Five things Wisconsin Basketball needs to prove in Battle 4 Atlantis

Adapt to different styles to win

Wisconsin has a solid chance to get to the championship game of this tournament if what we’ve seen of the squad so far is real. If the Badgers make it that far they’ll have to adapt to changing styles of play from their opponents.

Florida is the likely opponent if the Badgers get by Stanford, and they should. What Florida will bring to the table is far different than what the potential championship matchup will bring against Virginia. Wisconsin need not look that far ahead, but I will.

Florida is an athletic team that will try to push the pace against Wisconsin. The Gators won’t be able to win a slowed down, dragged out game against this team so they’ll do all they can to avoid it. It’s easier to slow a team down than speed a team up, but that’s only if you’re disciplined. If Wisconsin stays disciplined, this plays to its advantage. However, as soon as the Gators get the Badgers out and running and overwhelmed with defensive pressure it could mean trouble for the guys in red.

If Wisconsin gets by Stanford and staves off Florida, it’s likely Virginia follows. The play style they bring will be a polar opposite to what Florida will try to do. Virginia is comfortable winning basketball games in the 40’s. Wisconsin played with a slow, methodical pace under Bo Ryan so this isn’t too far from the norm for the Badgers. But Virginia does it better than anybody.

Wisconsin will have tons of practice against totally different playing styles this week. If they can handle those big changes it’ll mean they have what it takes to succeed in a tournament setting. Success this week bodes well for the big tournament in March.