Thoughts from the Badger State

10-11 Basketball114

Whenever we have a game, I try and seek out the views and opinions of those from the opponents area.

Today, we will look at Swingtown Badger Basketball Blog and The Badger Herald.

From Swingtown:

I don’t think a home game could have come at a better time. The Badgers couldn’t hit the broad side of the barn in Orlando, especially from deep…  NC State used to be a lot like Wisconsin with Herb Sendek at the helm. But he was chased away to ASU because their fanbase seemingly values high tempo over success… But they are signing 4- and 5-star recruits now, so I guess they can lose in style.

The Herald:

Despite their youthfulness, UW head coach Bo Ryan acknowledged the team’s athleticism and natural talent, saying they “can beat anyone in the country.”

But when it comes to anticipating NC State’s game plan, Ryan, whose teams have always been able to slow down the pace of their opponent, expects nothing less from the Wolfpack than another attempt at running the Badgers up and down the court.

“They’ll do that. Anybody that sees our team salivates. You know, if Pavlov rang a bell…” Ryan said. “People have been trying to run it down our throats for 10 years, it’s our job to stop them.”

Slowing down the opposing offense is somewhat of a trademark for UW, which has finished in the NCAA’s top 10 in points allowed in each of the last four years. So far this year, the Badger ‘D” has remained as dependable as ever, allowing an average of 54 points per game, right on cue with years past.

Only one team thus far has scored more than 60 points on UW, and Badger opponents have been held to shooting an average of just .387 and .351 this season.

On the other side of the court, the Badgers have struggled to consistently shoot the ball well over their last three games in the Old Spice Classic. In all first halves, UW connected on just .318 of all shots while coming back in the second to hit .509 of all attempts.

Other than poor shooting, UW’s two losses so far this season don’t have much else in common. Against UNLV, Wisconsin won the rebound fight and took full advantage of second chance points, but it was costly turnovers late in the game that made the difference.

Against Notre Dame, Wisconsin committed just four turnovers but lost the rebound fight and failed to get to the free throw line.

Tonight will be a battle of wills, the will to impose one style over another. The thing is, I don’t see it being that much of a factor unless we REALLY run the floor. Fortunately, we do have the ability to run an effective half-court offense, and we all know Wisconsin can run. This is a really tough game to quantify, which means we could easily get blown out or pull the upset. One thing is certain, this is an exceptional opportunity for NCSU to take the next step. But if we lose tonight, we still have some marquee games remaining in December to nullify a loss to the Badgers.

In absolutely unrelated news, came across this (not sure if anyone is talking about it on the forums): In short, despite what we heard from Gruden’s camp earlier this week, athletic director Kirby Hocutt will travel to Tampa Wednesday and meet with Gruden to gauge his interest in the position.

About BAM

I grew up on Jones Franklin Rd with a Wolfpack banner hanging over my bed. UNCW class of 2001.

10-11 Basketball

114 Responses to Thoughts from the Badger State

  1. backnine 12/01/2010 at 4:25 PM #

    The swingtown comments are purely regurgitated garbage. Why others have such a love affair with Sendek is beyond me. Given his results and teams over the years, the dude gets more passes than a NASCAR race. We probably won’t win this game tonight simply because its a horrible matchup for our young team and Smith being out makes it even worse. Their system is likely to catch our boys out of position over and over. And our kids are likely to be deer in the headlights inside the Kohl Center. But hopefully it pays off down the road. Still hoping to see us put a great game together but NOT going to panic over a loss tonight (or at ‘Cuse on Saturday for that matter).

  2. Daily Update 12/01/2010 at 4:25 PM #

    Is the blogger really that much of an idiot?

  3. PackInsider 12/01/2010 at 4:40 PM #

    “But he was chased away to ASU because their fanbase seemingly values high tempo over success”

    I’d like to meet this blogger and punch him in the face. Godalmighty it gets old hearing this over and over…and over and over.

    And for the record, we never rebounded well even with Sendek here.

  4. BAM 12/01/2010 at 4:47 PM #

    Haha, I’m glad (it seems) everyone realizes why I included the ‘blogger’ from Wisconsin. Shows the general view of NCSU regarding Sendek by anyone not in ACC country.

  5. timberwolf 12/01/2010 at 4:51 PM #

    Bo Ryan. Yep.

  6. choppack1 12/01/2010 at 4:52 PM #

    “Tonight will be a battle of wills, the will to impose one style over another.”

    I don’t think so – usually in the battle of wills that is up-tempo vs. controlled half court game – controlled half court game wins. It might be different if our team pressed or overplayed on D like Duke does, or even rebounded really well – but we don’t do any of these things, so I doubt we’ll be able to get out on the break alot.

    The good news is that in spite of the comment on valuing up-tempo over success is totally off – because we haven’t been up tempo team in the last 4 years.

    Heck, as for this blogger, I can’t blame them. How we would we view BC fans if TOB had come here and did what he did, but they had yet to be to a bowl game…Folks, that’s how we look to the average non-discerning eye. It doesn’t mean that these views are based on facts – it just means that from a distance, that’s what we look like simply because we haven’t yet met the level of success that we decried as mediocre when Sendek was here. (And please, appreciate the nuance of this statement – I’m not agreeing w/ the blogger.)

  7. TheAliasTroll 12/01/2010 at 4:59 PM #

    Well, honestly, until we start winning that perception is going to dominate.

  8. StateFans 12/01/2010 at 5:01 PM #

    Funny that Wisconsin is the team that knocked us out of the Sweet 16 a few years ago (despite Herb having a 10 point lead around halftime).

    We LOST that game. So, we weren’t even LOSING with style then.

  9. PackisRolling 12/01/2010 at 5:06 PM #

    ^ I recalled that game as well. That was after we beat UConn on Hodge’s last minute heroics correct?

    Looking forward to a good effort from the Pack tonight.

  10. burnbarn 12/01/2010 at 5:10 PM #

    Blowing that lead was perhaps the low point of the HWSNBM’s tenure. It was never going to happen after that.

  11. Old MacDonald 12/01/2010 at 5:15 PM #

    You guys don’t remember all that success?

  12. 8pack 12/01/2010 at 5:16 PM #

    Wisconsin will probably be able to slow us down and force us execute in the half court. Look for penetration from our guards to be the key, as we will likely have a quickness advantage. Without Tracy, Brown and Harrow need to beat their man off the dribble and get to the rim, or, kick out for open jumpers. Whether or not we have any success will depend on our ability to knock down the shots that are open.

  13. choppack1 12/01/2010 at 5:20 PM #

    “Blowing that lead was perhaps the low point of the HWSNBM’s tenure.”

    I don’t think so. Each year his teams seemed to have some moment like that – the difference is that in Years 1-5 – those moments would keep us off the bubble, in Years 6-10 – they were bigger games and bigger stakes. That was the beauty of Sendek ball – it was consistent – each year, his teams would find a new way to lose in painful fashion.

    SFN – indeed we lost that game. But we haven’t yet tasted the mediocrity at-large bubble bids and 2nd round losses yet w/ the current staff.

    Jeez – I hope this year is different, because let’s just say that the Georgetown game worried me on a lot of levels. And it didn’t worry me because we lost – but rather because it looked like men vs. boys.

  14. bradleyb123 12/01/2010 at 5:21 PM #

    But he was chased away to ASU because their fanbase seemingly values high tempo over success… But they are signing 4- and 5-star recruits now, so I guess they can lose in style.

    Sincerely,
    Herb Sendek

    (Seriously, this quote nearly made me fall out of my chair… I guess they define success as playing enough creampuffs to get enough wins to squeak into the dance, only to lose early and often!)

  15. wvillepack 12/01/2010 at 5:25 PM #

    I am old enough to remember when we were a basketball school. I expect nothing less than an acc championship at least once every 5 or 6 years. Herb didn’t deliver, so goodbye. We will get back in there….despite all the critics. I cant handle another 20 years of sucking.

  16. bradleyb123 12/01/2010 at 5:26 PM #

    And maybe the fine folks in Swingtown would care to explain why so many teams have come calling for Herb’s services over the years. Or why he has been so successful at ASU.

    Seriously, those comments reeked of someone with an agenda. Coming from Wisconsin, it’s confusing that someone would write that so many years later.

    If I didn’t know any better, I’d think a closet Tar Hole wrote that garbage.

  17. ShavlikLeague 12/01/2010 at 5:29 PM #

    “Blowing that lead was perhaps the low point of the HWSNBM’s tenure.”

    “I don’t think so.”

    I will whole-heartedly agree. With so many low moments to choose from, it’s tough to discern which should be crowned The low of lows.

    How about blowing the 11 point lead to Vandy in the 2004 NCAA tourney?

    Or my personal fav that occurred just previously to the Vandy debacle…blowing the 21 point lead to Maryland in the 2004 ACC tourney semis?

    Great times. SHETOWNBUCKY…what an idiot.

  18. MBS 12/01/2010 at 5:50 PM #

    For me, Vandy was the supreme lowpoint. That team had decent talent, but no lead was safe. They would DISCOVER new ways to blow leads. I still remember that somehow, Vandy AVERAGED 3.5 points per possession in the last two minutes. Seriously. How do you do that?

    Oh wait, I remember — foul a three point shooter; get an intentional foul that leads to 2 fts + a 3 pointer; etc.

    Brutal.

    I hope to see some wins soon, and I think we will. I really do. But until then, I’ll take losing with style.

  19. choppack1 12/01/2010 at 5:50 PM #

    Shavlick – Amen. You’ve identified 2 games which still stick in my craw. Hell, the Wisconsin game was small potatoes compared to that Vandy game.

    Oh, let’s not mention the Duke game in the ACC Championship 2003. Herb “No Lead is ever Safe” Sendek.

    But you have to remember – he didn’t live those defeats like we did. That pain is uniquely our own. Heck, the only reason I can relate to that banner I saw when Clemson had to beat BC to make the ACC championship game (and failed) was because we’d friggin’ lived it.

    He looks at our record the last 5 years w/ Sendek and what happened when we had Les, and sees what has happened since we brought in Sidney and says, “You see, they were better off and they were foolish for wanting that guy fired.” He’s not looking at our overall history or the unique pain of those losses.

    Of course, we knew who our AD was at the time, so we’ve got to own wanting that change when Lee Fowler would be quarterbacking the deal.

  20. PackisRolling 12/01/2010 at 5:50 PM #

    ^ Blowing 15-pt lead to Duke in ACC Finals. That was a blown opportunity on par with last Saturday’s football game against MD.

  21. packof81 12/01/2010 at 6:09 PM #

    SHETOWNBUCKY … what a troll.

    Yeah, I guess Sendek was successful from their perspective. They beat him. I reckon they be liking Herb. Here’s a newsflash: I was partial to Matt Doherty being UNC’s coach.

    I hope we beat those cheese heads.

  22. Old MacDonald 12/01/2010 at 6:27 PM #

    “Blowing 15-pt lead to Duke in ACC Finals. That was a blown opportunity on par with last Saturday’s football game against MD.”

    Winning the ACC Atlantic Division by beating Maryland is not within a light year of winning an ACC basketball title against Duke.

    And the 15-point Duke lead was a second half lead.

  23. choppack1 12/01/2010 at 6:47 PM #

    “Blowing 15-pt lead to Duke in ACC Finals. That was a blown opportunity on par with last Saturday’s football game against MD.”

    Dude – not even close. 14 plus point leads in the first half get blown all the time. Heck, it happened twice involving 2 other ranked teams last weekend alone.

    Blowing a 15 point lead in the 2nd half of the ACC championship does not happen much. Has it ever happened before?

    Heck, I do know that the exact same thing did happen again to ARIZONA STATE when he was in the Pac 10 championship game, but it’s a fairly rare occurrence. I’d also wager that no one has seen a 11 point lead in the last 4 minutes of an NCAA tournament game evaporate either.

  24. wufpup76 12/01/2010 at 6:53 PM #

    I’m curious to know what Swingtown’s definition of “success” is.

    “You guys don’t remember all that success?”

    ^Precisely.

    All that said, I’d be amazed if we won tonight. This has all the makings of us losing 60-39. Please, please, please prove me wrong.

    Tough matchup, on the road, a bruising style of play – I can see our guys getting frustrated and quiting early. Time to prove you can get them past that, Sidney.

  25. BAM 12/01/2010 at 7:16 PM #

    Anybody watching at a bar or anything in the Apex/Cary area? I’m looking to get out of the house…

1 2 3 … 5

Leave a Reply