Wisconsin v Kentucky

Bring it..

ND provided a nice blueprint.....watch and learn and of course play well.

ND moved the ball a lot and forced Kentucky to switch and defend the perimeter.   At times Kentucky really struggled. 

Wisconsin has a lot more size than ND and they play much better D.  Assuming they don't shoot 30% from the field I like the Badgers chances.

Only twice have the same 2 teams met in a semi-final in consecutive years. Both times one team won them both. Badgers need to make history. 

Here's my biggest fear- it's going to be just like last year. Badgers execute, play great ball, and do their thing. Kentucky does what they did last year- lower their shoulder on every possession (kinda like AZ did last night) and get calls all night.

 

I simply do not think this is great basketball- drive, plow into a guy, go to the line. Drive, plow into a guy, go to the line. That's what's coming. They're going to play one on one basketball for 3/4ths of the game and that's how WI will stay in it. Then depending on how many calls go who's way, that determines the winner. Really, what AZ did and the outcome of the game should mirror each other. If KY just flies into the lane looking for calls, it should be a 8-10 UW win. The team that executes fundamental basketball with great talent should be the winner.

Tip-off time announced for Wisconsin-Kentucky. 

 

8:49 pm EST next Saturday on CBS TBS.

 

The Michigan State-Duke national semi-final will tip at 6:09 pm same evening.  

I think the games are on TBS, not CBS. 

Great Bo Ryan interview at halftime of Duke game. He was asked about Badgers low scoring and he reminded the talking heads that Badgers led the NCAA in scoring in last years tournament and they never mention that. CBS should do their homework he said.  They are very close to or may lead in scoring this year too. I LOVE BO RYAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ammo, I heard about that interview as well and good for Bo!  One mistake I think everyone makes is that they think UW is the slow and plodding team that can barely score 50.  Not this bunch and I think UK is going to be in for a battle right from the start. 

I live about an hour from Kentucky and there are UK fans everwhere here and every single one of them so far is telling me UW has no shot.  I just smile and say "underestimate Bo Ryan and his team all you want"

This tournament is down to 4 very good coaches, coach K, Izzo, Calipari, and Bo Ryan. That's a special group.

And lots of real good players.

I agree with Music City. The game may come down to how the officials handle to "put you head down like an NFL RB and drive to the hoop calls." The free throws are one thing, but the foul trouble is probably bigger.

 

I don't think Kentucky has any one player that will go to the NBA and be a superstar (Towns might be an exception but he's no Anthony Davis). I believe Kentucky does have 10 guys in the top 100 NBA prospects as ranked by ESPN. In other words, they could get their starting 5 into foul trouble and still have more talent than any team in the country in reserve.

 

The Badgers have three guys ranked in the top 100 (Kaminsky, Dekker, and Hayes) and Koenig, Gasser, and Jackson (if healthy) are all Big 10 all-conference-type college players (at least HM type). The problem is that after the top 6 it drops off quickly. Dukan is serviceable, but if Kentucky gets Wisconsin in foul trouble and Showalter or Vitto Brown have to play extended minutes against Kentucky it could get ugly.

There will be bad calls, good calls, missed calls and make up calls....there always are.  Play the game, don't reach, maintain good D position and adjust to the refereeing. 

 

The Badgers played them even last year, no reason to think they won't again.

 

Exactly.  That is what Wisconsin needs to do to win.

If the Badgers score more points I think they'll win.

Going 10/11 from way downtown....BANG! Would help too

I bet Dekker and Kaminsky combine for more than 11 FG attempts this year.

 

STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
Frank Kaminsky, F	32	4-7	0-0	0-0	4	1	5	0	0	2	1	3	8
Sam Dekker, F	25	3-4	1-2	8-8	0	4	4	1	1	1	0	2	15
Josh Gasser, G	40	1-4	0-1	0-0	0	5	5	3	1	0	0	2	2
Ben Brust, G	38	3-9	3-7	6-6	0	4	4	0	0	0	2	3	15
Traevon Jackson, G	22	4-9	1-3	3-4	0	4	4	3	1	0	2	3	12
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
Duje Dukan, F	15	3-5	2-3	0-0	2	3	5	2	0	0	0	0	8
Vitto Brown, F	1	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Nigel Hayes, F	7	1-2	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	2
Bronson Koenig, G	20	4-10

I'll bet Nigel Hayes plays more than 7 minutes too.

Hayes has become their 3rd option this year.  He's a big reason why they are in this position

No offense to Brust or Jackson but this current team is simply better

Watching the game from last year.....it was koenig's coming out party, and   they should have one that game looks to me.  So a revenge game is it?  I'm not worried about the ones and dones.  Kill'em BUCKY.

Channeling good vibes from the boys of '41, #NCAA champs. Let's go #Badgers! @BadgerMBB #MarchMadness #FinalFour pic.twitter.com/NbZvmmwr3c

— UW-Madison Archives (@UWMadArchives) April 3, 2015

There's an awful lot of discussion about where this Kentucky team would sit amongst the all-time great teams if they run the table. What no one seems willing to consider is where the BADGERS would stand in the list of all-time great teams if THEY win it all. Let's assume they beat Kentucky, Duke wins, and they win it all:

Player of the year? Check.
Great record? Check
Other Star players? Check
All-time great coach? Check
Is who they best to win it all significant? Check

They would rank right up there with Dean Smith's first championship team, the Laettner Dukies, Phi Slamma Jamma, the Larry Johnson Running Rebels, and ANY of the recent champions. The opportunity this Badger team has is to put themselves in the pantheon of all-time great teams. No question about it.

Cannot wait until tomorrow...

John Kotz spoke at my 1966 athletic banquet, still remember it 49 yrs later.  my dad and the other dads were quite impressed.

But, but, they are so white.

How about throwbacks for Monday nite?

You know if I was a conspiratist, I'd say the whistles will massage the game to stay close in the first half and the Kentucky gets the nod to try to defend the perfect record Monday.
Like the Arizona game, Bucky will have to be unreal to win. The suits are about the cabbage.
JMO.

Good job by Vito Brown already and Bucky plays the second game
Very nice quartet Vito, good job.

In addition to the national call on TBS, there will be a simultaneous Bucky-centric team stream broadcast of WIS-KY on truTV. Wayne Larrivee and Mike Kelley on the call. Great port in a storm for what will most certainly be a Calipari slurpfest by Jim Nance.

Wayne???  Why not my #6 boy friend Matt LePay???  He's the best announcer for the Badgers EVER!!!!!    

Good man, Kareem!

@kaj33: At Final Four rooting for Wisconsin http://t.co/VqfSOpdaWs

No matter what happens the last two years have been a great ride. Growing up watching lousy Badger teams in the 1980s, no one would have ever predicted Wisconsign becoming a legit elite program. 

Ditto.

 

House money. This has been a great three weekends...last years and this.

I concur!

 

F'EM BUCKY!!!

 

 

I hope Dennis Dodd is not offended at Kareem ... I believe Lew Al Condor lived less time in Wisconsin than ARod.

I agree too, win or lose what a great, great 2 yr ride with this team.
Good Luck, Go get'em and F'em Bucky !!!!

Let's go Sconnie let's go!!

The pregame television is downright nauseating.  From that woman's song to the incessant breaks to (I don't know) 5 commercials in a row to nothing but talk about Kentucky.