Badger Bits: A look ahead to 2011-12 Badger hoops

by Adam Tupitza on Mar 29, 2011 5:15 PM CDT in Badger Bits

Josh Gasser and Mike Bruesewitz (fro or no fro) will likely play large roles in next year's edition of Wisconsin basketball.

Another basketball season, another successful year for Bo Ryan's Badgers. We enjoyed watching the emergence of players like Jordan Taylor and Mike Bruesewitz. The Badgers took down an undefeated No. 1 Ohio State at the Kohl Center, snagged a win over Marquette in Milwaukee, almost became the best free-throw shooting team in NCAA history, was clearly one of the top three teams in the Big Ten after being projected to finish in the middle of the pack, went undefeated at the Kohl Center, and topped it all off with a run to the Sweet 16.

The Wisconsin basketball careers of six young men are over. The versatile and skilled big man Jon Leuer who is poised to play in the NBA. The sometimes-disliked Tim Jarmusz who never turned the ball over and had a great 2011 NCAA tourney. The quirky hometown kid Keaton Nankivil who had a silky smooth three-point shot. Wquinton Smith, a campus open tryout walk-on who set multiple Wisconsin records in the weight room for a guard. Brett Valentyn, another walk-on who would only take three pointers when on the floor. And finally J.P. Gavinski, a fan-favorite big man who scored 10 more points in Division I basketball than most of us ever will.

So what is possible from the 2011-12 Badgers basketball team? The entire starting frontcourt is graduating, but second-team All American point guard Jordan Taylor will return. Mike Bruesewitz will be back, no matter the status of his red hair. Ryan Evans, Josh Gasser, and Jared Berggren are all returning players with significant playing experience. And Rob Schultz at Madison.com notes that redshirt freshman Evan Anderson could have a big role next season. And don't forget about the four freshmen coming in next year. It's a bit too early for overly detailed 2011 predictions, but you'd have to think that there's no way Jordan Taylor won't take us to another above .500 Big Ten season and NCAA Tournament next year.

More Links:

The Badgers football season opener against UNLV has been officially moved to September 1st, a Thursday night. It is yet to be determined whether the game will be shown on ESPN or the Big Ten Network. The last time Camp Randall hosted a Thursday night game was 2000.

ExileOnDaytonStreet over at Sixty Minutes questions Barry Alvarez's statements on why the Big Ten Hockey Conference will be good for Wisconsin. It sure does seem like it's all about the money. We should also be worried about the possibility of shootouts in the new B10.

I highly recommend rooting for Madison native Shaka Smart and his VCU Rams squad in the Final Four this weekend. Think he would want to come back to Wisconsin to coach the Badgers someday?

Michael Hunt of the Journal Sentinel wonders how anyone could defend the swing offense after that performance against Butler. Which begs the question...is it time for Coach Ryan to install a new offense at Wisconsin?

Could Badgers basketball assistant coach Gary Close end up as the head coach of....the Wisconsin women? Maybe.

If you're starving for some Badger sports this Spring, consider heading out to the Goodman Diamond to watch some Wisconsin softball this spring. The home opener is tomorrow at 4:30 PM CT against Illinois-Chicago.

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Hunt might have a point...

If we actually ran a swing offense this year.

Given the unique make-up of our squad this year we were far more perimeter-oriented than we traditionally have been under Bo. I’m no expert but I think this rendered our offense more of a ball screen-type offense where we mostly looked for open perimeter shots. It may have made us crash out of the BT and NCAA tourneys in spectacular fashion but it got us a lot of wins this year and played to our strength which was shooting the basketball.

I would imagine next year we’ll revert to more of a traditional Bo-type swing offense with more post touches and inside-out action. Concerned as to the loss of Leuer and Nankivil but there is massive opportunity for the Sophomores and Freshmen to step up and play huge roles as the Junior/Senior classes are relatively weak. I think with our youth we’ll take our lumps and be middle of the pack in conference next year with a 7-10 NCAA seed. But I think the future is relatively bright beyond that. My understanding is that next year’s freshman class should be pretty good and better than we are accustomed to. I’ve also heard Brust has been very strong on the scout team this year so I wouldn’t be surprsied if he slides into a prominent role next year.

by kmals on Mar 29, 2011 5:48 PM CDT reply actions

More JT Please

We need to let him take over the team. Next year he’s the only real scorer we have, so everything should be centered around him. They should get him to the free throw line, run a lot of iso plays that lead to kickouts and drives. Evans can get a lot of slashing scores off of drive and dish plays.

And you have Gasser start to do the same type of stuff because he might be just as good as JT. Next year should focus on those two guards and everyone else improving and holding their own.

by mladwig0 on Mar 29, 2011 5:57 PM CDT reply actions

Berggren could be big

he hasn’t been horrible in his limited minutes, and it seems after the loss last weekend alot of people have been talking about the lack of a post presence, something that in time I really think he could provide. even with a proven scorer in JT a post presence provides balance, something this team desperately lacked this year

"I'd rather die than live in a world where I can't kick your ass"
My Twittah!

by Wisco12 on Mar 29, 2011 9:26 PM CDT reply actions

Agreed

He showed quite a bit offensively in my opinion. He’s got some good post moves on the block and a decent shot. His problem is that he needs to get bigger and play better on defense.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Mar 31, 2011 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

We've been at our best with somewhat of a post presence

like with guys like Wilkinson and Butch. Both those guys were on some of our best teams and I don’t think it’s a coincedence. If Anderson is as advertised I believe we could actually be better next season. Two towering players with a post presence that can hit from outside would a nice change up to going cold from outside and then having no chance at winning.

by combatsports4life on Mar 30, 2011 4:33 PM CDT reply actions

I’m definitely hoping Uthoff can bring some physical presence with his perimiter shooting ability. Especially if he can contribute in his freshman year.

Badgers Football: Big Ten Champs
Packers Football: SUPERBOWL CHAMPS!
Badgers Basketball: Sweet 16
What's next?
Milwaukee Brewers: World Series Champs?

God, I love sports in the state of Wisconsin right now. If only the college guys could turn the corner.

by Tepo6688 on Mar 30, 2011 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions

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Badgers Football Schedule

UNLV	Thu 09/01	W 51 - 17
Oregon St. Building The Dam	Sat 09/10	W 35 - 0
@ Northern Illinois Red And Black Attack	Sat 09/17	W 49 - 7
South Dakota Coyotes	Sat 09/24	W 59 - 10
Nebraska Corn Nation	Sat 10/01	W 48 - 17
Indiana The Crimson Quarry	Sat 10/15	W 59 - 7
@ Michigan St. The Only Colors	Sat 10/22	L 31 - 37
@ Ohio St. Along The Olentangy	Sat 10/29	L 29 - 33
Purdue Hammer and Rails	Sat 11/05	W 62 - 17
@ Minnesota The Daily Gopher	Sat 11/12	W 42 - 13
@ Illinois Hail to the Orange	Sat 11/19	W 28 - 17
Penn St. Black Shoe Diaries	Sat 11/26	W 45 - 7
@ Michigan St. The Only Colors	Sat 12/03	W 42 - 39
@ Oregon Addicted To Quack	Mon 01/02	L 38 - 45

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