Michigan Basketball: Michigan at Wisconsin — Preview
Posted at 4:00am — 1/18/2014
Michigan Basketball: Michigan at Wisconsin — Preview
Big Ten Teams Enter Survival Mode
Brutal ball, that is a moniker that is hitting several Big Ten teams even after only two weeks of conference play. Those to whom the schedule has not yet been brutal, just wait, the roulette wheel is spinning.
Preseason Ohio State has turned cold and already has three losses. Illinois has turned surprisingly downward. Northwestern all of a sudden is somewhat better, Purdue is up and down, and Minnesota has righted the ship and is playing very well. Things will change, back and forth, up and down, enter your own descriptive phrase here.
Jan 14, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward Glenn Robinson III (1) shoots over Penn State Nittany Lions forward Ross Travis (43) in the first half at Crisler Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsMichigan jumps straight into the broiler going to Wisconsin after a tough loss by the Badgers last week. Wisconsin is brutal at home and few visiting teams have escaped with a win. Michigan will need to play a great game to hang with the physical and efficient Badgers. The foul shots better drop (assuming there are foul shots) and the turnovers better be few. Below is a reprint from the league preview.
Wisconsin appears to be better than last year and the schedule is the most favorable in the realm. It seems somehow the Badgers play Ohio State and Michigan State once each, and at home to boot. Wisconsin is a very good team, and that schedule equalizer puts the Badgers right into the mix.
Now do not get any alternative ideas, this is the same type of Wisconsin team all of us are used to watching. This year the tough defense continues and the offense has been impressive. The Badgers were 13-0 in nonconference play, beating Florida, St. Louis, Marquette, and West Virginia.
Jan 14, 2014; Bloomington, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Dekker (15) dunks against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall. Indiana defeats Wisconsin 75-72. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY SportsSophomore forward Sam Dekker is leading the way in scoring, averaging around 14 points per game. He is contributing well regarding shooting percentage and rebounding.
Also averaging around 14 points a game is 7-foot junior Frank Kamisnky and also averaging around 6 rebounds a game. He can hit three-pointers.
The very familiar senior guard Ben Brust is averaging 13 points a game and contributes five rebounds a game; a very nice number for a small guard.
Junior Traevon Jackson is hitting over ten points a game and nearly five rebounds a game.
Josh Gasser is a guard averaging almost 9 points a game and 4 rebounds.
Wisconsin has shot almost 40 percent from the three-point area, an excellent figure. The team is shooting 47% combined and 73% from the foul line. Wisconsin gets inside and gets to the foul line. The verdict is clear: the Badgers are tough.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu
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