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Last week fan confidence jumped a whole whopping 1% higher among Badger fans, but this week we really made some strides. Yes, fan confidence rose 4% this week, which is at least another step in the right direction. Essentially, three out of four Badger fans are happy with the current state of Badger basketball which is what I would call fair.
The Badgers win over Purdue certainly helped their case, and a win on Sunday against another team battling for March positioning, in Rutgers, should help. A loss, however, might offset some of the progress the Badger fans have had over the course of their three game winning streak.
A continued winning streak would certainly keep things going in the right direction, but I think even if you throw out the record of late that the Badgers have been playing better basketball at a much more consistent rate. Early on in the season Wisconsin was a Jekyll and Hyde team, and it showed in a big way. However, since things both on and off the court have started to settle, it appears that this team is playing more consistent. Guys like Aleem Ford are finding confidence as the Badgers prepare for their toughest games yet once March comes around. If they can keep building on the progress they’ve made, confidence should only continue to rise.
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In addition to polling fan confidence SB Nation also asked the correspondents who they think this years National Player of the Year is. Badger fans, you might want to look away....25% said Obi Toppin of Dayton, which is a the right choice. Second though, with 14% of the vote, was Iowa’s Luka Garza. It irk’s me beyond belief to think it could be Garza, but you have to respect his game a least a little bit.
After Garza came a host of other names staring with Kansas center Udoka Azubuike, followed by Vernon Carey Jr. of Duke, Malachi Flynn of San Diego State, and Payton Pritchard of Oregon.... please no. Whoever it will be is very deserving, and a strong stretch run here will likely mold the picture as the season draws to a close.