Connect with us

BASKETBALL

Scouting Notes: Wisconsin

Indiana basketball heads on the road to a place it hasn’t won at since 1998 — taking a look at the key challenges Wisconsin poses for IU.

Published

on

Indiana basketball
Indiana basketball heads on the road to a place it hasn't won at since 1998 -- taking a look at the key challenges Wisconsin poses for IU. (Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)

Indiana basketball heads on the road again on Tuesday to face Wisconsin, a place it hasn’t won at since 1998.

Wisconsin enters Tuesday’s matchup at 17-5 overall and 7-4 in Big Ten play. The Badgers rank 7th in offensive efficiency with a rating of 123.2. Defensively, they rank 47th overall with a 98.3 rating. Overall, Wisconsin is ranked 15th in KenPom’s ratings.

Here is a deep dive into some of the challenges Wisconsin could give the Indiana basketball program.

Key Players

Wisconsin is led by one of the most dominant players in the league; John Tonje. Tonje is a transfer from Missouri who only played eight games due to injury last year and is now leading Wisconsin to one of its most effective and efficiency offensive years in program history. Tonje is a terrific shooter who is on an extreme heater over the last four games. Shooting 41.5 percent on 2.2 made 3s a game, Tonje has made 21 3s across his last four games and is shooting 56.8 percent all while averaging 25.3 points a game — all four games over 23 points. Tonje has a great build and is a physical driver who can create his own shot at will. He isn’t overly quick or long, but his shot making ability is terrific. He is best with the ball in his hands but doesn’t need a screener to get his shot off. Tonje uses his shot making to open up his driving ability where he then uses his strength and frame to finish at the rim and through contact. He’s shooting 92.9 percent on 6.4 free throws a game, leading the Big Ten in free throw attempts.

Alongside Tonje in the backcourt is John Blackwell. Blackwell is a terrific slasher who has a great frame like Tonje. He has a nice first step to get into the lane and then uses his frame to get the defense on his back or side and finish in the paint. While he’s just an average shooter from three, he’s made a three in 10 straight games and is shooting 38.9 percent over that span — up from 30 percent in the first 12 games. He has five games with at least 20 points and two 30-point games but also eight games with 10 or less points.

Nolan Winter is another member of the tremendously improved group of players from last year. Winter provides great size at the four and tremendous athletic ability. He is extremely long and also quick, a matchup nightmare for most opposing fours. Winter can step out and covert from three with a nice and quick release. He’s shooting 40.5 percent in the last 12 games. While Winter isn’t a super high-volume shooter from three, his ability to play in the pick and pop, opens up the Wisconsin offense and provides it with a different skillset it hasn’t had at his position in the past few years. He’s still inconsistent, however, but Wisconsin is 10-1 this year when he scores in double-figures, compared to 7-4 when he’s in single digits.

Playing next to Winter is Steven Crowl. Crowl has terrific size, strength and length but has struggled to find his consistency this year. He started the year off scoring 10+ points in just one of the first 11 games. Then he averaged 16.2 points across the next six games — all 10+ points — before three of the last five games being less than 10 points. Most of his game is in the paint, where he can score over either shoulder and utilizes good footwork to do so. Crowl can step out and hit 3s, but he’s shooting just 32 percent and has made just 12 3s this year.

Max Klesmit is known for his shooting ability but has severely struggled this year. After a career 37.1 percent shooter on 1.7 made 3s a game in his first three years, Klesmit is shooting just 28.2 percent this year on 6.8 attempts per game. That hasn’t stopped Klesmit from shooting — with 70.5 percent of his attempts this year from three. Klesmit is shooting just 33.3 percent from the floor and 26 percent from three across the last nine games and has no games with more than two made 3s. Klesmit can get hot and streaky, so the guards  for Indiana basketball need to keep close to him all night.

The key player off the bench for Wisconsin is Kamari McGee. McGee is a shooter, connecting on 54 percent from three but is attempting just 2.3 3s a game. 50 percent of his made field goals are 3s. The Badgers are 7-0 when he scores in double-figures.

Key Tendencies

This isn’t the typical Wisconsin offense of years past — this year having numerous scorers and shooters around the floor. The Badgers are averaging over 80 points — the highest since the 1970-71 season — and are in the top-35 in the country in effective field goal rate. There are two ways Wisconsin scores, however — from three and the free throw line. The Badgers are connecting on 10 3s a game and shooting 36 percent from three. Overall, they’re getting over 37 percent of their points from 3s and have 12 games with 10+ made 3s. The Badgers get to the line 20.7 times a game and lead the NCAA shooting 84.6 percent. Wisconsin isn’t going to hurt teams on 2s — ranked 356th overall in percent of points from 2s. Indiana basketball needs to run Wisconsin off of the three point line and stick to shooters on the perimeter. Those are two struggles from IU’s defense, however.

Defensively, Wisconsin plays tough defense and has versatility on the wing but isn’t going to be much of a threat in the paint. While the Badgers have size and length, they rank 332nd in blocks and 338th in block percentage. The Badgers won’t turn teams over, either. So for Indiana basketball, it’s about playing under control and limiting live ball turnovers.

Overall, this Wisconsin team beats you with its offense, not defense. If opponents aren’t connected on the defensive side of the floor, it’s a long night. Indiana needs to ensure its communication is the best it’s been all year. Something to watch is IU’s ability to come away with offensive rebounds, with the Badgers’ defense ranking 27th best in the country in opponent offensive rebound percent.

Projected Starters

G – Max Klesmit (Senior; 6-4, 205)

Stats: 10.0 ppg, 2.8 apg 

G – John Blackwell (Sophomore; 6-4, 200)

Stats: 15.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.2 apg, 35.1% 3pt

G – John Tonje (Senior; 6-5, 220)

Stats: 18.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 41.5% 3pt

F – Nolan Winter (Sophomore; 6-11, 235)

Stats: 10.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 39.6% 3pt

F –Steven Crowl (Senior; 7-0, 240)

Stats: 9.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg

Key Notes

  • Wisconsin is 29-1 in games when holding foes to 70 or fewer points (12-1 this year)
  • The Badgers are on pace to break the single-season record from the free throw line, shooting 84.6% as a team
  • Wisconsin has won 20 consecutive home games against Indiana

SEE ALSO: ‘Everybody’s heated’: Following multiple late-game flops, it’s now or never time for a ‘frustrated’ Indiana basketball team

Make sure to follow Hoosier Illustrated, part of the Full Ride Network, on Twitter @Indiana_FRN, Facebook and YouTube to stay up to date on all of the news, updates and coverage of Indiana University athletics. You can also listen to the Talking’ Bout the Hoosiers podcast on Spotify.

Looking for a place to get more Indiana content? Hoosier Illustrated has partnered with Tom Brady’s company ‘Autograph’ to streamline our coverage, so you can continue to do what you do best – follow IU sports. Use the CODE: Indianafr to get started today. For more info, you can start here. 

Alec Lasley is the owner of Hoosier Illustrated, a comprehensive site covering news, updates and recruiting for Indiana University athletics. Alec has covered Indiana for six years and is a credentialed media member. He has previously worked for both Rivals and 247Sports.

Trending