Wisconsin Basketball: Keys for the Badgers at 2014 Battle 4 Atlantis

If Wisconsin wants to be a legitimate national title contender, a strong performance at the Battle 4 Atlantis would go a long way.

The Badgers have started the year as well as possible with four wins in four games, each by at least 20-point margins. The victories over Green Bay and Boise State will also look even better as the season progresses.

However, things get much tougher in the upcoming week with a trip to the Bahamas. While the opening matchup against UAB shouldn't represent too much trouble, the rest of the tournament features Florida, Georgetown, North Carolina, UCLA, Oklahoma and Butler.

The full bracket is available at AtlantisBahamas.com, but any matchup throughout this event could represent a Sweet 16 or even Final Four preview.

As impressive as Wisconsin has been, the squad will need to be at its best to come away with three wins and a tournament title. Following these keys to victory would be a great way to ensure success in the upcoming week.

When two elite teams battle each other, the pace is often the most important factor in the game.

Wisconsin likes to slow down the tempo, making smart decisions with the ball while limiting possessions for the opponent. With only about eight members of the primary rotation and a lot of production dependent on the starters, this group is not well-built for a fast-paced competition.

On the plus side, teams like Florida and Georgetown also like to keep the tempo relatively slow, so the Badgers will be able to play their game in the first few rounds. However, things could get tougher in the third day if the team matches up against North Carolina or UCLA.

The Tar Heels and Bruins each average over 72 possessions per game, ranking in the top 20 in the nation, according to KenPom.com. Comparatively, Wisconsin stays at 63.2 possessions, which ranks 328th in Division I.

One strategy is not necessarily better than the other, but Bo Ryan will not want to see his team get involved in a track meet. The Badgers have to play their game and do what they need to win.

Wisconsin is not a one-man team, but the offense is much better when Frank Kaminsky has the ball in his hands.

The preseason All-American is one of the biggest mismatches in the country, capable of scoring inside over smaller defenders or stretching the defense with the ability to make shots from three-point range.

While it is still early in the season, he is living up to expectations in his senior year with 19.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. Considering his offensive and defensive contributions, KenPom.com (subscription required) rates him as the most valuable player in the country to this point.

It would be a mistake to make any changes to this strategy.

The team has a solid point guard in Traevon Jackson who can facilitate to numerous options on the floor, but the Badgers have to find a way to get Kaminsky the ball on virtually every possession. They should either feed him in the post or let him come out to the perimeter, giving him a chance to score or pass to an open player.

With the efficiency the center has shown to this point, he can be trusted to make the right play. If he is not taking about 15 shots per game, Wisconsin is just wasting one of the best players in college basketball. 

The Badgers typically play a conservative brand of defense, avoiding fouls while keeping opponents in front of them. 

On the down side, opposing teams have been able to stay in their comfort zone offensively, only committing 9.5 turnovers per game. No one has turned the ball over more than 11 times against Wisconsin this season.

While this strategy did not lead to problems in the first four games, the guards at the Battle 4 Atlantis can put up huge games if they are not pressured enough.

Marcus Paige, Kasey Hill, Bryce Alford, D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera and Buddy Hield represent just some of the top backcourt talent at this tournament, and each of them is among the best in the nation. If these players are given space, they will torch even the best on-ball defenders.

Wisconsin has to play more aggressive defense during the tournament to limit opportunities and keep opponents off the scoreboard as much as possible.

Although Boise State only scored 54 points in a loss to Wisconsin, the Broncos still went 7-of-11 from behind the arc. This has not been a major issue for the Badgers, but it is still something that has to be fixed entering the Battle 4 Atlantis.

The three-point shot is the great equalizer in basketball, and even inferior teams can make games close by getting shots off. This means that even a squad like UAB has a chance to make things difficult by getting off good looks from deep.

Of course, the bigger concern is what happens in the later rounds. Between Florida's Michael Frazier and Eli Carter, UCLA's Bryce Alford and Norman Powell, Oklahoma's Buddy Hield and North Carolina's Marcus Paige, there are plenty of shooters to cause problems for Wisconsin.

The Badgers do have the length and athleticism to defend the arc, but the key will be maintaining concentration throughout each possession on the floor. If one player gets caught ball-watching or misses a rotation, it could lead to an open three-pointer.

Wisconsin simply cannot afford this type of fate defensively.

Similar to the defensive strategy, Wisconsin stays conservative with the ball and generally avoids crashing the boards for offensive rebounds. This prevents easy transition buckets on the other end of the court.

The good news is the squad has been taking care of business on the defensive boards, making sure opponents also only get one shot per possession.

As good as the Badgers have been, though, teams like North Carolina, UCLA and Georgetown are especially aggressive on the offensive glass and do an excellent job giving themselves extra chances to score. Not only does this create additional shots on offense, but it often leads to easy putbacks near the basket.

Frontcourt players like Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes have the height and great technique on box outs, but even they might struggle against stronger opponents like Joshua Smith, Kennedy Meeks or Kevon Looney.

If the Badgers want to win this prestigious tournament, they will need to pull down as many rebounds as possible on the defensive end and not let a potential weakness take them down.

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