Badgers Basketball 2024-25

[Voyageur]

I agree. I think it was the perfect storm in Madison. Penney coming in with some smart ideas, the team was made up of a group of guys that the concepts work perfect with. Going into this season, most pegged the Badgers for the bottom 5 in the Big10, now they are in the conversation for actually winning the Big10 and being a threat in the NCAA tourney. The 2 games this season against Illinois really showed just how far the Badgers have progressed in a short time.

A good interview with Kirk, back in November. The audio is terrible, especially for the first minute. Coach Penney won't be in Madison long if word gets out just how much he has helped the Badger offense.

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I've always been intrigued as to how the Euro game has evolved. It's become competitive to a lot of NBA teams because they use more players in various roles, and it creates an environment where a lot of different players can step up and lead on any given day. In fact, the NBA has adopted a lot of the principles for themselves.

Colleges spend way too much time concentrating on having one or two big time scorers and having the rest of the team sit back and watch them play the game. Last year was the epitome of what's wrong with that system, watching Hepburn eat up clock to throw up a desperation shot or Storr taking poor shots because he was expected to shoot every time he got the ball. Teamwork wasn't of any importance in how Gard was playing them. Reality was players like Essegian were poorly used along with Crowl.

It took well into this season before Crowl could break out of the box that Gard had put him in, even though Gard wanted it to happen earlier. Gard needed to light a fire under him, not just talk about it. It was 12 games down before it happened. We can thank Penney for it because he created the environment for it to happen with the implementation of the two bigs system teaming with Winter. It freed up opportunities for Crowl.

I'm afraid you're right about us losing Penney. The guy is someone with a bright future ahead of him. I hope it ends up with the Badgers.

 

[weeds]

Big freeze up in the 2nd half against Oregon. ...but hey, they get paid too huh?

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[Voyageur]

After building a big lead, the Badgers reverted to Greg Gard's worthless old 4 corner offense and go the doors blown off their game losing to a team they should have manhandled. To make matters worse, he decided to act like he'd never coached a game in his life during the last two-minutes of the game. Oregon won this game because Gard just can't quite get it into his head that the modern game does not include his idea of what worked for grandpa works today. His being nominated for coach of the year was a joke in my mind. He just tried to prove he's smarter than Penney and it backfired on the entire team.

This happens after Michigan State made it possible for the Badgers to still win the Big 10 title. I'm not in the slightest bit happy about what he did out there. He even reverted to his old method of closing out games with one person handling the ball and playing a solo game. It was Hepburn in the past and he turned the last two-minutes over to Tonje and the Ducks knew it and played a loose double-team on him and shut him down. It wasn't on Tonje, it was on Gard because he abandoned the play he's been getting for so long from his entire team.

 

[Heyjoe4]

After building a big lead, the Badgers reverted to Greg Gard's worthless old 4 corner offense and go the doors blown off their game losing to a team they should have manhandled. To make matters worse, he decided to act like he'd never coached a game in his life during the last two-minutes of the game. Oregon won this game because Gard just can't quite get it into his head that the modern game does not include his idea of what worked for grandpa works today. His being nominated for coach of the year was a joke in my mind. He just tried to prove he's smarter than Penney and it backfired on the entire team.

This happens after Michigan State made it possible for the Badgers to still win the Big 10 title. I'm not in the slightest bit happy about what he did out there. He even reverted to his old method of closing out games with one person handling the ball and playing a solo game. It was Hepburn in the past and he turned the last two-minutes over to Tonje and the Ducks knew it and played a loose double-team on him and shut him down. It wasn't on Tonje, it was on Gard because he abandoned the play he's been getting for so long from his entire team.

Sounds like after the Ducks erased the 17-point lead, Gard had his players playing not to lose. That doesn't work. Just ask Mike McCarthy.

 

[Voyageur]

Sounds like after the Ducks erased the 17-point lead, Gard had his players playing not to lose. That doesn't work. Just ask Mike McCarthy.

They were totally taken out of their game by Gard. He totally abandoned all the good things that's got them this far and went back to being the old Greg Gard which everyone disliked on the sidelines. Even his utilization of clock and time outs went sideways. He needed to be home sick, not there on the sideline. They could have won this one by 15+ and should have.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Here I thought the decisive 21 point win over Illinois was impressive for the Badgers.

Well......Saturday night at Madison Square Gardens, The #3 ranked Duke Blue Devils, whipped Illini by 43 points! Final Score: 110-67.

 

[Voyageur]

Well, that was disheartening. Penn State coming into Madison on Senior day and beating the Badgers costing them a two-game bye in the Big 10 tourney and probably dropping them from a #2 seed down to a #5.

There's no way of sugar coating this one. This was a total failure on the part of the players and coaching staff to adjust to a zone defense because they expected Penn State to use man coverage on defense. On offense, way too many lost opportunities to draw fouls on the inside, by giving their big man easy blocks. Then, no adjustments coming from the sideline for some reason.

Then, on defense, dropping into double teams against smaller players in the post and letting a 7-footer run free for lob passes. Nobody was boxing the guy out.

I hate seeing this happen at this point. They've done so well until now.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

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[Voyageur]

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That covers it.

 

[weeds]

Well that was something... beating MSU and Izzo. I like days like today. Now it's either Michigan or Maryland - and I'm not making any bold predictions. My predictions usually end up bringing down the wrath of the thing on any team I'm backing ...so... the team scoring the most points and getting away with the most blocking and tackling will win.

 

[Voyageur]

Well that was something... beating MSU and Izzo. I like days like today. Now it's either Michigan or Maryland - and I'm not making any bold predictions. My predictions usually end up bringing down the wrath of the thing on any team I'm backing ...so... the team scoring the most points and getting away with the most blocking and tackling will win.

Someone in the media commented that the Badgers were a team designed to play in March. I'm beginning to be a believer. But they need to keep playing top level basketball. Both Maryland and Michigan ill be formidable tomorrow for the Big 10 tourney championship but beyond that, they need to answer the bell constantly to win when they get against the nation's best.

This could be a team that gets bounced in an upset in the first round or could be still on their feet for the Final 4. It's so hard to assess them and what they actually have.

Next year is a real question mark. With the success of Tonje, the Badgers could be a good destination in the eyes of players who have one year left and want to be showcased for the NBA. We need a #3 and hopefully a big guy to work with Winter, and a shooting guard with lights out speed. We've got the point covered with Blackwell and Freitag.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Someone in the media commented that the Badgers were a team designed to play in March. I'm beginning to be a believer. But they need to keep playing top level basketball. Both Maryland and Michigan ill be formidable tomorrow for the Big 10 tourney championship but beyond that, they need to answer the bell constantly to win when they get against the nation's best.

This could be a team that gets bounced in an upset in the first round or could be still on their feet for the Final 4. It's so hard to assess them and what they actually have.

Next year is a real question mark. With the success of Tonje, the Badgers could be a good destination in the eyes of players who have one year left and want to be showcased for the NBA. We need a #3 and hopefully a big guy to work with Winter, and a shooting guard with lights out speed. We've got the point covered with Blackwell and Freitag.

I'm a Marquette guy at heart and haven't followed the Badgers closely. It seems like this is the best team UW has had since the team that made it to the championship game against Duke in, 2014?

Anyway they will be fun to watch. I certainly hope they end up in the Final Four. Big win against Penn State. As for Marquette, well they are likely to get bounced in round 1. They had a great start, and then fizzled, so long. Oh well, the tournament is always fun, especially with WI always (almost) having two teams in the tournament.

 

[weeds]

For what it's worth, the Badgers had a great start today and fizzled. But hey... they beat Izzo yesterday.

 

[Firethorn1001]

For what it's worth, the Badgers had a great start today and fizzled. But hey... they beat Izzo yesterday.

I think for both teams fatigue set in.

Committee didn't do them any favors sending them at altitude to Denver and with BYU as the 6 seed.

 

[Voyageur]

I think for both teams fatigue set in.

Committee didn't do them any favors sending them at altitude to Denver and with BYU as the 6 seed.

I think it really hurt the Badgers. Tired legs don't play well, and they are such a fast tempo team now. But they did well enough that I wasn't disappointed. Winning it would have been nice but it all in all, they're going to be fine going into Thursday's game.

 

[Voyageur]

Badgers play Montana today at 12:30 PM. Game is on TNT. 3-20-25, the beginning of a run to hopefully the Final 4.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Badgers play Montana today at 12:30 PM. Game is on TNT. 3-20-25, the beginning of a run to hopefully the Final 4.

We could definitely use some good sports news in Wisconsin, either the ports or college or both. Badgers certainly have the talent to make it to the Final Four. I did not start out as a believer but watching them in the Big 10 tourney, knocking off Mich State, yeah they're the real deal.

I'm an MU guy and was very disappointed with how last season ended. This is one strange team. A 7 seed feels right, and they have plenty of talent but absolutely no time to turn around their season beyond the next game. Maybe they'll surprise me. Hope so. Would love to see UW and MU get to the Sweet Sixteen, for starters.

 

[Voyageur]

Darn it! Today was all messed up. I was all set to watch the Badgers game today and out of the clear, my mind was clouded by an issue I had to take care of. In the end, I forgot all about the game and missed their dismantling of Montana, which I expected.

It's not happening the next game. I'm shutting everything out to watch it. Just like it's a shutdown tonight, when I watch the Bucks after the Kuzma comments and reactions. I want to see if Giannis can give up the ball or needs to suck the life out of it along with Dame.

I want to see if Doc, Giannis, and Dame can actually follow the path to winning ball games or if they are too busy patting themselves on the back to make it happen.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Darn it! Today was all messed up. I was all set to watch the Badgers game today and out of the clear, my mind was clouded by an issue I had to take care of. In the end, I forgot all about the game and missed their dismantling of Montana, which I expected.

It's not happening the next game. I'm shutting everything out to watch it. Just like it's a shutdown tonight, when I watch the Bucks after the Kuzma comments and reactions. I want to see if Giannis can give up the ball or needs to suck the life out of it along with Dame.

I want to see if Doc, Giannis, and Dame can actually follow the path to winning ball games or if they are too busy patting themselves on the back to make it happen.

I missed the game too. Being retired, it should be easy to catch a day game, but like you, I missed it.

As for the Bucks, they need a strong-willed HC to manage the trio of Giannis/Lillard/Kuzma. Rivers is just not that guy. So the resulting chaos is easier to understand, but no less frustrating.

 

[DoURant]

Big 10 goes 8-0 in the 1st Rd of the tournament. Not a bad start, and nice to see.

The SEC sent 14 out of 16 conference teams to the tournament, I don't think that should happen, but not a lot of upset automatic bids, so maybe that had something to do with it. They went 8-6 in the 1st Rd, with a #6 being their highest seed to lose.

 

[weeds]

We just ran out of time. We'll get 'em next year.

 

[Heyjoe4]

We just ran out of time. We'll get 'em next year.

The Badgers were eliminated by the very thing that makes March Madness so much fun, the upset win (or loss I guess).

Just one of these years I'd like to see a home-state team get to the Sweet 16.

 

[Voyageur]

We just ran out of time. We'll get 'em next year.

To be honest, I don't believe the better team won out there. I think the Badgers are a better team. We lose a lot from this team. Crowl, Tonje, McGee, Klesmit, Gilmore, and Ilver. Some real hustlers and guys who went all out during the entire season. These guys will be remembered as something special because they weren't considered good enough to even get into this year's tournament, or compete in the Big 10. It's going to be tough replacing them.

There was a comment made yesterday by a broadcaster. I can't remember who, or when, but he talked about Gard having "stepped back" from being a "full-time coach." I got to thinking about that comment and wondering exactly what it meant. I think I figured it out.

Gard is the HC and he's making the decisions on the sideline, but others are more deeply involved in the preparation and facts of the game that are handled in detail. That's where Krabbenhoft, and Penney, along with Chambliss and the rest of the staff are being utilized better than they had been in the past. This is what's driving this team. New blood and ideas in coaching, and game management. Things that are beyond the experiences that Gard has had to this point. To Gard's credit, he's letting these people do what they do best, and it's had good results.

In wouldn't be a bit upset if Gard left, as long as either Krabbe or Penney got the HC job. It could cause some turnover amongst the rest of the staff, but that's pretty much the way things work. You roll with it.

If Gard stays, I have a feeling we're probably going to lose both Penney and Krabbenhoft to better jobs during the off season, and quite frankly, it will hurt the program immensely.

There's a lot of talent moving up on this team next year, and beyond that, with the way portal players have done at Wisconsin, I have a hunch we're going to see 2 or 3 guys who will come in and play important roles in the upcoming season.

Right now, Bucky is on the rise, and we need to put that game behind us.

I'm always reminded of the famous USC vs Wisconsin Rose Bowl game back in the 60s, and my cousin telling an interviewer on TV after the game, "USC didn't beat us. We ran out of time." That's all he said and walked away from any other comment. I thought about that right after the game ended last night. These guys can hold their heads high. They are not losers.

 

[Heyjoe4]

To be honest, I don't believe the better team won out there. I think the Badgers are a better team. We lose a lot from this team. Crowl, Tonje, McGee, Klesmit, Gilmore, and Ilver. Some real hustlers and guys who went all out during the entire season. These guys will be remembered as something special because they weren't considered good enough to even get into this year's tournament, or compete in the Big 10. It's going to be tough replacing them.

There was a comment made yesterday by a broadcaster. I can't remember who, or when, but he talked about Gard having "stepped back" from being a "full-time coach." I got to thinking about that comment and wondering exactly what it meant. I think I figured it out.

Gard is the HC and he's making the decisions on the sideline, but others are more deeply involved in the preparation and facts of the game that are handled in detail. That's where Krabbenhoft, and Penney, along with Chambliss and the rest of the staff are being utilized better than they had been in the past. This is what's driving this team. New blood and ideas in coaching, and game management. Things that are beyond the experiences that Gard has had to this point. To Gard's credit, he's letting these people do what they do best, and it's had good results.

In wouldn't be a bit upset if Gard left, as long as either Krabbe or Penney got the HC job. It could cause some turnover amongst the rest of the staff, but that's pretty much the way things work. You roll with it.

If Gard stays, I have a feeling we're probably going to lose both Penney and Krabbenhoft to better jobs during the off season, and quite frankly, it will hurt the program immensely.

There's a lot of talent moving up on this team next year, and beyond that, with the way portal players have done at Wisconsin, I have a hunch we're going to see 2 or 3 guys who will come in and play important roles in the upcoming season.

Right now, Bucky is on the rise, and we need to put that game behind us.

I'm always reminded of the famous USC vs Wisconsin Rose Bowl game back in the 60s, and my cousin telling an interviewer on TV after the game, "USC didn't beat us. We ran out of time." That's all he said and walked away from any other comment. I thought about that right after the game ended last night. These guys can hold their heads high. They are not losers.

The Badgers had a v good team this year, better than anyone expected I think (I don't follow UW BB that closely). It's not hard to believe they had the better team last night. Running out of time is just another way of describing a defeat. This is what makes MM fun for me, the upsets - but not home-state upsets! I wish UW was going to the Sweet 16.

There seems to be some dissatisfaction with Gard. I don't have anything solid, it's just a gut feel from reading comments. What is the root of this? Seems strange to me considering how well the Badgers played this season. I'm just curious.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Not to take anything away from BYU, but this was the 2 shades of inconsistency that we saw from the Badgers all season. They stunk up the court in the 1st half, as well as much of the second half. Digging themselves a hole not in just the score, but by having several players in foul trouble early in that 2nd half. Then suddenly Tonje and the hard to stop Badgers showed up, but too little too late.