Oregon Ducks vs. Wisconsin Badgers Betting Line, March Madness Analysis, Pick
Mar 21, 2015
Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky (44) passes the ball around Coastal Carolina's Josh Cameron (3) during the second half of an NCAA tournament college basketball game in the Round of 64 in Omaha, Neb., Friday, March 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
The top-seeded Wisconsin Badgers meet the eighth-seeded Oregon Ducks in the West Region round of 32 of the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year Sunday and hope for the same result as 2014.
Last year, the Badgers were the No. 2 seed in the West and knocked out the seventh-seeded Ducks, 85-77, covering the spread as six-point favorites in a game that flew over the 146-point total.
Opening spread
The Badgers opened as 11-point favorites. (Compare lines and consensus on the Odds Shark matchup report.)
Why pick Oregon to cover the spread
Oregon has won 12 of its last 14 games, going 11-3 against the spread during that stretch.
The Ducks took care of business in a pick’em matchup with the ninth-seeded Oklahoma State Cowboys in the round of 64, winning, 79-73, Friday behind Joseph Young’s game-high 27 points. Young won Pac-12 Player of the Year honors thanks to performances like that, and he will be a matchup nightmare for a Wisconsin team that surrendered 29 points to him last year.
Oregon also shot 55 percent from the field as a team against the Cowboys and made 14 of 18 attempts from the free-throw line (78 percent) to help seal the victory. If the Ducks can continue to play that well offensively, they should be able to give the Badgers another tough test and again stay within double digits.
Why pick Wisconsin to cover the spread
Wisconsin might not have covered the spread as a 20-point favorite in the team’s 86-72 victory against the 16th-seeded Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Friday, but they were extremely impressive offensively nonetheless. The Badgers got a game-high 27 points and 12 rebounds from Frank Kaminsky, while Sam Dekker added 20 points and Nigel Hayes had 15.
They also had a lot of success from beyond the three-point arc, connecting on 11 of 27 shots from long range and outrebounded Coastal Carolina by a 36-25 margin overall.
Wisconsin has won 17 of its past 18 now–including seven in a row–and covered four of six. During the current seven-game winning streak for the Badgers, only one victory has been decided by less than 11 points, with them scoring more than 70 in each of the previous six and the over cashing five times along the way.
Smart betting pick
Oregon played well against Wisconsin last year, holding a double-digit lead in the second half before things fell apart. That disappointment has lingered with the players from Eugene, including Young, who did everything he could to help his team win the game.
While the Badgers are the better team, covering a big number like this is no easy chore. Before covering four of six, they failed to beat the spread in four straight. Wisconsin will be much more content simply winning this game and moving on to the next round than covering double digits here. Take the Ducks.
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs. Wisconsin Badgers Betting, March Madness Pick
Mar 18, 2015
Wisconsin's Josh Gasser (21) and Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky (44) celebrates in the in the overtime period of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan State in the championship of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Chicago, Sunday, March 15, 2015. Wisconsin defeated Michigan State 80-69 in overtime. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Big Ten dual champion Wisconsin might seem like a big-conference bully, but it's also only 3-10-1 against the spread in its last 14 games as a double-digit favorite. The top-seeded Badgers will be double-digit favorites when they hit the court in Omaha, Nebraska, Friday night to take on 16th-seeded Coastal Carolina in a West Region round-of-64 game.
Opening spread
The Badgers opened as 19.5-point favorites (compare lines and consensus on the Odds Shark matchup report).
Why pick Coastal Carolina to cover the spread
The Chanticleers finished in a tie for third place in the Big South this season, then won three games in three days to win the Big South tournament and claim a second consecutive NCAA tournament berth. Overall, Coastal Carolina has won seven of its last eight games.
Earlier this season, the Chanticleers gave NCAA entrant UCLA a good game well into the second half and covered as 15-point underdogs. A few weeks later, they led Ole Miss, another Big Dance participant, at the half in Oxford and had that game tied with less than a minute to go, losing 71-68 but covering as seven-point dogs.
And last March, Coastal Carolina, as a No. 16 seed and a 19-point underdog, led top-seeded Virginia by five points at the half in a round-of-64 NCAA tournament game and was tied with nine minutes to go, eventually losing 70-59. So the Chanticleers have had some recent financial success against quality foes.
Why pick Wisconsin to cover the spread
The Badgers come into the Big Dance on a 16-1 straight-up run, the only loss in that span coming at Maryland three weeks ago. Wisconsin finished the regular season with solid victories over Michigan State, Minnesota and Ohio State to secure the Big Ten regular-season title, then swept Michigan, Purdue and the Spartans to win the Big Ten tournament. So Wisconsin is at the Big Dance for the 17th season in a row.
The Badgers own victories this season over Boise State, UAB, Georgetown, Oklahoma and Buffalo, NCAA tournament teams all, not to mention their eight combined victories over March Madness teams from the Big Ten. The Badgers have lost three games this season: to Duke, at Rutgers in a game Frank Kaminsky missed due to injury and on a cold-shooting night at Maryland.
Wisconsin doesn't dazzle; it just finds the open man, plays solid defense without fouling, hits the boards and takes care of the ball. All at the same time.
Smart betting pick
Wisconsin is likely to win this game, but it has had trouble covering big numbers as of late. Meanwhile, Coastal Carolina has proved it can cover against quality opponents. The smart money here probably resides with the Chanticleers, plus the points.
The Wisconsin Badgers were rewarded for their terrific regular season with one of the four No. 1 seeds handed out by the NCAA tournament selection committee. Bo Ryan's team will open up in Omaha, Nebraska, with a game against No...
Nigel Hayes' Drive to Improve May Be What Wisconsin Needs to Take Final Step
Mar 7, 2015
MADISON, Wisconsin — Shortly after he arrived at work one morning last October, Wisconsin's Bo Ryan was summoned to the Kohl Center security desk.
"Coach," an officer told him, "you gotta see this."
As Ryan peered over his shoulder, the man rolled back footage from the 24-hour surveillance camera that monitors the Badgers' court. At one point, well past midnight, a noticeably tall figure wearing shorts and a practice jersey was spotted on the hardwood, dribbling a basketball with one hand and a tennis ball with the other.
"A dexterity drill," explained Ryan, who immediately relayed the story to his assistants, none of whom were surprised when Ryan revealed the identity of the late-night visitor:
Sophomore forward Nigel Hayes.
A key reserve on last year's Final Four squad, the 6'7" Hayes was preparing for his first season as a starter.
"He's a young man who put in an awful lot of time in the offseason on his own," Ryan told reporters a few weeks later. "He's another year older, another year wiser...another year better."
Largely because of Hayes, the Badgers are, too.
Wooden Award candidate Frank Kaminsky and versatile small forward Sam Dekker command most of the headlines for sixth-ranked Wisconsin, and rightfully so. Both players are potential NBA lottery picks enjoying standout seasons for the second consecutive year.
But the main reason the Badgers are even better than the 2013-14 squad—the reason Wisconsin has realistic hopes of winning the NCAA title—is the elevated play of Hayes, who has improved as much as any player in America.
MILWAUKEE, WI - DECEMBER 06: Nigel Hayes #10 of the Wisconsin Badgers shoots a three pointer during the first half against the Marquette Golden Eagles of the Wisconsin Badgers at BMO Harris Bradley Center on December 06, 2014 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Ph
"I truly think he's the guy that can take us from a good team to a great team," Badgers guard Josh Gasser said. "When Nigel plays well, we tend to play well."
More times than not this season, that's been the case.
Hayes earned Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year honors by averaging 7.7 points and 2.8 rebounds last season— which ended with a 74-73 loss to Kentucky in the NCAA semifinals.
His numbers have increased dramatically now that he's a starter. Hayes ranks third on the team in scoring (12.1 points) and is second in rebounding (6.4). And after making 51 percent of his two-point attempts as a freshman, Hayes is hitting 57.2 percent of his two-pointers this year.
He's added a three-point shot to his arsenal, too. Hayes, who didn't even attempt a three-pointer last season, is 22-of-59 (37.3 percent) from beyond the arc.
"I pride myself in being intelligent not only about life, but about basketball," Hayes said. "Knowing what I did last year and realizing how much better I could be if I made a few subtle changes...it was just a matter of me putting in the work."
Labeling Hayes as "motivated" during the offseason would be an understatement.
Each weekday morning, at 4:52 a.m.—"Just because it made me feel better to say I was up before 5," he said—Hayes awoke to a rather unusual alarm. Instead of the typical beeping or buzzing sounds, Hayes programmed his cell phone to play clips from a speech he found on YouTube given by motivational speaker Eric Thomas to a group of participants in the Jordan Brand Classic high school All-Star Game.
"Basically," Hayes said, "[Thomas] tells them, 'Somewhere there's a kid thinking he should be here, and he's not. Guess what he's doing right now while I'm talking to you? He's working on getting better. He's going to pass you in college. And if he doesn't do it there, he's going to pass you in the pros if you don't keep working.'
ANN ARBOR, MI - JANUARY 24: Nigel Hayes #10 of the Wisconsin Badgers drives to the basket against Ricky Doyle #32 of the Michigan Wolverines during overtime play at a Big Ten game at Crisler Arena on January 24, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Wisconsin def
"There were days I didn't want to get out of bed. But once I heard that part of the speech, I popped right up."
Once at the Kohl Center, Hayes focused on improving the perceived weaknesses in his game. Some days that meant taking hundreds of shots from three-point range. Other times he zeroed in on conditioning and ball-handling skills.
Wisconsin assistant Lamont Paris recalls seeing Hayes alone on the court, putting himself through a dribbling drill while wearing specially designed goggles that prevented him from looking at the ball.
"Most of the time, when kids go to the gym on their own, they're shooting or doing something that isn't very strenuous," Paris said. "Because they're in college, they think they've made it, so they just worry about refining what they've always done instead of working on something totally new.
"That drill that Nigel was doing wasn't easy. It wasn't fun. But he was committed to getting better. It makes you shake your head. You just don't witness things like that very often anymore."
For Hayes, putting in extra work was nothing new.
A native of Toledo, Ohio, he was a standout wide receiver at Whitmer High School for most of his prep career. Each fall, to make sure he didn't regress on the basketball court, Hayes arrived to school at 6 a.m. each morning to go through a private workout on the hardwood before showering and going to class.
Like so many Ohio natives, Hayes had grown up hoping to star on the court at Ohio State, where his brother, Kenny, played football (before eventually transferring to Toledo). When Ryan and Paris arrived at the Hayes household for an official visit, a Buckeyes flag hung above the garage.
"What are we doing here," Ryan asked Paris as they pulled their rental car into the driveway.
Hayes and Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan may be headed toward another tournament showdown with Kentucky.
Paris laughed.
"Don't worry, Coach," he said. "I think we're in with him pretty good."
Indeed, while Ohio State initially showed minimal interest, Wisconsin was sold on Hayes well before he began his senior season. The Buckeyes eventually offered a scholarship at the last minute. But Hayes committed to Wisconsin on Nov. 11 and, when someone on Twitter asked him to explain why he picked the Badgers, Hayes responded: "They love me."
Indeed, the Badgers do.
And not just on the court.
Spend just a little time around Hayes, and it's easy to see why he's become one of Wisconsin's most popular players. Last season he recorded a series of videos of himself trekking through campus and asking silly questions to students. The skits were a big hit on YouTube.
"We called him Nigel Burgundy," said Dekker, referring to actor Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy character in the movie Anchorman.
Hayes is a trivia buff who likes to look up random facts and then recite them to his teammates in the locker room. And whenever there's a team function that calls for nice attire, Hayes is the most sharp-dressed man in the room, hardly bashful about sporting a pair of turquoise pants.
"If basketball doesn't work out," he said, "I want to start my own fashion line. Either that, or become the CEO of Nike. Whichever comes first."
Hayes' most talked-about moment occurred last season, when the Badgers were mired in a three-game losing streak. Ryan, the story goes, was riding his team hard in practice, and some players felt he was going over the top. At one point, Ryan looked at Hayes and barked an order.
MADISON, WI - JANUARY 07: Frank Kaminsky #44 of the Wisconsin Badgers along with Sam Dekker #15, Traevon Jackson #12, Nigel Hayes #10, and Josh Gasser #21 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half against Wisconsin Badgers at Kohl Center on Januar
"OK, Pops," Hayes said.
Ryan couldn't help but laugh. The Badgers had been referring to Hayes as "The Golden Child" because he was rarely yelled at by Ryan. This only confirmed it. "I just took it upon myself to cool him down and relax the situation," Hayes said. "Everyone was taken aback, like, 'Did he really just say that to Coach Ryan?'
"There's a time and a place for everything, but it's OK to joke around sometimes. It's not good to walk around uptight all the time. If you tried to flex your muscles all day, eventually you'd get tired and burn out. It's OK to relax and let go sometimes and then start all over again."
Hayes will be able to operate with just about any persona he wants if he continues to perform like he did in the early portions of Wisconsin's 68-61 win over Michigan State on March 1. Hayes scored three of his team's first four baskets (and assisted on the other) by going right at Spartans forward Branden Dawson, who is regarded as one of the most physical players in the country.
"No one does that [to Dawson]—at least not that physically," Paris said. "He was just dominating him. I went up to him in the huddle during the first timeout and said, 'For us to do what we want this year—if we're going to make a run—that's the Nigel Hayes we have to have."
The aggression Hayes exhibited that afternoon made it seem like he was trying to prove something, both to himself and to so many others who doubted him in the past.
The schools such as Ohio State that ignored him for years...the All-Star selection committees that didn't invite him to play in their events…the recruiting services that ranked him low—Hayes doesn't like to point fingers or call out anyone individually, but it's obvious that he's motivated by various slights in his past.
ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 27: Nigel Hayes #10 of the Wisconsin Badgers goes up for a shot against Kenny Chery #1 of the Baylor Bears in the second half during the regional semifinal of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Honda Center on March 27,
"So many kids carry that mentality of, 'I was overlooked,'" Hayes said. "But were you really? Or are you just not as good as you think you are? A lot of kids have that problem.
"It remains to be seen which of those two sides I fall on. But when I play, I think I do a lot of good things. I may not be a guy that does a bunch of between-the-legs dunks. But I contribute in a lot of ways."
Apparently NBA scouts agree.
Hayes was hardly being discussed as a potential two-and-done prior to the season, but there's been enough buzz about him in recent weeks that Hayes, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times, has "quietly conducted some exploratory work" about possibly entering this summer's NBA draft.
Of course, whether the report is accurate hardly matters at this point. With the NCAA tournament less than two weeks away, Hayes is focused on helping the Badgers reach the Final Four for the second straight season. Last year's squad appeared to be headed toward the NCAA title game before Kentucky's Aaron Harrison made a clutch, guarded three-pointer with seven seconds remaining to propel the Wildcats to a win.
The shot may have killed the Badgers' hopes last spring, but it didn't squelch their spirit.
All but one key player (Ben Brust) is back from that squad. Not many teams will enter the tournament as hungry as Wisconsin. And with a vastly improved Hayes (he scored just two points in the Kentucky game) on the court, the Badgers are even more dangerous than they were a year ago.
"It's an unspoken, unwritten thing that all of us have kept on our minds," Hayes said. "We were that close last year, literally one shot away. [Harrison] had to hit a great shot for them to win. But we were one shot away from playing for the national championship. That sits with us. We all know we have the capability.
"Every team goes, 'We want to win the national championship this year.' Some teams can actually make that happen, while other teams are just wishful thinking. With us, it's a very realistic goal. We've shown we can get there. We know we have what it takes. We know we can play well enough to make that dream come true."
Jason King covers college sports for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JasonKingBR.
Wisconsin Basketball: Breaking Down Badgers' Chances to Get a No. 1 Seed
Mar 2, 2015
Wisconsin guard Bronson Koenig, left, and guard Josh Gasser celebrate during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
At this point of the college basketball season, if you're not playing for a bid to the NCAA tournament, you are playing for seeding.
Wisconsin has had a great year and will be rewarded for it by the selection committee, but the final positioning in the bracket is still a work in progress. With two more games remaining in the regular season plus a conference tournament, a lot can still happen.
Additionally, the Badgers' standing remains heavily reliant on what the rest of the top teams around the country do over the next two weeks. For example, Gonzaga's recent loss to BYU likely knocked the team off the top line, giving another squad a chance at ending with a No. 1 seed.
The good news for head coach Bo Ryan and company is Wisconsin is still in the running for that top spot, especially if it plays like it did in the 68-61 win over Michigan State (at least before a late run made the score closer than it was).
In all likelihood, Wisconsin will enter the tournament no lower than a No. 3 seed with a chance of being as high as a No. 1. Here is a breakdown of the chances for each spot with what would need to happen for any of this to take place.
No. 3 Seed (10 percent)
Even if Wisconsin loses its next three games, including its first in the Big Ten tournament, it doesn't seem likely the squad would fall below this mark. It has simply been too good for too long for a late slide to undo everything else.
That being said, it isn't all that likely the Badgers finish with even a No. 3 seed. Grantland's Mark Titus recently explained how much consensus there is concerning the top eight teams in the nation:
One of the mock selection committee’s initial tasks was for each member to vote on the top eight teams. This vote was unanimous. Every person in the room agreed that, barring a catastrophic change, the 1- and 2-seeds in this year’s NCAA tournament will be Kentucky, Virginia, Duke, Wisconsin, Gonzaga, Villanova, Kansas, and Arizona, in some order. This was a surprise to the NCAA people, who told us it’s extremely rare for the real committee to reach a unanimous vote on anything. This should tell you how big the gap is between these eight teams and the rest of the field this season.
While the mock selection committee took place a couple of weeks ago, you can still see a pretty big gap between the No. 2 seeds and No. 3.
However, one team that could sneak into the mix is Maryland. The Terrapins ended Wisconsin's 10-game winning streak last week, and the two sides could potentially play again in the Big Ten tournament. If the conference newbies are able to take home a tournament title, it will be hard to argue against moving them further up in the bracket.
At the same time, if the Badgers lose on the road to either Minnesota or Ohio State and then fall in the conference tournament, they could end up being the team that drops.
Though this is not a likely scenario, it is certainly possible and worth a concern for fans.
No. 2 Seed (60 percent)
Jan 11, 2015; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Bo Ryan reacts as Rutgers Scarlet Knights upset Badgers at Louis Brown Athletic Center. Rutgers Scarlet Knights defeat Wisconsin Badgers 67-62. Mandatory Credit: Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sport
This seems to be the most likely destination for Wisconsin based on what we have seen this season. Even with Gonzaga's loss, the fight for that No. 1 seed is fierce, especially if you assume Kentucky, Virginia and Duke get the top three spots.
ESPN broke down the top contenders for the last spot:
Wisconsin moved to 26-3 & picked up its third BPI top 25 win.
Which team has the strongest case for a No. 1 seed? pic.twitter.com/aPGuoSPXdN
The problem for Wisconsin has been the Big Ten's overall struggles, which have prevented more teams from appearing as quality wins. According to ESPN.com, the squad only has two Top 25 RPI wins all year, and both of them came in the Battle 4 Atlantis against Georgetown and Oklahoma.
Compare this to Villanova, which has a 6-1 record against the Top 25 and 10-1 record against the top 50, and it appears as though the Wildcats played a much tougher schedule. This is not Wisconsin's fault, but that's how it plays out.
Another issue is that the selection committee has proved in the past it cares more about big wins compared to bad losses. This is why Duke remains in line for a No. 1 seed despite some bad losses in conference play.
Translate this to Arizona's profile, which has three questionable losses but a season sweep over Utah and an overtime win versus Gonzaga, and the squad could end up higher in the pecking order than Wisconsin.
Of course, the biggest problem is the schedule, which remains difficult for the Badgers the rest of the way through. One loss in either remaining regular-season battle or early in the conference tourney, and they can probably kiss a top seed good bye.
The status quo puts Wisconsin at the No. 2 seed, and it will be hard to change that over the next couple of weeks.
No. 1 Seed (30 percent)
Mar 1, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; The Wisconsin Badgers basketball team poses with the Big Ten Trophy awarded to them after the game with the Michigan State Spartans at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin defeated Michigan State 68-61. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfe
While Wisconsin can still lose in its last few games, it's important to remember that the teams currently above them can drop some games as well.
Kentucky and Virginia appear to be pretty safe, as even a loss or two wouldn't take away the massive breathing room at the top. However, just about anyone else is capable of falling in the bracket.
Duke already has three losses with two of them coming by double digits. If the Blue Devils lose again to anyone besides Virginia in the ACC tournament final, they could easily be subjected to a No. 2 seed. Even the wins over Wisconsin and Virginia won't make up for bad losses.
At the same time, the Badgers would certainly prove themselves as an elite squad if they were able to win out and secure both a regular-season and tournament title in the Big Ten.
Seth Davis of CBS Sports questioned their chances of earning a No. 1 seed after the recent loss at Maryland:
Meanwhile the bigger story is what this does to Wisconsin's chance at a 1 seed. Badgers still do not have a signature road win.
Though the best true road win came at Iowa, a win at Ohio State would certainly make the profile look better. Adding this to some impressive performances on a neutral floor both at the Battle 4 Atlantis and presumably in the conference tournament, there should be no doubts about what this team can do away from the Kohl Center.
The selection committee could also end up almost ignoring the loss to Rutgers, which came without Player of the Year favorite Frank Kaminsky. This is a big reason why Wisconsin ranks No. 3 in the country in ESPN.com's BPI, a system that accounts for player injuries as well as margin of victory.
If Wisconsin can go on to win the Big Ten tournament and receive some help with teams like Villanova, Duke and Arizona losing, the Badgers would be able to stick with preseason expectations and go into March Madness with a No. 1 seed.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.
The Wisconsin Badgers, who seemed to be cruising for most of this season, took a stumble Tuesday with a 59-53 loss on the road to Maryland. And with just three games remaining in the regular season, the ending could play out in a few different ways...
Wisconsin Men's Basketball Team Plane Makes Emergency Landing
Feb 25, 2015
MADISON, WI - FEBRUARY 15: Frank Kaminsky #44 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates with Bronson Koenig #24 of the Illinois Fighting Illini at Kohl Center on February 15, 2015 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)
Even after an upset loss, those involved with the Wisconsin men's basketball team are likely breathing a sigh of relief after the team plane was forced to make an emergency landing early Wednesday morning.
According to the official Twitter account of Badgers basketball, the plane suffered an engine malfunction following a heartbreaking 59-53 loss to No. 14 Maryland:
It's been an eventful night. #Badgers forced to make emergency landing in Pittsburgh after engine malfunction. pic.twitter.com/T4D3ebp19k
Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Patrick Herb provided more details on the situation as well as some insight as to the situation on the plane, via the school's official site.
"Many of the 41-person charter flight were tipped off that something was amiss when the plane began to descend far too early, and rapidly, into the anticipated two-hour flight," he said.
A flight attendant had noted, "The captain doesn't like the way one of the engines is performing, so we want to get this airplane on the ground as soon as possible."
The 25-3 Badgers don't have another game until Sunday when they clash with Michigan State, and every indication is that they'll be ready to take one more step toward the Big Ten title despite the scare.
While losing to a rival like Maryland was tough, something as serious as a plane malfunction tends to put things into perspective.
For everything that may not have gone their way Tuesday night against the Terrapins, the Badgers certainly had good fortune on their side when it mattered most.
Standing with a 20-2 record and an 8-1 mark in the Big Ten, the fifth-ranked Wisconsin basketball team is poised to bring home its first conference title since 2008 as the regular season winds down...
Wisconsin Looking Completely Comfortable with New Identity on Tear Through B1G
Feb 3, 2015
Frank Kaminsky looked to the sky, then a teammate. Then he hunched over.
This wasn’t an injury reaction. Only the Wisconsin 7-footer's ego was bruised late Tuesday as he accepted a stonewall screen from a teammate, found himself alone at the rim after a dribble … and clanked a dunk that sent the ball rocketing back over his head to the three-point line.
That’s a pretty extreme case of not putting the ball in the hoop, especially the way the Badgers filled it up at Kohl Center against Indiana.
But these are unique and eye-popping times in Madison, where for once the offense seems to flow as fancifully as the snow and the beer. Cheers, these aren’t your older brother’s Badgers as they stand 20-2 (8-1) with a full two-game lead in the Big Ten on Maryland and Ohio State.
The fifth-ranked team in the nation handled the outmanned, discombobulated Hoosiers, 92-78, in what seemed like a pretty ho-hum home game, but really showed just how insanely different coach Bo Ryan’s program can be right now.
The rest of Kaminsky's showcase was just fine (23 points) and what’s being displayed now is an alter-ego of a mature, athletic, crisp team allowing for some of the funnest ball around.
We’ve all heard the talk around college basketball that much needs to be done to fix the offense. But now we’re supposed to be looking to the offbeat, old-school Ryan as some kind of scoring savant?
It seemed like Wisconsin baskets used to have a World Cup-goal feel to them—appreciate every one. They drained the shot clock, ground opponents into doing the same. That was the rep, anyway, even as Wisconsin’s only averaging about one more point per game this year than last. But the two-year swing is a considerable jump from the 60s range of the previous six years.
We still think of three-pointers and precise cutting, plus selfless hot potato with the ball. It’s just at a little higher volume now.
These Badgers still aren’t harkening Loyola Marymount back or UNLV back in the day (YouTube it, kiddos). But just look at UW’s success against Indiana. Ryan is now 11-0 against the Hoosiers at home, 20-4 overall. So we can safely assume he’s had a fair number of chances to successfully control pace of play.
This was the most points UW ever scored anywhere against Indiana in the Ryan era, surpassing the 83-55 win during the 2009-10 campaign.
Wisconsin this time scored the first nine points and added the opening 13 of the second half. It made 60 percent of its shots, including six of the 11 three-pointers it hoisted, effortlessly spreading the Hoosiers thin with four perimeter players to free up the All-American Kaminsky inside. He scored on his first six touches.
Indiana either fell victim to shaky help defense all over the court (coach Tom Crean probably would’ve liked more communication at several junctures) or did not respect outside shooters; or just plain didn't hustle out to defend.
But these are crazy times to witness UW, or have to scout it.
Wisconsin stands at almost 125 points per 100 possessions. Its adjusted tempo is still Badger-like 340— both numbers courtesy of KenPom—but it’s looking to score a little faster nonetheless, and looking to get the ball back at a great clip as well.
The length is still there. The marksmanship as well. And Ryan still can stalk a sideline during the game, and spin an old line afterward.
But the offense isn’t the same, many would say for the better (and more appealing to the eye). What may concern him, too—and rightfully so—is the attention to detail on defense. Wisconsin's giving itself more chances to score in part by letting some opponents blow right by for layups, and it happened several times against the Hoosiers.
Indiana was missing freshman leading scorer James Blackmon Jr. (ankle) yet still hit seven of its first 12 shots and pulled within 32-30 after Troy Williams torched Kaminsky for a layup—the sixth consecutive possession IU scored.
Wisconsin players lamented the noticeably soft defense leading up to IU’s visit, and opponents shot nearly 47 percent from the field against the Badgers—the second-worst defensive success rate in the Big Ten, according to Wisconsin State Journal pre-game coverage.
“It’s definitely something that you want to improve on,”UW’s Josh Gasser said when asked about the Badgers' defensive concerns before facing the Hoosiers. “I guess when you’re scoring offensively so much, you can kind of get a little complacent on the defensive end sometimes, and that’s really unacceptable.”
These days, it’s like Wisconsin players can gorge themselves on State Street bratwursts before practice.
There’s no punishment for doing so.
Indiana shot 58 percent in the first half, but still trailed by eight. It’s been that way several times in league play for Wisconsin, which led by 30 with 10 minutes left but had that sliced to 14 in the next six minutes.
But who needs stops when Wisconsin brings the offense America is dying to see—and even buzzer-beating tip-ins like the one right before halftime:
