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1. Slow pace - that’s our brand, too. Though we don’t stand around waiting for the clock to go down unless we’re protecting a late lead. 2. is your Sissoko related to the Michigan State Sissoko? 3. UW has been susceptible to slashing guards getting to the rim

If you're talking UW, this was a disappointing season - we missed one NCAA in the last 20-something years and haven't played in the NIT since '96. So, not the finest vintage, but they're not hard to root for despite this year's flaws...

You'll want to guard Klesmit and especially Essegian behind the arc, too. As I mentioned previously, Essegian's been cold, but he has the purest stroke on the team and you don't want to get him going. Klesmit is really the 5th option amongst the starters, but he doesn't pass up shots he should take - he led the team in scoring last night. Your perimeter D is strong, though, so maybe not something to worry too much about. UW does play one post and 4-out and likes to touch the post every possession. Teams that double the post have had a little success in creating turnovers (that's relative - UW is #1 in not turning it over which is why they're able to stay in these games despite kinda sucking at shooting). but both Crowl and Wahl are good passers for big men.

Good questions, especially re: the blocks, and I don't have a great answer. Crowl is a little soft, to be honest, and we also need him to stay out of foul trouble because of the talent dropoff to Gilmore. I don't remember a time over the years when the defense really ever emphasized blocks. We play man to man exclusively with the philosophy of trying to make you shoot midrange (i.e. limit paint and 3s). We also try to limit you to one shot, so defensive rebounding position may be valued over blocks. We will double the post occasionally, depending on the player, so can your guy pass out of the post well? We also seem to be getting a lot of moving screen calls on the opposition lately, as our guards generally try to fight above it rather than switch. This will change from game to game though, depending on opponent. As to FTs - oh yes, this is an issue, though it's been stellar for the 3 games in the NIT. The bigs are shaky. But, surprisingly, that hasn't been the main problem in these close games as much as who does and doesn't make a play.

I doubt you'll get a smack-talker posting here, but it's possible you might see some things you don't like at Buckyville. There really is no history between our programs, so no chip-on-the-shoulder should exist from our end. It was great that you beat Purdue, which happens to be one of the rival conference schools that Wisconsin fans get along with relatively well. We do have a mutual hostility towards several others, however - not at all bothered by the B10's showing in the NCAAs.

Hey Mean Green fans. Badger fan here - I've been to your campus like 30 years ago when I lived for a couple years in Flower Mound. I think nothing posted here about the Badgers is blatantly wrong. There was a comment about Jordan Davis getting a "rare" start earlier in the year, but he was in fact the starter at the 3 up until midway through the year when Essegian was inserted. Essegian is in a horrid slump - he came in as a sharpshooter and was the emerging leading scorer/primary option, but has gone ice cold the last 10 or so games. There's some chatter amongst the fans about putting Davis back in because he's the better option defensively. Has UW played a defense as good as UNT? Looking on t-rank, it looks like Rutgers, Kansas, Purdue, and Northwestern are ranked ahead of UNT at 24, and UW is at 25. 9 of the 14 B10 teams were top 50 defenses. Quite frankly, UW struggles mightily on offense. What worries me most is that you have an excellent 2P% defense and we are really terrible this year at that. Crowl is a 7 footer and he was excellent in the first two rounds of the NIT, but was not able to outduel the bigs of Oregon offensively, getting a lot of shots blocked and altered. Tyler Wahl also mainly scores by backing defenders down in the post, but he has been terribly inefficient at that this year, especially since his injury at the beginning of January. Gilmore is the main backup big to both of those guys and he is a huge step down offensively - he does play good defense, though. Hepburn, our PG, is also notoriously inefficient inside the arc, but when he has a size advantage - like he did against Liberty - he can go crazy. The other thing to mention is almost every game UW plays is close. Last night was the 20th game decided by 5 points or less. In back to back games, UW took Purdue to the wire and had to sweat against bottom-feeding Minnesota. Ask me anything.