JMU is a popular upset pick, but don’t let the Dukes 31-3 record fool you. Taller teams like the Badgers have given them trouble.
By Nathan Denzin, BADGER STRIPES
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});March Madness is the most wonderful time of the year, unless your team is upset early in the tournament.
But despite the dreaded 5/12 draw for Wisconsin, fans should be confident heading into this matchup. The Badgers have pulled themselves together and are peaking at the right time after a dismal February.
Wisconsin comes into the tournament with a 14-13 record against quad 1 and 2 opponents, while James Madison is only 1-2 in those games. Their single win came, impressively, at Michigan State early in the season, while the two losses were suffered at the hands of conference foe Appalachian State.
Not much has to be said about the Badgers. AJ Storr (who is starting to get some NBA draft buzz) is the unquestioned scoring leader while Chucky Hepburn is the Badgers star floor general. Behind them the trio of Max Klesmit, Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl always seem to provide what’s needed if Wisconsin is playing well.
The team was ranked No. 6 in the nation at one point this year, and clearly has the talent to back that up when they put it all together. Look no further than the Big Ten tournament win over 1-seed Purdue, where the Badgers had to battle against Zach Edey and his ridiculous referee allies, but still earned a 76-75 victory.
Head coach Greg Gard has said all season long his goal was to prepare this group for the NCAA tournament, which was evident in the Badgers 3rd most difficult schedule in all of college basketball. Wisconsin has battled top ten teams Arizona, Marquette, Tennessee, Purdue three times and Illinois twice. Marquette has the “worst” KenPom rating of all those teams, sitting at 12.
If you think the Badgers are coming into this tournament with an easy exit on your mind, think again.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});The Dukes are hot
On the other side of the tip, James Madison is coming in as an extremely popular upset pick. The Dukes are an impressive 31-3, including a 13-game win streak entering the tournament. James Madison was an automatic qualifier out of the Sun Belt conference.
Terrence Edwards Jr. is the Dukes leading scorer, outpacing even Storr with 17.4 points-per-game. The 6’6″ Edwards Jr. does everything well, averaging a healthy number of free throws and three-point shots attempted per game, to go along with 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});The other name to know is TJ Bickerstaff, a forward averaging 13.4 points and 8.5 rebounds a game on 62% shooting from the field. He’s also a cyber intelligence major.
Those two have led James Madison to their sterling record, which includes a non-conference win in East Lansing.
But despite this star power that has blinded national pundits, Wisconsin matches up really well against James Madison.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Bigger does mean better… in this case
Offensive rebounds have been key to the Badgers this season, and James Madison is not a tall team. Bickerstaff, the Dukes most decorated player inside, is just 6’9″. He’s also the tallest player on the team.
Every other James Madison front court player is 6’8″ or shorter. While they are an athletic team, that height difference will make a huge difference.
In all three of the Dukes losses this year, they faced a big man 6’11” or taller. In fact, James Madison has not won a quad 3 game or higher against a player taller than 6’10”.
On the flip side, Crowl is 7′, Nolan Winter is 6’11” and Wahl is 6’9″. Wisconsin’s shortest big man is 6’7″ Carter Gilmore – even Storr is 6’7″. That should give the Badgers more than enough height to crowd out the Dukes inside and dominate the glass.
Wisconsin only gives height up in the Hepburn against Edwards Jr. matchup, but Chucky has been one of the best defenders in the nation this year, so don’t worry too much.
You can all make fun of me if I’m wrong here, but I don’t see the Badgers going out in the first round.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Badger Stripes is a sports news organization that provides in-depth coverage of Wisconsin athletics. Follow us on Facebook.
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