Michigan Basketball: Greg Gard, Badgers Impressed By U-M
Wisconsin started 10-1 in league play before faltering, finishing 12-6 and tied with Maryland for second. The Badgers have been playing very well down the stretch, however, and are well rested despite playing two games in two days.
They did what they do best in plastering Northwestern, 76-48, in yesterday’s other semifinal — defend. They also shot well, making 12 of 29 triples, and barely had to break a sweat in owning the Wildcats.
For comparison’s sake, Badgers guard Bronson Koenig has played 63 minutes this week to Michigan senior Derrick Walton’s 117; forward Nigel Hayes 57 to Zak Irvin’s 119. U-M has left it all out on the floor in its last two games, one of them going to overtime (74-70 win over Purdue) — the Badgers rested many of their starters for much of Saturday’s beatdown.
“We know they’re playing hard, playing inspired, playing well right now,” Hayes said. “If they’re going to be a little tired, we’ll definitely take it. We don’t want to run around like spring chickens or anything like that.”
Or maybe they do.
Regardless, they’ve been on their game defensively, and it was on display in yesterday’s win. They held Northwestern to one assist in the first 32 minutes while pulling away, forcing the Wildcats out of their comfort zone.
That’s been the key to their recent success, head coach Greg Gard said.
“I think we've gotten better as the season has gone on, specifically defensively,” he said. “We got bent sideways a little bit offensively. We had a hard time scoring two, three weeks ago. Defensively, other than maybe one game or a game and a half, we've been pretty consistent.
“These guys understand that's where it starts. We have to be very good at that end. I think this group has taken ownership of that. They take pride in what they do defensively.”
Michigan certainly has his attention, he added.
“Michigan is playing really well, not only in our league, but in the country. Won eight of 10, something like that," he said. "John has done a heck of a job over the time he's been there. They got really good players. They have a lot of seniors. They have more seniors than we have. They're playing well at the right time, as well.
"We'll have to be very good defensively. There's not going to be anything secret. They know what we do; we know what they do. It will be two pretty good teams going at each other. Michigan does test you in different ways. Obviously with bigs, they can stretch you, shoot the threes. Walton is playing as well as any point guard in the country right now. Obviously they've got experience in other areas with Irvin and the other guys that play along the frontline for them.”
Irvin could be one of the keys. He’s been consistent offensively over the last four games, rediscovering his stroke, and has been Michigan’s best player in two games against Wisconsin this year, scoring 38 points and shooting better than 50 percent from the floor and from long range.
Odds are U-M will need a big game from both Irvin and senior guard Derrick Walton Jr., however, to pull this one out. Walton has been the Wolverines’ catalyst during this incredible run, and head coach John Beilein said he might well have been first team All-Big Ten had coaches not turned their ballots in before his 16-assist game at Nebraska (at the same time not taking anything away from Minnesota’s Nate Mason).
Good luck trying to slow him, Minnesota coach Richard Pitino said after Walton notched 29 points and nine assists against his team.
“We tried to do a couple different things, switch some ball screens, getting up aggressively, hedging hard on ball screens,” he said. “I thought he hit some tough shots. He's a really good player.
“In my mind, he's one of the most underappreciated point guards in the country. It doesn't surprise me when he plays well. I thought he was terrific.”
He’ll need to be on his game if Michigan is going to win. U-M has averaged just over a point per possession in both games against the Badgers this year, due in large part to the looks they’ve been forced into. Mid-range jump shots and one-on-one play is what the Badgers’ defense demands, and that’s not what the Wolverines like to run.
Walton, though, is a better player now than he was even a few weeks ago, Beilein said.
“He sees what’s going on much better out there,” Beilein said. “The game has really slowed down. Everybody has got a learning curve … his pass to D.J. [Wilson for a bucket down the stretch] we’ve been trying to get all year long, and man he was on it. That was a big basket.”
They’ll need more of it today. Winning comes down to one thing …
“You’ve just got to make plays in March, man,” Walton said.
The team that makes a few more today will be the Big Ten champion.
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