Marquette @ (8) Wisconsin

Barring a complete choke job looks like UW is going to win this one.

 

Nice effort today on the boards and unlike a few previous games against Marquette the guards haven't turned the ball over like crazy.  

 

This is a pretty good and complete Wisconsin team and the backcourt advantage in this game is pretty obvious.  Not sure the last time I could say that between these two teams.   Hopefully that will serve the Badgers well come tournament time.

20 of 24 on free throws E-K-B!!!! All in all a very good win.  Foul trouble early led to several minutes for Evan Anderson.   But the Badgers committed only 6 fouls in the 2nd half.

Didn't get to see the game, but the recap showed a big day for Dekker. Another strong statement made by this promising core of JRs and SOs... Great start to this season!

That was a fun game to watch.

So, I find Trae Jackson really frustrating.  He has the ugliest shot in the NCAA (which he hits .355, .409 from three), turns the ball over to much (this might have some merit, but his 2.1 is exactly the same as last year, assists are up to 4 and a half a game) and is a liability all around (cept he is getting over 5 boards, 11 points and steal a game).  It took a little work, but turn out Trae leads this Badger team in +/-, so when they said today this Badger team plays better when he is on the court, they weren't just talking out of their ass. 

 

I'll take the frustrating plays, the team plays better when he is on the court. 

I don't think you can underestimate how well Brust and Gasser are playing as well.   Both guys are shooting well over 40% from 3pt range and that's forcing teams to defend the perimeter more so Jackson can open things up driving to the hoop.

 

Defenses can't just key on one or two guys anymore and that helps out everyone offensively because UW can then play the matchups and draw up plays that work to their advantage.

 

The other factor working for them is that Koenig is sort of the anti-Jackson in that he's very controlled, passes and rebounds very well, and is a great complimentary guy off the bench.   That helps matters too.

 

 

Frank the Tank is also the anti-Berggren. Not a great athlete, but fundamentally sound and a truer shooter. His emergence also opens up the lane- you leave him alive, you're going to pay. He's also developing as a solid help defender.

This group is coming together nicely. Koenig is rising to be a really good back up PG. The other Freshmen are contributing here and there.

Bo has a shot with these guys...

I think Frank is a fine athlete.  His post moves are about as athletic as I've seen since Wilk.  You are exactly right about the defense, he's really improved there.