Wisconsin Badgers
Big Ten Conference (23-8, 13-5)
Seed: #
East Region
Big Wins: 12/2 Duke (73-69), 12/31 Ohio State (65-43), 1/9 Purdue (73-66)
Bad Losses: 12/9 at Green Bay (84-88), 2/9 Illinois (56-63), 2/18 at Minnesota (52-68)
Last NCAA Appearance: 2009, Second Round loss to Xavier
Coach: Bo Ryan (11-8 in 8 NCAA appearances)
Why They Can Surprise:
Wisconsin wins games the way they always have under Bo Ryan. They play solid defense, take care of the ball and have some big guys who can shoot. But every year it is the backcourt that controls the tempo and this year it is Trevon Hughes’ turn. The 6-0 senior has committed a few more turnovers than one would like to see from a Badger guard, but he makes up for it with his stellar defense and his consistent scoring. Hughes is a fine outside shooter, but he is one of the few players on the team that can attack the basket and create his own shot.
Hughes has plenty of help on the perimeter. Jason Bohannon is not the model of consistency, but he is shooting an impressive 40.2 percent from long range and is one of Wisconsin’s best scoring options. When his shot is falling, Bohannon can explode, like he did against Indiana when scored 30 points. When Jon Leuer went out with an injury, Jordan Taylor stepped into the starting lineup. While that made this team smaller, it propelled Taylor as a future star. Taylor finished the season averaging 10.2 points, 3.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds. The 6-1 sophomore even leads the team in assists and that has allowed Hughes to spend more time off the ball and be a more effective scorer.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The Badgers lost a lot of talent in the frontcourt and there was a big question as to who would step up. At first it was Leuer, but with his absence Keaton Nankivil filled the void. The 6-8 junior has been inconsistent, but he has had some great scoring outputs throughout the season. However, he is not that strong of a rebounder and that has hurt the Badgers. Wisconsin always has a glue guy in the frontcourt who is an unheralded leader. Last year it was the now departed Joe Krabbenhoft. This year Tim Jarmusz is doing his best to fill that roll. Jarmusz is not much of a scorer, but he is a decent rebounder. The problem is he is only 6-6 and the days of multiple big men clogging the paint and shooting three’s is a thing of the past. Ryan Evans and Rob Wilson are other options to play at the forward spots, but neither has had much of an impact this season.
Who To Watch:
Leuer made his return to the Badgers on February 18th after missing nine games. Wisconsin played good basketball without him, but his depth is necessary for a deep run in March. Unlike the other forwards on the team, the 6-10 Leuer does most of his scoring in the paint. And when Wisconsin lost its first home game against an unranked conference opponent since 2000, it was because they only scored six points in the paint against Illinois. That will not happen with Leuer on the floor.
Probable Starters:
Jordan Taylor, Sophomore, Guard, 10.2 ppg, 3.6 apg
Trevon Hughes, Senior, Guard, 15.4 ppg, 2.7 apg, 4.6 rpg
Jason Bohannon, Senior, Guard, 11.8 ppg, 2.2 apg
Jon Leuer, Junior, Forward, 14.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.4 bpg
Keaton Nankivil, Junior, Forward, 8.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Ryan Evans, Freshman, Guard, 3.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg
Tim Jarmusz, Junior, Forward, 2.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Rob Wilson, Sophomore, Guard, 3.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 67.9 (201st in nation, 7th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 56.1 (3, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.1 (89, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.5 (92, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.6 (53, 2)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 36.2 (85, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.9 (27, 1)
Rebound Margin: 2.5 (98, 3)
Assists Per Game: 12.9 (178, 9)
Turnovers Per Game: 9.0 (1, 1)
Joel’s Bracket Says: Final Four loss to Villanova
