with 7:45 left in the first half, and increased their score by 33%.

Half ended better than it had any right to! 

[grillrat]

Apparently they were listening, because they scored 200% more points in the final 5 minutes.

[847badgerfan]

Griller has always been a good luck charm for the Badgers. At least going back to 2000 or so, that is.

[FearlessF]

offense seems to be the issue with this conference

[bayareabadger]

That game was bad and ugly, but Wisconsin won.

Also Happ had a bad game and sat most of the end. Kid is deep in his own head. 

[847badgerfan]

That game was bad and ugly, but Wisconsin won.

Also Happ had a bad game and sat most of the end. Kid is deep in his own head.

I agree on Happ, but it was great to see him emotionally involved and celebrating with his teammates during time outs and after the game. So, he's not pouting. That's a good thing. He just needs to get out of the funk he's in. Making ONE free throw would be huge.

[847badgerfan]

offense seems to be the issue with this conference

I think great defense has a lot to do with this.