Lucas: Creighton challenge
November 15, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Badgers primed for big time test in Omaha
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
OMAHA, Neb. — Same old, same old?
Same hotel? Check. Same bus driver? Check.
Same results? To be determined here Tuesday night against Creighton University.
Two years ago, the Road to the Final Four started at CenturyLink Center.
On Monday night, the Badgers checked into the same hotel that they had for the first weekend of play in the 2015 NCAA tournament. They even had the same bussie take them to practice.
Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig should feel comfortable in the surroundings.
Hayes had 15 points and 8 rebounds in the UW's opening 86-72 win over Coastal Carolina. With Frank Kaminsky scoring 27 and Sam Dekker 20, the starting frontcourt had 62 of the team's points.
Koenig knocked down a couple of triples and had four assists.
Four players scored in double-figures in a 72-65 victory over Oregon that propelled Wisconsin into the Sweet 16. Hayes had 14 and Koenig had 12. Zak Showalter had five points and five rebounds.
Along with Vitto Brown, Hayes, Koenig and Showalter make up the core. Wisconsin coach Greg Gard discussed the expectations for his seniors.
On Hayes: "Leadership is a big piece of it. Being able to be so consistent at all the little things. Don't waste any opportunities. Don't leave any boxes unchecked. Attack every day like it's your last because eventually there will be a last day and it's coming faster than all the seniors realize."
On Koenig: "A lot of the same things. Play to your potential every day. How can you take it to another level? With Nigel and Bronson specifically, that's a goal to try to play to an elite level on a Monday, on a Tuesday, on a Wednesday … Can you be at your best every single day?"
On Showalter: "Can he continue to maximize and do what he does best? That's obviously the energy, hustle and toughness, all those things that he brings. He has added pieces to his offensive game. But he just has to stay within those lanes of what has made him so good and consistent."
On Brown: "The things I'm seeing him do now in practice weren't probably on his radar two and three years ago. He made a pass against Northern Iowa (closed scrimmage) that wouldn't have been in his vocabulary 18 months ago. I'd like to see him get rewarded for all of his hard work."
Creighton can counter with a couple of key upperclassmen pieces.
Maurice Watson is a 5-10, 175-pound guard out of Philadelphia. Watson has more career assists (648) than any active player in college basketball. Last season, he had 229, the second-most in school history. Watson, also the leading scoring (14.1), played his first two years at Boston University.
He has a mature game. Which is not surprising since he's 23-years-old.
Watson will share the backcourt with 6-3, 210-pound junior guard Marcus Foster who sat out last season after transferring from Kansas State. In 62 career games, 57 starts, Foster averaged 14 points and twice hit game-winning 3-pointers to beat Oklahoma during the 2014-15 season.
Creighton's three-guard lineup also features 6-3, 205-pound sophomore Khyri Thomas, who started 28 games as a true freshman. His strengths are in his length and athleticism. He flirted with a triple-double (9 rebounds, 7 points, 7 assists) against Nebraska last December.
Cole Huff, a 6-8, 220-pound senior, and Justin Patton, a 7-foot, 230-pound freshman, make up the frontline. Huff, who originally attended Nevada, was the second-leading scorer last season. He had a career high 35 against Seton Hall. He can stretch a defense with his 3-point range.
Patton had 12 points (3 dunks) and 8 rebounds in his debut against the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Because of the size that the Badgers can put on the floor, Zach Hanson might be in line for more playing time. Hanson, a 6-9, 250-pound senior, has been slowed since off-season knee surgery.
UW assistant head coach Lamont Paris filed the scouting report on the Bluejays who will battle Villanova, Xavier and Seton Hall for seeding among the top four teams in the Big East. This looms as a bounce back season after being relegated to the NIT last season. What stands out about them?
"Transition offense," Paris said. "Physical, athleticism not just jumping but running the floor or changing the pace. And they're a pretty experienced team (four returning starters)."
To counter, Paris emphasized that the Badgers would have to focus on, "Transition defense without a doubt. Shot selection. And finishing possessions with rebounds."
Watson has impressed Paris with his ability to get in the paint and create shots.
"He can make something out of nothing sometimes," he said. "He never gives up on the play."
Foster's offense is a concern, too because "he can score from a lot of different places."
Foster may be more of a volume scorer. But he's obviously dangerous in late-game situations.
As far as Creighton's bigs, Paris warned against "losing track of Huff .. because he can really get it going." He also sounded intrigued by Patton ("He moves well and has a good feel for the game").
Paris called him a very functional 7-footer in his ability to move and run.
Transition offense is one way for the Jays to get the crowd into the game.
"It will be a good atmosphere," said Paris, anticipating the Big East-Big Ten clash.
Last season, the Jays averaged 15,941 for home games, 10th best in the nation.
"Coming in here, it will be hostile," said Paris. "But you gotta like that as a player."
Especially if you've played here before. The Badgers are 4-0 at CenturyLink Center, also having advanced to the 2008 Sweet 16 through Omaha. The stakes will be a little different Tuesday.
"But they are touting this as a huge game on their non-conference schedule," Paris said, "and for their postseason aspirations."
Why not? It's only November but it's never too early to build towards March.
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