OT: Badger Basketball 2014-2015

[buckboy]

I'm hoping to see Dekker, Hayes and Kaminsky starting together in a bigger lineup next season.

I'll be shocked if you don't get your wish.

Jackson
Gasser
Dekker
Hayes
Kaminsky

Seems like a 90%+ chance that's the starting 5 barring injury.

My worry with Hayes and Kaminsky both in the starting lineup is the lack of size behind them should foul trouble occur.

I agree that's a concern. I also think Vitto Brown will be a serviceable player in the 8-12 minute range. I also expect Happ to contribute. This year's team is going to be the opposite of last year's IMO. A lot of big guys fighting for minutes as opposed to last year's guard-heavy lineup. I would be thrilled if Jordan Hill can leap into that 4th guard spot and make it 10 guys fighting for minutes. I think Ryan will only play 8 for the most part during conference season, as that's pretty much what he's always done.

Gonna be interesting to see how the Badgers handle being the (huge) favorite in the Big 10.

[Sky Bucks]

These are Diamond Stones top 5 schools in no particular order
1. Maryland 2. Duke 3. Wisconsin 4. Oklahoma State 5. UConn

[humanrefutation]

Just watched the first five minutes of the second half against Oregon at the BC. That crowd was just fantastic. The way they exploded when Kaminsky hit that three to force Oregon into a TO still gives me goosebumps.

I'm looking forward to this season.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Minnesota picked up their third commit. They currently only have 4 openings in 2015. Wisconsin is after both local MN kids Alex Illikainen and Jarvis Johnson.

[humanrefutation]

Minnesota picked up their third commit. They currently only have 4 openings in 2015. Wisconsin is after both local MN kids Alex Illikainen and Jarvis Johnson.

I like how you had to slip in that sentence about Wisconsin in order to make your otherwise irrelevant post somehow appropriate for this thread.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

You guys are really high on both Jarvis and Illikainen. We were thought to lead for both with two scholarships open, now we only have one. So now you guys are pretty much guaranteed one of them. That's the only reason I posted it.

[bullox]

Johnson signed with Minnesota.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophe ... 06791.html

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Illikainen picking up UW steam on 247's crystal ball predictions. Unless Pitino finds room for him, I think it's about 100% chance he ends up at UW.

[buckboy]

Illikainen picking up UW steam on 247's crystal ball predictions. Unless Pitino finds room for him, I think it's about 100% chance he ends up at UW.

This makes me very happy.

Would've loved to get Johnson but honestly I'd rather have Illikainen if I had to choose one.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

If Pitino doesn't find room (I've actually read he is still recruiting him), Illikainen is down to Wisconsin and Iowa since Oregon just picked up a higher rated PF. Illikainen already offical'd at Iowa. I just can't see him picking Iowa, considering Wisconsin desperately needs some big's and they have a better history of developing big men than Iowa.

[Kerb Hohl]

"Wisconsin desperately needs some bigs."

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Other than Hayes and maybe Happ (if the hype proves true), what will Wisconsin have in the front court in 2015? It will be even weaker if Dekker declares since he plays a lot at the 4. They are going to have a lot of playing time up for grabs. That's why most of their targets right now are PF's and C's.

Edit: Just browsed their roster. Hayes is a stud. Happ has a lot of hype. Vitto Brown has left a lot to be desired (albeit in limited playing time). The only other player taller than 6'6 is some walk on from Green Bay. I'd say they desperately need at least two big men in this class.

[HaroldinGMinor]

Other than Hayes and maybe Happ (if the hype proves true), what will Wisconsin have in the front court in 2015? It will be even weaker if Dekker declares since he plays a lot at the 4. They are going to have a lot of playing time up for grabs. That's why most of their targets right now are PF's and C's.

Edit: Just browsed their roster. Hayes is a stud. Happ has a lot of hype. Vitto Brown has left a lot to be desired (albeit in limited playing time). The only other player taller than 6'6 is some walk on from Green Bay. I'd say they desperately need at least two big men in this class.

I don't know if desperate is the right word but the focus this class is definitely big men. They'll get two of them at least.

[Kerb Hohl]

When was the last time they failed to fill out a good stable of big men? Sometime in the 90s? They have a good set this year obviously and are thin beyond that, but Illikainen isn't going to break them if he decides to go elsewhere.

They are still in on a set of good/elite guys as well.

Vitto Brown was also a freshman last year, so I think judging at this point is a bit premature.

[Bernman]

When was the last time they failed to fill out a good stable of big men? Sometime in the 90s? They have a good set this year obviously and are thin beyond that, but Illikainen isn't going to break them if he decides to go elsewhere.

They are still in on a set of good/elite guys as well.

Vitto Brown was also a freshman last year, so I think judging at this point is a bit premature.

It's not a desperate situation, and they'd still be adequate, but it would be a mini disaster if they didn't land any of the Sharma/Ellenstone/Stone trio, let alone Illikainen too. It's pretty crazy no recruit has committed since the final four appearance. That should have been a resolution of one hold-up. The style was a little better too, although I can still see that being somewhat of a hold-up because it was still slower than most and due to a longer history. If someone like Stone is coming to Wisconsin but just basking in the attention right now, it'll all be largely much ado about nothing in the end, but until then it's a little nervy. You gotta admit that.

[Kerb Hohl]

I was painting with a bit of a wide brush there, but when Chappel was a senior, they had Steimer, Butch, Landry, and a few other guys that could play as a big guy.

Yeah, it hasn't been perfect since the late 90s, but I was saying that even in some of those years they at least just had functional guys, let alone a shot at 3-4 4 or 5* guys. This is a unique year with the talent in the state but even if they don't get it I believe they will find something.

[HaroldinGMinor]

Usually when the bigs weren't super skilled they could at least rebound and defend. Rarely (ever?) have they had total stiffs back there.

[Ill-yasova]

Usually when the bigs weren't super skilled they could at least rebound and defend. Rarely (ever?) have they had total stiffs back there.

*I will take any and every opportunity I get to post this picture.

[Bernman]

Helmigk and Chappell were total stiffs too. Let's be honest.

Maybe we can still be pretty good with those type of guys because of the system, and "supporting" cast, but I wouldn't want to settle for that. We should be well disappointed if we lose out on recruits who would project us to be better. Of course there are diamonds in the rough, but unearthing them is not a strategy that's reliable for legit competing for conference let alone national titles on the regular. We have a golden opportunity here it seems. Hopefully we can take advantage and really build momentum for the program.

[midranger]

Jason Crappell was one of the worst players I remember getting significant burn under Bo.

I once made a sign saying "Jason Crappell is shaving points." I was not allowed to bring it into the Kohl, but it was displayed proudly outside.