I expect this to be a very difficult game. I expect us to be more athletic and deeper than Wisconsin. And Wisconsin will play halfcourt, Big 10 basketball to neutralize that advantage. When we can get the ball out and run we'll be fine, but I don't think we are going to get much opportunity to do that.
Thus far in the Lavin era we have struggled terribly in the halfcourt offense. If someone other than Harrison can hit from 3 (hopefully Jordan) then maybe we will look a little better since that may open the paint some. On defense, our rotation to cover the open 3 when the other team reverses the ball around the perimeter has been atrocious. And our defensive basketball IQ on backdoor cuts has been almost as bad (although last year Obekpa helped erase some of those errors).
It will be interesting to see how Jordan and Sanchez affect that equation. Hopefully they will, in a positive direction. Since we'll be playing a 2-3 zone in all probability, there's not much discussion to have about man matchups. The real question is whether we will play decent team defense (in our first real game, against a well-coached team).
My suspicion is that the zone will not go well for us on defense and that we will struggle in the halfcourt offense. If that's the case then it will be interesting to see if the staff will do the obvious thing and use some press, trap, and man-to-man to change the tempo and hopefully find some easy baskets.
Given that Obekpa has not played yet, I would start Sampson, Sanchez, and Pointer up front with Harrison and Jordan in the backcourt. Obekpa should find some time spelling Sanchez, maybe 10 minutes. Gift will probably get some time as well though I am not a fan. In the backcourt I would use Phil to spell both guard spots.
I figure Harrison and Jordan have to play 30 minutes each. That leaves 20 minutes for Phil and Branch, I'd split that 12/8 in favor of Phil (unless somebody gets hot).
I figure Sampson has to play 30 minutes up front, and Dom and Sanchez have to play 20-25 each. That leaves 40 or 50 minutes to go around for Obekpa, Gift, Hooper and Bourgault. I figure Obekpa and Gift each get about 15 and Hooper and/or Borgault split the rest. If we want to go small then Greene or Branch could get some extra time at the expense of Hooper or Borgault.
I am not a fan of the small lineup, though the staff seems to like it. If it turns out that Obekpa and Sanchez can play together (which I think they probably can) then I would go with that, let Dom and Gift pick up minutes off the bench, and leave Phil and Branch to get their minutes spelling the backcourt.
