How Wisconsin Basketball can beat Michigan
By Joey Lovell
It’s Valentine’s Day folks and hopefully, Wisconsin Basketball will have enough love for us to give the Badger faithful the gift of a victory over the Michigan Wolverines. I draw up a blueprint for that very event.
Wisconsin basketball’s perimeter offense
Michigan is perhaps the only team that is more perplexing than the Wisconsin Badgers. Coming into Kohl Center with a 14-11 mark, they have lost games in a multitude of ways.
However, the area that has given them the greatest amount of difficulty happens to be the area that Wisconsin is strongest in, perimeter offense.
All season long, I have been imploring Steven Crowl to NOT attempt many 3-point shots. Tonight, I temporarily rescind that request and think he should fire at will. Mind you, what I mean by this is maybe take four long-range shots instead of two or three. By no means should he embrace his inner Conner Essegian.
By stretching out the defense, in addition to making shots that have 50% more value, they open up the possibility of open back-door cuts.
Wisconsin basketball needs to do EXACTLY what it did against Penn State. Shoot early, shoot often, and drive to the hoop when available to try and get Michigan’s big man, Hunter Dickinson, in foul trouble.
Get in Dickinson’s head
This is the first meeting between these two schools since that now-famous weak slap from Michigan head coach Juwan Howard toward Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft.
Each side is understandably attempting to downplay the incident and focus on this season.
I get it. I wouldn’t want to remember such a feeble gesture either.
One person NOT attempting to diffuse the situation, it would appear, is star Michigan center, Hunter Dickinson. In an early tweet/podcast interview, Dickinson called Wisconsin players “scumbags”.
If the Wisconsin players are as intelligent as I think they are, they should absolutely use this animosity for their benefit. Chirp in his ear, tug a little more on his jersey, whatever. For the more conservative contingent of Badger nation, I most certainly am not advocating anything illegal or unethical. Just a little trash talk, ala Larry Bird or Reggie Miller.
Just get in his head and get him off his 17.9 PPG.
Coming down to crunch time
With tonight’s game included, Wisconsin basketball has six games remaining, sitting at a overall mark of 14-10 and a disappointing record of 6-8 in the conference.
For all intents and purposes, Wisconsin’s postseason starts now. Running the table would get them a first-round bye in the Big Ten tourney, which would allow them extra rest. I know, I’m a self-acknowledged “eternal optimist”, but I still see a path for them to the Big Dance.
Give me a break. I grew up a Penn State fan, so even the THOUGHT of getting to the NCAA tourney has me giddy. I wasn’t blessed with the season after season of success that the Badger faithful have experienced.
So, tonight, Wisconsin’s tourney starts. Just take it one game at a time, forget about the worst loss of the season this past Saturday. 20-10 overall and 11-8 Big Ten record would absolutely get them into the dance.
Yes, they have current #3 Purdue the next-to-last game. Indiana just showed that they’re capable of being beaten.
Remember, this is a Wisconsin team that took Kansas to OT, as well as beat Big East leader Marquette.
It all starts tonight, at 8 p.m. (CST) on ESPN2.