It is not often I write about anything that is not NBA related. The reasoning is I do not feel like I have a grasp on college basketball especially compared to the NBA. But one thing that I have come to figure out about the college game is Wisconsin Badgers are fucking predictable. Year in, year out, Badgers head coach Bo Ryan will know as the shirts say in Madison. And Bo will know that his fundamental, slow style of basketball will throw a wrench in current basketball systems and win games for his program. It is a respectful way to play basketball, and all in all, a successful one. Few coaches have had greater success than Ryan, at any level.This year, the Badgers have raced out to stunning 13-0 and are currently ranked 4th nationally. They are rolling. An expected 8-0 at home, and this year things just seem a little different in Madison. Let me show you the differences I see in this team in list format:
1.) Trustworthiness. The first thing about this team that jumps out to me as superior to previous Ryan led teams, is that I pretty much trust four of the five starters on the court to make the right play all the time. I have seen things from both Josh Gasser and Ben Brust in years past to show they know what is going on. Frank Kaminsky is legit. That dude scored 43 points in a game. Which is incredible in and of itself and also, he can be called Frank the Tank which has to render useful all the time. And of course Sam Dekker. In March, the wealth of playmakers should pay dividends.
2.) More Things Sam Dekker. He is super legit. He will be the first Badger to get significant NBA minutes since Devin Harris. Which is a breath of fresh air in Badgerland. For the season he is averaging 14.5 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game. He can finish around the rim because of his lengthy 6’ 8” frame, and can shoot from distance. He can shoot and soar. Everything I cannot do myself. To make a generic NBA comparison like short Caucasian wide receivers to Wes Welker, I think there is no doubt he will be on par with both Chandler Parson and Gordan Hayward. Or basically the only two white 6’ 8” wings that can shoot, finish, and pass[1]. To make a cross-racial comparison, I think he can be a lot like Loul Deng. However, he will never become the defender that Deng is. Comparisons aside, Dekker is a legit college basketball star.
3.) Ability to play two styles of ball. Already the Badgers have scored 80+ points five different times. The total already matches the 80-point games produced last year, and there is more than half the season to play. They can win in a shootout. We have shooters everywhere, and of course, Dekker. But that is not to say this will not be a team that cannot buckle down and win the game with defense either. We are still the Wisconsin Badgers after all.
The facts above show this team is indeed seemingly more dangerous than Badger teams of years past, I still see some similarities that could be a concern moving forward (again I will put them in list format:
1.) The Bench. Depth in college basketball in critical, because you never know when the perils of playing on the road or young players making stupid decisions will strike and leave your team banking on a redshirt sophomore that has played an average of six minutes a game to play pivotal crunch-time minutes. And right now, the Badgers bench to me is a little suspect. While the freshmen (Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes) are intriguing, they are still freshman and I am not going to say they have looked like anything until they have played in some Big Ten slugfests.
2.) Cupcakes. Bo Ryan needs to step out his comfort zone and schedule some real games the first month of the season. One thing that can be counted on more than Aaron Rodgers beating Jay Cutler, is that Bo Ryan will not schedule anyone worth a damn before the Big Ten season. It is my opinion that this is costing Wisconsin wins in March. Other programs, most specifically Michigan State, schedule games against other top programs on neutral sites, to introduce the kids to the limelight. Bo, not only will not leave home, but also consistently schedules no one of significance. I cannot figure out what good playing against Prairie View A&M does for this team. That is essentially a waste of an opportunity to get better. I would much rather get spanked by Arizona on the road and learn something about my team, than play against PVA&M at home. Bo grow some Kahuna’s please.
There is no doubt that this is a good Badger team. They will be a 4-seed or better. But I’m excited to see this team take on the Big Ten. We will learn a ton about who Wisconsin really are then. First big test for the Badgers is against Iowa on January 5th. Hopefully Bo has ‘em buckled up.
As always Go Packers,
~Andrew
[1] If he grows out his hair and gets a terrible back tattoo of a dragon or bird, then he does have the potential to be Andrei Kirilenko.
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