Disturbing game against Ohio State

[TW]

I'm not certain what happened in the Big 10 playoff game against OSU. It was horrible. For most of the game, the Badgers looked like a Jr. HS team playing against a Big 10 championship caliber team. Then, a switch was thrown, and they figured out how to play, and nearly made it a game.

Was it coaching that made it bad, or corrected it? Was it OSU feeling pitty for the Badgers, and how bad they looked? Did they take the foot off the pedal, and let them back in the game.... to a degree.... but never letting them really believe that they actually had a shot at winning it?

No matter what happens, with Gard, as HC over the next couple of years, I don't believe there should be any discussions around an extension for him. He needs to be replaced.

 

[Mark87]

I'm not certain what happened in the Big 10 playoff game against OSU. It was horrible. For most of the game, the Badgers looked like a Jr. HS team playing against a Big 10 championship caliber team. Then, a switch was thrown, and they figured out how to play, and nearly made it a game.

Was it coaching that made it bad, or corrected it? Was it OSU feeling pitty for the Badgers, and how bad they looked? Did they take the foot off the pedal, and let them back in the game.... to a degree.... but never letting them really believe that they actually had a shot at winning it?

No matter what happens, with Gard, as HC over the next couple of years, I don't believe there should be any discussions around an extension for him. He needs to be replaced.

Frankly, they were flat early and cold as ice, not sure it's a coaching issue. I think the concern is they aren't recruiting that well and it's showing on the court. Bucky bought out two coaches this year, not going to be a third. $$$$$

 

[TW]

I agree. I don't believe it's all about coaching. Recruiting doesn't seem to be on par with what it should be, for a major program. Who's responsible? I have a feeling a lot of this is the same problem that developed in football. If fact, that would kind of point at the administration above the coaching ranks having been a serious part of the problem. A lot of that would dump back on Alvarez, and those who make decisions on where they spend money to improve teams. The old culture issue at work here too.

McIntosh has a tough decision ahead, after this year. I'd honor the contract with Gard for next year, but beyond that? Either get it up to speed, or adios!

 

[57packer]

As I've mentioned before, I think this comes down to how well the 2023 class does along with improvement from current players to elevate the play of this team, and also how well Gard does in recruiting the 2024 class. If they turn in another mediocre year next season he's on the hot seat and then on top of it if the 2024 class falls apart he'll be gone next March.

Just to make things tougher, Daniel Freitag, one of Gard's top 2024 targets is now getting recruited more heavily to play football (WR). In fact, Gard may lose him to Fickel as I believe the Badgers just offered Freitag a football scholarship.

 

[TW]

As I've mentioned before, I think this comes down to how well the 2023 class does along with improvement from current players to elevate the play of this team, and also how well Gard does in recruiting the 2024 class. If they turn in another mediocre year next season he's on the hot seat and then on top of it if the 2024 class falls apart he'll be gone next March.

Just to make things tougher, Daniel Freitag, one of Gard's top 2024 targets is now getting recruited more heavily to play football (WR). In fact, Gard may lose him to Fickel as I believe the Badgers just offered Freitag a football scholarship.

It's interesting on Freitag. A lanky athlete. Could be the next PG for the Badgers, or a solid WR in football with that wing spread, and speed. The kind of kid who could go either way, as his ability levels roll out.

But, I think Freitag ends up at Minnesota. Close to home, and I think that matters to him.

2023 class - John Blackwell. The only major program of consequence offering him was Wisconsin. Another 6-3 guard who might be a point guard, and might be a shooting guard, but needs to prove he can do either. Not certain where he ends up. I wouldn't want my coaching career hanging on how he works out. Dean Oliver was his Badger contact.

Nolan Winter - 6-10, 190# small forward according to some services. OK. If they say so. He reminds me a lot of Crowl, watching his HS clips. Comes from the same region of teams like Crowl did. Might end up being a good swing between small and big, to give the Badgers some size on the floor. It's needed. Could end up a very good signing.

Gus Yalden - 6-8, 240# center, who needs to get rid of some fat, by turning it into muscle. It could happen, but will take a year. Has a history of being unlucky with injuries. Hasn't really settled in to play round ball anywhere, with Momma moving on the jobs, and such. But, the kid has some real ability to bang on the inside, and not bad footwork for an elephant in a china shop. He could end up being a piece that works out in the middle, and if he has the skills, find ways to drive to the bucket, a little like we saw with Charles Barkley in college.... just not as good as Barkley.... not nearly as good I don't think.

I think that's all they have coming in, unless some scholarship players choose the portal, or leave the system completely. Hard to say.

Lots riding on those guys plus those who didn't contribute this year, but are on scholarship. Some of them look like they could have decent years next year, and that's encouraging.

 

[GBP4EVER]

It's interesting on Freitag. A lanky athlete. Could be the next PG for the Badgers, or a solid WR in football with that wing spread, and speed. The kind of kid who could go either way, as his ability levels roll out.

But, I think Freitag ends up at Minnesota. Close to home, and I think that matters to him.

2023 class - John Blackwell. The only major program of consequence offering him was Wisconsin. Another 6-3 guard who might be a point guard, and might be a shooting guard, but needs to prove he can do either. Not certain where he ends up. I wouldn't want my coaching career hanging on how he works out. Dean Oliver was his Badger contact.

Nolan Winter - 6-10, 190# small forward according to some services. OK. If they say so. He reminds me a lot of Crowl, watching his HS clips. Comes from the same region of teams like Crowl did. Might end up being a good swing between small and big, to give the Badgers some size on the floor. It's needed. Could end up a very good signing.

Gus Yalden - 6-8, 240# center, who needs to get rid of some fat, by turning it into muscle. It could happen, but will take a year. Has a history of being unlucky with injuries. Hasn't really settled in to play round ball anywhere, with Momma moving on the jobs, and such. But, the kid has some real ability to bang on the inside, and not bad footwork for an elephant in a china shop. He could end up being a piece that works out in the middle, and if he has the skills, find ways to drive to the bucket, a little like we saw with Charles Barkley in college.... just not as good as Barkley.... not nearly as good I don't think.

I think that's all they have coming in, unless some scholarship players choose the portal, or leave the system completely. Hard to say.

Lots riding on those guys plus those who didn't contribute this year, but are on scholarship. Some of them look like they could have decent years next year, and that's encouraging.

So pretty much UW got guys that really did not have a lot of options. So get some meh players in have a season that's about .500 again Gard skates by again but will be on hot seast for 2024-25 season.

 

[GBP4EVER]

Badgers are not even good enough to get a 1 seed in NIT end up a 2 seed.

 

[57packer]

So pretty much UW got guys that really did not have a lot of options. So get some meh players in have a season that's about .500 again Gard skates by again but will be on hot seast for 2024-25 season.

Not entirely true. Yes, Blackwell had very limited offers, but Yalden is a borderline top-100 recruit who had a lot of offers from higher level D1 schools. Yalden should give them meaningful minutes right away. Nolan Winter, had offers from Minny, Stanford and Oregon St, along with some others. He probably won't contribute much next year because as TW says, he's a bit of a tweener, built like a small forward with the height of a power forward. He's got some interesting skills so I'll be curious how he develops.

Overall it's an odd year. A number of historically good teams missed the tournament this year including Ohio State, Villanova, North Carolina, Louisville, and Syracuse. Wisconsin has some company that way. I think all of those programs will get some increased scrutiny from their AD's going forward.

 

[TW]

Not entirely true. Yes, Blackwell had very limited offers, but Yalden is a borderline top-100 recruit who had a lot of offers from higher level D1 schools. Yalden should give them meaningful minutes right away. Nolan Winter, had offers from Minny, Stanford and Oregon St, along with some others. He probably won't contribute much next year because as TW says, he's a bit of a tweener, built like a small forward with the height of a power forward. He's got some interesting skills so I'll be curious how he develops.

Overall it's an odd year. A number of historically good teams missed the tournament this year including Ohio State, Villanova, North Carolina, Louisville, and Syracuse. Wisconsin has some company that way. I think all of those programs will get some increased scrutiny from their AD's going forward.

Pretty much what I see as well. My only question with Yalden is whether he can stay healthy. I wonder if he's one of those players who is going to have serious foot injuries, that leave him sitting more than playing. Also, he hasn't played all that much, and I worry that he might be overrated. Still, he's worth a shot because of his size. But, as a center at 6-8? Not certain.

If Yalden does become a solid player inside, it's a real coup for the program. In the Big 10, getting a battleship inside makes a big difference during the course of a season. The game is so physical in the conference.

 

[57packer]

After the crappy start to the Ohio State game, I thought maybe Gard had lost the locker room and guys were just going through the motions to finish the season. Then they put up some fight in the second half of that game. Now they just keep playing hard in largely meaningless NIT games. (Meaningless to most sports fans.) Seems like guys are still listening and are working hard for wins.

Klesmit is emerging as a more important player in the rotation in the last handful of games, which is important as Essegian is falling off a bit. They will need this kind of production from Klesmit if they want to have a better season next year. Essegian will need to do some strength and conditioning work this off-season. I think the increased minutes the second half of the season in the rugged Big-10 have taken their toll in his legs.