Wisconsin won their exhibition over River Falls by a score of 78-62, but it was anything but perfect. With 14 minutes left in the contest, the Badgers only held a three point lead over the D-III program before going on a run. It was a game Greg Gard used for experimenting and testing, but considering the 2015 Badger squad beat this same school 101-46, there might be reason for concern early on for Wisconsin.
After the game, to no one's surprise, Gard admitted the team still has a long way to go defensively. That's a little distressing, especially since the season starts in four days, but the Badgers will have no choice but to figure things out quickly. Gard even went on to say he wished that teams got more exhibition games to be able to sort out some of these issues.
"I wish we could play more, quite frankly, so we could learn more about our group," said Gard. "I think every coach in the country, given the length we have with a late September start until now, especially with the transient nature of our game on rosters with transfers and stuff, you have to get them acclimated really, really fast."
The Badgers were also 11-for-32 on the night from beyond the arc, and while a lot of that was what the defense was giving up, Gard did reiterate they will be a three-point shooting team this season.
"You look at the analytics, and we've studied a lot of teams, I mean simple math is that three is worth more than two," said Gard. "We're gonna shoot threes, that's where the game is, and I think we've got good shooters."
This is a bit of a new look for Badger basketball, as historically the team has never shot much from three. Nearly everyone on the roster is capable of hitting shots from long range, so it should make for an interesting season.