Florida vs. Wisconsin

[Deleted]

Pregame notes from floridagators.com:


floridagators.com/documents/2017/3/20/Florida_NCAA_Tournament_Guide_Regional_Semifinals_.pdf


• Florida is 2-2 all-time vs. Wisconsin, but this marks the first postseason meeting between the teams.

[Deleted]

ET's Look At Florida vs. Wisconsin:

It's Florida 26-8 vs. Wisconsin 27-9 in the Madison Square Garden in New York City in the Sweet 16. The game will be the Friday late game and it will be televised by TBS.

Both Florida and Wisconsin finished second in conference play.

The badgers are an experienced team starting 4 seniors that can play out to a depth of 10 players. However, the starters plus guards Trice, Iverson (G/F), and Pritzi are the badgers core group of players. F Illikainen plays about 5 minutes per game in brief relief of the frontcourt starters. When the badgers sub, it is usually a G or G/F substitution. The badgers are more deliberate/slower in style than UF and they are an excellent passing team. I noticed they had success running backdoor passes for layups against Villanova. The offense reminded me a bit of the style that Georgetown ran when John Thompson Jr. was their coach, similar to what used to be referred to as the Princeton offense. The 4 Wisconsin senior starters have had NCAA tourney success having now advanced to their 4th straight Sweet 16 along with 2 Final Four appearances.

The Gators usually play out to a depth of 9 players, but can play out to 11 players. When starting center John Egbunu was lost for the season on 2/14 at Auburn, it put UF into an experimental mode to try to replace Egbunu with an aggregate of player's production. That involved moving backup C Hayes to starter along with using Keith Stone, Schuyler Rimmer, and Gorjok Gak as backups at the 5 position. Stone is a classic PF so him playing the 5 didn't turnout well as he lacked the physical inside style of play to stand up to the good true centers. The C backup duty for the tourney has been Gak followed by Rimmer. My guess is both Gak and Rimmer will be needed against Wisconsin. UF's 11th available player who doesn't play often due to being buried on the G depth chart is Eric Hester. He is an excellent defender with a long wingspan and he has a surprising good 3 point shot. The only UF player with NCAA tourney experience before this season is Kasey Hill as he played on UF's 2014 Final Four team. UF missed the NCAA tourney in 15 (no tourney) and 16 (NIT).  

Wisconsin Starters:-------------------------Florida Starters:

*N. Hayes F 6'8"/240 SR 13.8/2.7a-------K. Hayes C 6'9"/220 SO 6.1 
*V. Brown F 6'8"/235 SR 6.8--------------*J. Leon F 6'8"/206 SR 7.1
E. Happ F 6'10"/232 SO 13.8/2.8a--------*D. Robinson F 6'8"/200 JR 11.4
*Z. Showalter G 6'3"/185 SR 8.1/1.8a----*K. Allen G 6'2"/183 SO 13.4/1.5a
*B. Koenig G 6'3"/190 SR 14.5/2.0a------K. Hill G 6'1"/175 SR 9.7/4.5a

Wisconsin Bench:---------------------------Florida Bench:

*D. Trice G 6'0"/178 FR 5.8/1.7a----------*C. Chiozza G 6'0"/176 JR 7.1/3.7a
*K. Iverson G/F 6'5"/212 SO 3.9----------*C. Barry G/F 6'6"/215 SR 11.8 
B. Pritzi G 6'3"/195 FR 2.0-----------------*K. Stone F 6'8"/240 FR 3.6
J. Hill G 6'4"/172 JR 1.6--------------------G. Gak C 6'11"/235 FR 1.8
A. Illikainen F 6'9"/232 SO 1.3-------------S. Rimmer C 6'10"/249 SR 1.2
-----------------------------------------------E. Hester G 6'3"/167 FR 2.3

* 3 Point Shooters
a = assists

Key Statistics:

Wisconsin------------Florida

PPG 72.5-------------77.9
OPPG 61.5-----------65.7
RPG 37.5-------------37.3
APG 13.7-------------12.6
SPG 7-----------------8
BPG 4-----------------5
TPG 11----------------12
FG% .455-------------.451
FT% .642-------------.726
3P% .357-------------.361

Wisconsin players acknowledge they felt insulted by their #8 seed. By dispatching #1 seed and defending national champion Villanova, the badgers have impressively proven their point that they should have been seeded higher by the NCAA selection committee. Prior to the Villanova game, ex-Wisconsin player Frank Kaminsky said on ESPN that the #8 seed was a joke.

Florida HC Mike White is deserving of consideration for national coach of the year honors. He has already been named the SEC coach of the year. The job he has done to keep the UF team together and performing at a high level after the loss of starting center John Egbunu has been both surprising and remarkable.

[bamorin]

Mar 20, 2017 11:51:48 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

ET's Look At Florida vs. Wisconsin:

It's Florida 26-8 vs. Wisconsin 27-9 in the Madison Square Garden in New York City in the Sweet 16. The game will be the Friday late game and it will be televised by TBS.

Both Florida and Wisconsin finished second in conference play.

The badgers are an experienced team starting 4 seniors that can play out to a depth of 10 players. However, the starters plus guards Trice, Iverson (G/F), and Pritzi are the badgers core group of players. F Illikainen plays about 5 minutes per game in brief relief of the frontcourt starters. When the badgers sub, it is usually a G or G/F substitution. The badgers are more deliberate/slower in style than UF and they are an excellent passing team. I noticed they had success running backdoor passes for layups against Villanova. The offense reminded me a bit of the style that Georgetown ran when John Thompson Jr. was their coach, similar to what used to be referred to as the Princeton offense. The 4 Wisconsin senior starters have had NCAA tourney success having now advanced to their 4th straight Sweet 16 along with 2 Final Four appearances.

The Gators usually play out to a depth of 9 players, but can play out to 11 players. When starting center John Egbunu was lost for the season on 2/14 at Auburn, it put UF into an experimental mode to try to replace Egbunu with an aggregate of player's production. That involved moving backup C Hayes to starter along with using Keith Stone, Schuyler Rimmer, and Gorjok Gak as backups at the 5 position. Stone is a classic PF so him playing the 5 didn't turnout well as he lacked the physical inside style of play to stand up to the good true centers. The C backup duty for the tourney has been Gak followed by Rimmer. My guess is both Gak and Rimmer will be needed against Wisconsin. UF's 11th available player who doesn't play often due to being buried on the G depth chart is Eric Hester. He is an excellent defender with a long wingspan and he has a surprising good 3 point shot. The only UF player with NCAA tourney experience before this season is Kasey Hill as he played on UF's 2014 Final Four team. UF missed the NCAA tourney in 15 (no tourney) and 16 (NIT).  

Wisconsin Starters:-------------------------Florida Starters:

*N. Hayes F 6'8"/240 SR 13.8/2.7a-------K. Hayes C 6'9"/220 SO 6.1 
*V. Brown F 6'8"/235 SR 6.8--------------*J. Leon F 6'8"/206 SR 7.1
E. Happ F 6'10"/232 SO 13.8/2.8a--------*D. Robinson F 6'8"/200 JR 11.4
*Z. Showalter G 6'3"/185 SR 8.1/1.8a----*K. Allen G 6'2"/183 SO 13.4/1.5a
*B. Koenig G 6'3"/190 SR 14.5/2.0a------K. Hill G 6'1"/175 SR 9.7/4.5a

Wisconsin Bench:---------------------------Florida Bench:

*D. Trice G 6'0"/178 FR 5.8/1.7a----------*C. Chiozza G 6'0"/176 JR 7.1/3.7a
*K. Iverson G/F 6'5"/212 SO 3.9----------*C. Barry G/F 6'6"/215 SR 11.8 
B. Pritzi G 6'3"/195 FR 2.0-----------------*K. Stone F 6'8"/240 FR 3.6
J. Hill G 6'4"/172 JR 1.6--------------------G. Gak C 6'11"/235 FR 1.8
A. Illikainen F 6'9"/232 SO 1.3-------------S. Rimmer C 6'10"/249 SR 1.2
-----------------------------------------------E. Hester G 6'3"/167 FR 2.3

* 3 Point Shooters
a = assists

Key Statistics:

Wisconsin------------Florida

PPG 72.5-------------77.9
OPPG 61.5-----------65.7
RPG 37.5-------------37.3
APG 13.7-------------12.6
SPG 7-----------------8
BPG 4-----------------5
TPG 11----------------12
FG% .455-------------.451
FT% .642-------------.726
3P% .357-------------.361

Wisconsin players acknowledge they felt insulted by their #8 seed. By dispatching #1 seed and defending national champion Villanova, the badgers have impressively proven their point that they should have been seeded higher by the NCAA selection committee. Prior to the Villanova game, ex-Wisconsin player Frank Kaminsky said on ESPN that the #8 seed was a joke.

Florida HC Mike White is deserving of consideration for national coach of the year honors. He has already been named the SEC coach of the year. The job he has done to keep the UF team together and performing at a high level after the loss of starting center John Egbunu has been both surprising and remarkable.

should be a good game.
wisconsin scoring average is 7 better than Fla D scoring average......doable
Florida scoring average is 16 better than W's D scoring average.......will take some doing

Florida looks pretty athletic.

Wisconsin plays fatbastard ball with the big round type too

[Deleted]

What is fatbastard ball all about?.........

I'm thinking the game will be played in the mid 60s with UF pulling out a close 3 point win, say 68-65. If it comes down to a free throw shooting contest, UF is the better free throw shooting team.

UF opened as the favorite at -2 and it's floating between -1 1/2 and -2 with an over/under at 131 1/2. If the oddsmakers and bettors are correct, that would put UF winning a close game.

[bamorin]

Mar 20, 2017 16:24:31 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

What is fatbastard ball all about?.........

I'm thinking the game will be played in the mid 60s with UF pulling out a close 3 point win, say 68-65. If it comes down to a free throw shooting contest, UF is the better free throw shooting team.

UF opened as the favorite at -2 and it's floating between -1 1/2 and -2 with an over/under at 131 1/2. If the oddsmakers and bettors are correct, that would put UF winning a close game.

It's a nickname everybody not called Wisconsin calls Wisconsin football. Hekk we've even gotten 1 or 3 badger fans calling it that now.
Under Alvarez, Wisconsin ran 4 plays. Fatbastard right, fatbastard left, fatbastard up the gut, throw it to the fat bastard in the flats.
Alavarez had a habit of recruiting very big boys. The TB was 260 lbs, the TE was 6'8" 385. and those were the little guys on the field. They would just wear you down by throwing meat on ya. Try to stop 'em, bring a big lunch.

I sat 4 rows off the turf in '99. most brutal noises I've ever heard everytime the ball was snapped. This wasn't pads popping, this was big meat slapping, bones snapping.

Pssst KY already had their championship hats, jerseys, etc in the stores before the game vs Wisconsin. Vegas had 'em by 12

like I said, should be a good game, Florida is playing very good ball. So was Villanova for that matter.

[mscott59]

Mar 20, 2017 18:33:23 GMT -5 bamorin said:

Mar 20, 2017 16:24:31 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

What is fatbastard ball all about?.........

I'm thinking the game will be played in the mid 60s with UF pulling out a close 3 point win, say 68-65. If it comes down to a free throw shooting contest, UF is the better free throw shooting team.

UF opened as the favorite at -2 and it's floating between -1 1/2 and -2 with an over/under at 131 1/2. If the oddsmakers and bettors are correct, that would put UF winning a close game.

It's a nickname everybody not called Wisconsin calls Wisconsin football. Hekk we've even gotten 1 or 3 badger fans calling it that now.
Under Alvarez, Wisconsin ran 4 plays. Fatbastard right, fatbastard left, fatbastard up the gut, throw it to the fat bastard in the flats.
Alavarez had a habit of recruiting very big boys. The TB was 260 lbs, the TE was 6'8" 385. and those were the little guys on the field. They would just wear you down by throwing meat on ya. Try to stop 'em, bring a big lunch.

I sat 4 rows off the turf in '99. most brutal noises I've ever heard everytime the ball was snapped. This wasn't pads popping, this was big meat slapping, bones snapping.

Pssst KY already had their championship hats, jerseys, etc in the stores before the game vs Wisconsin. Vegas had 'em by 12

like I said, should be a good game, Florida is playing very good ball. So was Villanova for that matter.

Ron Dayne. Ugh. That 2nd half was ugly. The worst loss I ever saw in Ohio stadium. Talk about running down hill...

[lz2112]

Mar 20, 2017 16:24:31 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

What is fatbastard ball all about?.........

Just think about living your entire life eating a shitload of cheese....

[bamorin]

Mar 21, 2017 2:01:17 GMT -5 lz2112 said:

Mar 20, 2017 16:24:31 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

What is fatbastard ball all about?.........

Just think about living your entire life eating a shitload of cheese....

don't forget the millions of gallons of beer it takes to flush that shit down the swaller pipes.

The Wisconsin State Motto : Wisconsin girls can out-drink yer daddy

[daleko]

Mar 21, 2017 5:50:12 GMT -5 bamorin said:

Mar 21, 2017 2:01:17 GMT -5 lz2112 said:

Just think about living your entire life eating a shitload of cheese....

don't forget the millions of gallons of beer it takes to flush that shit down the swaller pipes.

The Wisconsin State Motto : Wisconsin girls can out-drink yer daddy

Should I tell the story again about how we hung a sign up in the Student Union looking for volunteers, for a Med research project, to confirm that Plus women will keep you warmer in bed on a cold, mid-winter Madison night? Madison in the late 60s. If you had memories, you really weren't there.

[daleko]

Mar 20, 2017 16:24:31 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

What is fatbastard ball all about?.........

I'm thinking the game will be played in the mid 60s with UF pulling out a close 3 point win, say 68-65. If it comes down to a free throw shooting contest, UF is the better free throw shooting team.

UF opened as the favorite at -2 and it's floating between -1 1/2 and -2 with an over/under at 131 1/2. If the oddsmakers and bettors are correct, that would put UF winning a close game.

It's a FB thing and jealousy has a lot to do w it. But Wisky went to the final four in 2000 as a #8 seed and lost to #1 MSU in the semis. Beat #1 Zona in the second round, #4 seed LSU in the reg semis and #6 Prrrdu in the reg finals. Number 6 still alive in their bracket? Hmmmmmmm. But the team changed the rules in CBB. They played thug ball in the paint. Grab, pull, forearm push, hidden punches to the thigh, etc. Team was coached by Dick Bennett, UVA coach's dad. Not the best talent but they played reeeeeaaaal slow and team ball. Oh and physical. They've moved from that over the last 7 yrs. Athletic, and seeded with pro capable talent. But still focusing on D, no TOs, and team first. Tall guys who can rotate to shoot threes, though they don't have a 6'11"-7' 3 baller this year, read Frank the tank of two years ago. The Swing O. At least under Bo.

I expect a close game w fouls key. If Wisky is clanking the 3 ball and Fla hits theirs, they'll be in trouble, quickly. Wisky ought to own the paint. But you never know. Wisky shouldn't choke. The core group has been to two final 4s and four sweet 16s.

[Deleted]

Mar 21, 2017 17:18:58 GMT -5 daleko said:

Mar 20, 2017 16:24:31 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

What is fatbastard ball all about?.........

I'm thinking the game will be played in the mid 60s with UF pulling out a close 3 point win, say 68-65. If it comes down to a free throw shooting contest, UF is the better free throw shooting team.

UF opened as the favorite at -2 and it's floating between -1 1/2 and -2 with an over/under at 131 1/2. If the oddsmakers and bettors are correct, that would put UF winning a close game.

It's a FB thing and jealousy has a lot to do w it. But Wisky went to the final four in 2000 as a #8 seed and lost to #1 MSU in the semis. Beat #1 Zona in the second round, #4 seed LSU in the reg semis and #6 Prrrdu in the reg finals. Number 6 still alive in their bracket? Hmmmmmmm. But the team changed the rules in CBB. They played thug ball in the paint. Grab, pull, forearm push, hidden punches to the thigh, etc. Team was coached by Dick Bennett, UVA coach's dad. Not the best talent but they played reeeeeaaaal slow and team ball. Oh and physical. They've moved from that over the last 7 yrs. Athletic, and seeded with pro capable talent. But still focusing on D, no TOs, and team first. Tall guys who can rotate to shoot threes, though they don't have a 6'11"-7' 3 baller this year, read Frank the tank of two years ago. The Swing O. At least under Bo.

I expect a close game w fouls key. If Wisky is clanking the 3 ball and Fla hits theirs, they'll be in trouble, quickly. Wisky ought to own the paint. But you never know. Wisky shouldn't choke. The core group has been to two final 4s and four sweet 16s.

KeVaughn Allen is UF's best 3 point shooter, but he's been in a multi-game slump. If he gets his shot back, it would be a big shot in the arm for UF as the Gators have been winning without his production.

Just my gut feeling, the UF player to look out for is Canyon Barry. He is the SEC's 6th man of the year. He's overdue a good game too.

If Happ could hit 3s like the kid from Vandy, UF would be in a world of trouble. Kaminsky would have a career day if he were still playing.

Since so much of Wisky's offense runs through Koenig, I'm looking for the Gators to try to take his production numbers down. The whole Badger team passes so well, it might not matter if the Gators do slow Koenig down.

[daleko]

Mar 21, 2017 17:54:16 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

Mar 21, 2017 17:18:58 GMT -5 daleko said:

It's a FB thing and jealousy has a lot to do w it. But Wisky went to the final four in 2000 as a #8 seed and lost to #1 MSU in the semis. Beat #1 Zona in the second round, #4 seed LSU in the reg semis and #6 Prrrdu in the reg finals. Number 6 still alive in their bracket? Hmmmmmmm. But the team changed the rules in CBB. They played thug ball in the paint. Grab, pull, forearm push, hidden punches to the thigh, etc. Team was coached by Dick Bennett, UVA coach's dad. Not the best talent but they played reeeeeaaaal slow and team ball. Oh and physical. They've moved from that over the last 7 yrs. Athletic, and seeded with pro capable talent. But still focusing on D, no TOs, and team first. Tall guys who can rotate to shoot threes, though they don't have a 6'11"-7' 3 baller this year, read Frank the tank of two years ago. The Swing O. At least under Bo.

I expect a close game w fouls key. If Wisky is clanking the 3 ball and Fla hits theirs, they'll be in trouble, quickly. Wisky ought to own the paint. But you never know. Wisky shouldn't choke. The core group has been to two final 4s and four sweet 16s.

KeVaughn Allen is UF's best 3 point shooter, but he's been in a multi-game slump. If he gets his shot back, it would be a big shot in the arm for UF as the Gators have been winning without his production.

Just my gut feeling, the UF player to look out for is Canyon Barry. He is the SEC's 6th man of the year. He's overdue a good game too.

If Happ could hit 3s like the kid from Vandy, UF would be in a world of trouble. Kaminsky would have a career day if he were still playing.

Since so much of Wisky's offense runs through Koenig, I'm looking for the Gators to try to take his production numbers down. The whole Badger team passes so well, it might not matter if the Gators do slow Koenig down.

Happ can't shoot beyond 10 ft but he can dribble drive at 6'10". But the offense will run through him and Nigel down low w Nigel being able to pop 3s. Keoning can create but he lives off the 2X team on both Happ & Hayes. You'll end up double teaming Happ. He has ballerina feet. And probably Hayes down low.

[Deleted]

3.24.2017

Since UF's starting center John Egbunu was lost for the season on February 14, UF is 5-3 averaging 70 PPG while allowing 63.50 PPG. My prediction in line with what UF has averaged and recognizing that UF is coming in as a 2 point favorite:

Florida 70
Wisconsin 64

Minus the two bad matchup losses to Vandy in Nashville at Vandy and in the first round of the SEC tourney, UF has actually played pretty well considering both KeVaughn Allen and Canyon Barry have been in shooting slumps that they both could break out of tonight. My gut says Canyon Barry will prove to be the difference in the game, but KeVaughn Allen is overdue too.

Get your pick in before the game tonight.

[daleko]

Mar 24, 2017 10:18:56 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

3.24.2017

Since UF's starting center John Egbunu was lost for the season on February 14, UF is 5-3 averaging 70 PPG while allowing 63.50 PPG. My prediction in line with what UF has averaged and recognizing that UF is coming in as a 2 point favorite:

Florida 70
Wisconsin 64

Minus the two bad matchup losses to Vandy in Nashville at Vandy and in the first round of the SEC tourney, UF has actually played pretty well considering both KeVaughn Allen and Canyon Barry have been in shooting slumps that they both could break out of tonight. My gut says Canyon Barry will prove to be the difference in the game, but KeVaughn Allen is overdue too.

Get your pick in before the game tonight.

I'm an admitted Wisky homer. I see the three Wisky forwards as having an advantage over FL. The guards a slight advantage. Coaching's even. Reserves adv FL, so your Berry comment may prove prescient. The team core has been to 2 final 4s and 4 S 16 games, that experience should help. Adv Wisky.  Both Ds are v good. Fl will have to double down on Happ and Hayes. If they don't Wisky will own the paint. Happ's that good. And w/o an aircraft carrier in the middle so is Hayes. If they do, then Wisky will have to hit 3s. That's been the Q this yr. If they don't FL should win by 10, maybe more. If they do, it'll be a close game w Wisky winning by 5. Wisky has to be up by a bit going to the last minute, given their poor FT %.  

I'll pick Wisky by 5. 70-65

[daleko]