I've watched about 6 or 7 Wisconsin games this year

[UPitt '89]

They were horrible early in the year, and mediocre very late in the year. But in the middle of the year, they were outstanding.

The games I saw... I was very impressed with how tenacious Koenig is. And Vitto Brown was excellent. He was the 6th man for a while, but now is listed as a starter.

I like the matchup because they don't have quick guards and they don't have a dominating center. They're a lot like us, in that regard. The scoring comes from Nigel Hayes in a similar role that Mike Young plays here... and Koenig's shooting. Showalter is a slow guard, but plays very tough and makes the smart plays.

They won't press us... they don't have the quickness for that... so that's a plus.

They don't have a rim protector - just like we don't. Ethan Happ is ok inside, but he's a lot like Plumlee.... just need to use our quickness against him.

The key will be, in my view:

1. Who do we put on Koenig? I think probably JRob. And JRob can stay with Koenig.

2. Will Young be able to defend Nigel Hayes... and vice versa? This is the key matchup in the game.

3. Vitto Brown is the X-factor. He has a knack for being a pain in the ass, especially on the offensive boards. He is exactly the kind of guy Pitt used to have that won games because of determination and will power where talent was lacking.

If Koenig is allowed open looks from three, they will be hard to beat.


But I think this is an even matchup..... and exactly the type of opponent I hoped we'd get. This is a good matchup for James Robinson, especially... as neither of Wisconsin's guards are quick.

 

[Bethlehemjohn]

I think Jones or Cam may start off on Keonig, but Robinson is likely the best option and a good option for us.

I think Mike, Ryan and Sheldon will all take their turns with Hayes.

We need Jamel to get into the lane against Brown. If Jamel plays like he did against UNC, we likely win. If he plays like he did against tje Techs, we likely lose.

 

[UPitt '89]

By the end of the game on Friday, Pitt fans will absolutely hate Vitto Brown.

But it's the kind of hate that is... "Damn, I hate that asshole...but I wish he was on our team".

We have to make sure that Koenig has the same kind of game against us that Trevor Cooney usually has against us. Something like 2-for-9 from three and a total of 13-15 points on 13-15 shots.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I think it is a favorable matchup for us also.

 

[Hero of the Oppressed]

Pitt is going to win. I have a vision of the Badger fans all bitching that they shouldn't have promoted Greg Gard to permanent head coach.

 

[Jeffburgh]

Mostly agree - this is not a bad matchup for reasons folks have noted. I do think Wisky has more 'grit" than this team, so that is probably going to be the difference, but the panthers absolutely can win this game.

VERY modest expectations for this crew - making the NCAAs is treading water, a minor, MINOR, 1/8 step forward.

Actually getting a win in the NCAA wold rate as some, again small, but actual positive progress for where the program is at right now.

I would take that.

IF they are alive Friday morning they are playing with house money.

 

[UPitt '89]

Mostly agree - this is not a bad matchup for reasons folks have noted. I do think Wisky has more 'grit" than this team, so that is probably going to be the difference, but the panthers absolutely can win this game.

VERY modest expectations for this crew - making the NCAAs is treading water, a minor, MINOR, 1/8 step forward.

Actually getting a win in the NCAA wold rate as some, again small, but actual positive progress for where the program is at right now.

I would take that.

IF they are alive Friday morning they are playing with house money.

You mean Saturday morning. They play Friday night.

 

[thebadby2]

They were horrible early in the year, and mediocre very late in the year. But in the middle of the year, they were outstanding.

The games I saw... I was very impressed with how tenacious Koenig is. And Vitto Brown was excellent. He was the 6th man for a while, but now is listed as a starter.

I like the matchup because they don't have quick guards and they don't have a dominating center. They're a lot like us, in that regard. The scoring comes from Nigel Hayes in a similar role that Mike Young plays here... and Koenig's shooting. Showalter is a slow guard, but plays very tough and makes the smart plays.

They won't press us... they don't have the quickness for that... so that's a plus.

They don't have a rim protector - just like we don't. Ethan Happ is ok inside, but he's a lot like Plumlee.... just need to use our quickness against him.

The key will be, in my view:

1. Who do we put on Koenig? I think probably JRob. And JRob can stay with Koenig.

2. Will Young be able to defend Nigel Hayes... and vice versa? This is the key matchup in the game.

3. Vitto Brown is the X-factor. He has a knack for being a pain in the ass, especially on the offensive boards. He is exactly the kind of guy Pitt used to have that won games because of determination and will power where talent was lacking.

If Koenig is allowed open looks from three, they will be hard to beat.


But I think this is an even matchup..... and exactly the type of opponent I hoped we'd get. This is a good matchup for James Robinson, especially... as neither of Wisconsin's guards are quick.

I have watched the Badgers a few times this year as well. Their guards play excellent perimeter defense and they defend the three point line as well as anyone in college basketball. I think our guards will have tough sledding offensively. Wisky pressures the ball so JROB will have his work cut out for him. Defensively we match up pretty well. Our guards and wings will have to close out on the 3 point line. The kids in the Wisconsin program play a much better and more disciplined brand of defense than our guys, that is emphasized there as it is at UVA and as it once was at Pitt. In fact, Bennett's defense at UVA is fundamentally the same as Bo Ryan's D at Wisconsin, and of course Bennett was a former assistant to Bo at Wisky.

I think it's a tough first round matchup for us, but as a 10 seed we were going to have a tough first round matchup no matter what. If we can't beat Wisconsin in tournament play we aren't going anywhere anyway, so we might as well play that tough game early. I would like to see Robinson in particular be a lot more aggressive than he likes to be, and play 40 minutes the way he played the last 30 seconds against Cuse. We will need him to make some plays against Wisky to win.

 

[BigZeke]

I think Jones or Cam may start off on Keonig, but Robinson is likely the best option and a good option for us.

I think Mike, Ryan and Sheldon will all take their turns with Hayes.

We need Jamel to get into the lane against Brown. If Jamel plays like he did against UNC, we likely win. If he plays like he did against tje Techs, we likely lose.

Yeah I agree - Jamel is the X factor Friday - he plays well and I love our chances.

 

[yourhired]

Hayes will be the key player if he goes off then Pitt is in deep trouble but if they keep under twenty points Pitt has a shot to win. If the refs let both teams play it will be a physical game that we haven't seen for awhile if they start calling ticky tack both teams may not have enough players to finish the game.

 

[UPitt '89]

Hayes will be the key player if he goes off then Pitt is in deep trouble but if they keep under twenty points Pitt has a shot to win. If the refs let both teams play it will be a physical game that we haven't seen for awhile if they start calling ticky tack both teams may not have enough players to finish the game.

I prefer they call it tighter. Wisconsin's starting 5 all play 30 minutes or more and they go only 7 deep.

Pitt can withstand foul trouble better than. Wisconsin.

 

[BadgerInSpartyland]

Wisconsin fan here - I agree with a lot of the observations here, but a couple things. First, Vitto Brown has been a starter all year. He was hurt one game where he came in as a sub (@ Illinois), but the same 5 have started except for that game. Second, UW really has 9 players who play, but the matchups dictate which of the 4 subs play more minutes - Hill will be the backup G no matter what. The other 3 are Iverson (who is more of a F, but can play in the backcourt), Illikainen (a big who is a 3-point shooter), and Thomas (a big banger inside). Knowing that Pitt is good at offensive rebounding, I would expect to see more of Thomas than we normally do. Third, UW hasn't been in a ton of foul trouble, but if the Gs happen to get in trouble, they will use Hayes as a kind of point forward - the offense actually seems to run better when they do that because Koenig can be a bit of a ball hog sometimes.

 

[Blair_45]

If Robinson can do his thing and Artis can start knocking down shots and guys off the bench like Jeter can come in and knock down shots we can definitely win this game. I like that nobody so far has picked Pitt at all to win this game. I think it sets up well for us.

 

[runthewildcat]

Pitt is going to win. I have a vision of the Badger fans all bitching that they shouldn't have promoted Greg Gard to permanent head coach.

I hope you're right but this team is pretty good or atleast showed signs. Big wins over MSU and at Maryland. I'm saying Wisconsin 68 - Pitt 62