Elite Eight Game Time

I like this matchup.....Frankie again will be key.  Someone (Gasser I would guess) needs to keep Johnson in check. Hayes played great last nite, not just scoring, he made a couple of sweet passes which to me means he is getting it. I like the fact that the long scoring droughts seem to be in the past, a lot of scorers on this team, 8 players can be counted on. A slow start cannot happen, Az is not Oregon and will not blow it.  I think this will be a very close game and the Badgers need to shoot free throws like they did against the Ducks.

 

 

Cut off penetration, get defensive rebounds, make the looks. Frighteningly simple, but it is how they got there. If they keep playing like they have, I struggle to see a better team in the tournament. Easily said, but the level of execution is so amazing I am almost confident.

Reilly has been putting out some decent articles recently. Here's another.

Two predictions:

1. The first team to 50 wins.

2. If Bucky does not score at least 70, the Wildcats win.

Wisconsin still has that major weakness with the dribble drive. If Arizona figure that out, watch out. If not, the Badgers can score on anyone.

 

BTW, if you get the chance read GOAZCATS.COM. Those suckers have convinced themselves that Bo is the worst coach left in the tourney. It is adorable.

The AZ Cats website is pretty entertaining but it's typical of a lot of the rubes that follow AZ basketball.  

 

I'm still trying to figure out how their fans think that San Diego State is a better or tougher matchup than Wisconsin?   Or that they are prepared to play UW because they've already played Gonzaga?

 

We've seen this many times before in that a one and done scenario the more talented team doesn't always win.  AZ has and usually does have premier athletes because they have top 10 recruiting classes every year.  I also think Sean Miller is a pretty decent coach.   But Wisconsin has grit and toughness and their poise this year has been off the charts.   I doubt they will get rattled or overwhelmed or phased by the Wildcats and that alone bodes well for the Badgers.   This is a seasoned, confident group and unless they come out and turn the ball over like crazy or get into a lot of foul trouble I fully expect UW to give Arizona a game and have a chance to win.   People forget Baylor has a lot of good athletes too and the Badgers picked them apart by frustrating the hell out the Bears on both ends of the court.  That should continue in this game.

there are no easy games at this point

March madness renamed to.......Big Ten Redux.

Three teams in the Elite 8 out of the Big 10.  A pretty strong set of evidence has been laid out regarding the best conference.  None of them are flukes/Cinderellas making a run, either - these were the three best teams in the conference through the season.  

more crazy would be for 3 of the Final Four teams being from the Big Ten.

 

Doable. 

 

Arizona favored by 3, national pundits love the athleticism, dribbling and rebounding skills of the Wildcats.  Badgers by 3. 

Charles Barkley changed his pick from Arizona to Wisconsin.  He says the Badgers pass the Eye Test.

Couldn't have had a worse start. 2 missed layups, 2 TOs.

Badgers came out with a bit of the yips. They should settle down and be fine.

Jesus guys... Relax!

Not getting any calls at all

'Zona getting away with a lot of little bumps, but the Badgers getting ticky tack fouls. When the Badgers drive the defenders are bumping them- that's a foul.

Bo gets t'd up ??? Wtf...

They have to keep going to Hayes down low.

Yeah, Hayes seems to usually make something good happen.

 

Hayes better watch that elbow... He's going to get called one of these times...

Man, the second to last basket for Arizona, that guy seemed to be in the 3 second area for a loooong time.

They are not executing at all on O tonight. Zona has taken them out in a similar way as MSU did in the BTT. And they're getting just enough scoring for now. But Dekker, Gasser, and Brust need to step up.

What's up with Gasser. He has been so good this year. Two missed bunnys and an air ball on an open 3. Also struggled against Baylor.

Man the Badgers sure aren't getting any love from the refs.  That was a bull**** call in the land to bail out Arizona

Wisconsin getting jobbed  so far by the refs.

That's a horrible call on Kaminsky...

another terrible call

Arizona getting away with a lot of contact

apparently two feet on the floor  and  not moving is now a block

What a horrible call.  Just terrible.

The offensive player initiated the contact.  That should have been an easy charge

Both calls on Kaminsky where terrible calls

Dekker seems to have lost confidence. 

Well- that's down 3 and they played tight the first ten minutes, then got a little frustrated later. Down 3 and they can play a lot better in the second half. Good D, good rebounding. Make a few of those layups and we're in business.

Dekker is absolutely playing scared. They need to tell him to start playing aggressive and things will get better for everyone.

no surprise to anyone, but stripes is loco tonight.  Not sure what call was worse, not calling the chard on Frank (guy just threw his shoulder into Frank, that should have been easy) or the call on Arizona when Nigel hooked him in the back.  Simply a terrible make up call.

 

Trae is the player of the game so far.  He got his dribble off the foot out of the way right away, then played really well.  He probably should drive off some kind of screen every play.  Continue to feed Nigel and Frank in the post and make this thing happen.

 

Arizona plays insane defense,  They react quicker than anyone I've seen this year.  There is nothing on the perimeter. 

Winnable game.

 

Refs suck as per usual.