Five Things We Learned from Wisconsin's exhibition win over UW-Stout
With the regular season looming, BadgerBlitz.com took away five things from Wisconsin's final exhibition contest of 2017.
MADISON, Wis. - The 2017-18 Wisconsin Men's Basketball team finished their final exhibition game of 2017 against UW-Stout on Sunday afternoon, overpowering the Blue Devils, 85 -56. With the 2017 regular season just five days away, it is only fitting BadgerBlitz.com presents the last Five Things of the preseason.
1. King of the Court
True freshman guard Kobe King was a key contributor once again, posting a team-high 17 points against UW-Stout on Sunday. Additionally, he finished 6-of-9 from the field, dished three assists and recorded three rebounds.
Specifically, at the end of the first half, he led the team with 11 points, with teammates Brad Davison (10) and Khalil Iverson (9) behind him.
Additionally, King put his size to use against the smaller Blue Devils' defenders. On offense, he twisted and turned to sneak past players for easy baskets.
I’ll say it again: King should start by the end of the year if his recent performance translates to regular-season games.
2. Passing the Eye Test?
The Badgers turned the ball over 11 times against the Blue Devils and there were times when head coach Greg Gard was forced to call timeouts to bring his offense back together. Often, UW made sloppy plays when the Devils revealed full court press and half-court press.
“It [half-court and full-court defensive schemes] can be extremely effective,” said UW-Stout head coach Eddie Andrist. “But, when we played bad, it showed.”
Many offensive players were too far down the court, forcing starting point guard Brad Davison to dish the ball to fellow teammate Ethan Happ. This only made things worse, as Happ often picked up his dribble and was forced to deal with the flailing Stout defenders below him. In total, the points still appeared on the board, but it was not without a headache, as Gard was frequently seen upset during offensive attacks.
3. Quick to Deal
Against UW-Stout, the Badgers rarely utilized their 30-second shot clock. The Wisconsin offense averaged just 14 seconds per possession, but this short time did not faze them. The team averaged .895 points per possession. Yet, there is still room to improve, but shooting 50 percent from the field is a good start before the season.
4. Extra Tricks (and decisions) up his Sleeve
After last week’s game against Northern Iowa, Gard admitted he was still working out a final starting five. No matter who starts the regular season, Gard shouldn’t lose sleep over his final lineup because his bench came up big on Sunday, scoring 42 of the team’s 85 total points.
Consequently, the in-game horns were loud and plentiful on Sunday, as Gard called substitutions frequently against UW-Stout. When the starters were out, Gard mixed and matched numerous lineups. There were rosters of all shapes and sizes but shows the trust Gard has for his players.
5. Size ‘Em Up
The 2017 Badgers feature nine players at 6-foot-5 or above. Against the Blue Devils, height was a serious advantage for Wisconsin and decisive in the offensive efficiency. Wisconsin out-rebounded UW-Stout 42-24 in total rebounds and 28-20 in defensive rebounds.
Sunday, junior forward Andy Van Vliet led the way and snagged seven boards. His 7-foot frame - tallest on the Badgers' roster - not only stood out but stood tall Sunday afternoon. Come the regular season, the Badgers should rely on tall players like Van Vliet and Happ (6-foot-10) to provide post-scoring when the mid-range and outside shots aren’t falling.
