2015-16 UW Badger Basketball Discussion Thread

[buckboy]

I know you weren't actually suggesting it. They have 2 of the best 40-50 best players in the country and Bo Ryan. I don't care what their schedule is, they're winning 20+ games. Again barring injury.

The 06 team you reference was gutted by suspension and isn't really relevant imo
They were fine until Landry and Stiemsma were suspended. Not great, but fine.

The 09 team was the only Ryan team ever in any real jeopardy of missing the tourney. And this team is far more talented than that one.

[On_Wisconsin]

A feeling from someone with a bit of inside knowledge on another Badger forum actually believes Thomas will be the one supplanting Brown as we get into the season. I'm personally a huge fan of Iverson and while he's really different than Nigel (duh), I think he could have a Nigel-ish freshman year where he shows a lot of flashes off the bench. If he could shoot better then I'd feel better about him starting. I'd bet it's a good chance he starts if Nigel goes pro though.

Separate note this freshman class gives so many reasons to be optimistic about the future. Iverson/Thomas/Happ is going to be a killer frontcourt

Iverson probably shoots better from distance than Thomas, and can make plays outside in with his handling, moves, quickness, and strength. Plus he can mark 3's without worry. So i think he gives us considerably more balance in a starting lineup, than does Thomas, even if Thomas is better, which I'm not sure about. There's just quite a bit of redundancy in a Hayes-Thomas-Happ grouping. If we see Brown starting off the bat, it's in all likelihood out of seniority, then he gets the ol' quick yank like Helmigk (not saying he's that bad). He gets supplanted, I think it'll be for a guy who balances the unit like Iverson, otherwise there isn't a ton of a point to it. AVV might even have more of a shot as he bulks up and cuts down the mistakes throughout the season. It's not for nothing that he and Iverson started the scrimmage, and Thomas came off the bench. It's just easier for lineup purposes. Maybe Thomas slides in for subsequent years, as he's playing too well to be a sub, but AVV as a fit might be why he starts then too. I also think it's easy project improvement from AVV between just bulking over time and Bo's subbing of players for bad shots. I think Bo is the perfect coach for him for that reason. With his length and skill-set, dude is likely to be an NBA rotation player. And I don't think one would come off the bench for UW when it's all said and done. Yeah, good future with him, Iverson, Thomas, Happ, and some decent players supporting them. Maybe not like the last two years, but better than all the previous seasons with this many players with realistic NBA potential.

For the record, I think both Thomas and Iverson have very, very bright futures. My two favorite freshman in this years class. I'm just passing along what I've heard from someone far my connected to someone inside UW basketball than me. He's of the belief that if any one of the freshman will start this year, it's going to be Thomas. I'd personally love to see Iverson do some creating with the second unit surrounded by shooters where he attacks the basket. Let him use his unique size/passing combo to create when Koenig/Hayes aren't one the floor. Maybe a Hill/Showalter/Iverson/van Vliet/Happ lineup where Iverson get's to run some offense.

And a bit of an update on Vitto. He's still got (some) of his fouling troubles in practice but apparently the jumper is looking usable. We will see how that goes in games but I'm hopeful he's going to be useful this year. Huge problem are how bad his hands are. Apparently is really struggling to catch passes. Thomas is ridiculous at 6'9" 253 with actual athleticism. If his defense improves at the rate of normal Bo players and his promising perimeter game (albeit very raw) continues to grow he's going to be a star. Already really, really good in the post.

Anyway, the future of Pritzl/Iverson/Thomas/Happ with van Vliet/Illikainen off the bench is so bright. Find that crew a PG and we are in serious business. Personally think all but maybe Illikainen have NBA chances (maybe he does too). Call me an optimist

[buckboy]

I believe Illikainen will be the best player in this class.

Just not this year.

Super-excited about the potential of all of them. Van Vliet is easily the biggest question mark for me, but only because the only tape of him I've seen is against unknown competition.

[trwi7]

UW officials announced Wednesday that freshman Andy Van Vliet will not dress for UW's exhibition game against UW-River Falls because of an NCAA eligibility issue.

I have to write a football story first so for now the UW release:

"NCAA rules state that prospective student-athletes have one year to enroll in a collegiate institution following their high school graduation or expected graduation date. Van Vliet played basketball as an amateur outside of that one-year window, which has resulted in the eligibility issue.

Citing factors outside of Van Vliet’s control, UW Athletics filed a waiver with the NCAA. UW was informed Wednesday afternoon that the waiver was denied and UW plans to appeal as soon as possible."

According to a UW official, the fate of the appeal should be known within two weeks. If the appeal is denied, Van Vliet will not be eligible to play until the 2016-'17 season and would have three seasons of eligibilty remaining.

If the appeal is upheld, he will be able to play this season.

[Badgerlander]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/662676034563784706[/tweet]
http://www.insidenu.com/2015/11/6/9681412/northwestern-lakefront-athletic-facility-northwestern-football-ryan-fieldhouse

Northwestern will officially break ground on its new lakefront athletics facility with a ceremony Nov. 13, the University announced Friday.

The complex will include both the Ryan Fieldhouse and the Walter Athletics Center.

According to Northwestern's press release, the Ryan Fieldhouse will contain the following:

A full-size indoor practice field for multiple sports (Wilson Field)
Workout areas for Olympic sports teams
Space to house campus events including convocations and Dance Marathon
Sports medicine resources
Locker rooms for a variety of varsity sports
The Walter Athletics Center is also geared mostly toward housing athletic activities. It will:

Be the new home of Northwestern football, which will include the coaches' offices, team meeting and locker rooms
House numerous coaches' offices from other sports
Contain a nutrition and dining center
Include academic and professional development offices.
The school also plans to update the Norris Aquatics Center, the home of the men's and women's swimming and diving teams, with new training areas, locker rooms, offices and meeting spaces. The project will also replace the three recreational basketball courts and a running track inside Henry Crown Sports Pavilion (also known as SPAC).

This summer, Northwestern started construction on a new practice field for the football program and began to renovate the soccer, lacrosse and field hockey fields.

[buckboy]

Sweet. Now I can go watch them get their asses kicked in a nice building.

[tski1972]

1st game of the season tips off at 8pm.

Go Bucky!

[Turk Nowitzki]

I have a feeling this year will give me a greater appreciation of how good we were last year, particularly Kaminsky. I'm excited for the season though.

[Turk Nowitzki]

Not gonna lie, I'm still bitter about the national championship game.

[Turk Nowitzki]

Vitto Brown shoots 3's now?

[MickeyDavis]

Brian Anderson doing the game. He's everywhere

[MickeyDavis]

Showy from walk on to starter. Cool.

[Turk Nowitzki]

Charlie Thomas looks like a man.

[Turk Nowitzki]

Nigel's FT stroke looks different.

[MickeyDavis]

Thomas playing some Greg Monroe defense

[Turk Nowitzki]

Charlie Thomas looks like a man.

Playing like a freshman in his first action though

[Turk Nowitzki]

The defense hasn't been great but are they going to **** miss a shot?

[Turk Nowitzki]

Nigel has really revamped his shooting form, very interesting thing to do since he was pretty effective last year.

[Ill-yasova]

Charlie Thomas looks like a man.

Playing like a freshman in his first action though

He's 17?

He's 17.

HE'S 17!!!!!

[Turk Nowitzki]

I know what's done is done but I can't stop thinking that the roster has a Diamond Stone sized hole in it. We just don't have a center. Think about him with this group of freshman instead of Van Vliet.