Madison, Wisconsin
With apologies to Wolverine Liberation Army, who I think inspired this post...my take on the men's hoop squad's trip to U-W this weekend, from a historical perspective...
Ah, going to Madison. Many, many invasions have faltered in Madison. You march your troops in, replete with immense talent and high-tech weaponry, sure that these clueless clowns can't possibly stop you. You ignore the screaming rubes who shout vile things at you and your team - you're above them, you're gentlemen. The commanding officer appears at least mildly drunk, and seems to be in the process of getting much moreso. The other team's weapons are dull, and blunt, and look to be from about 1953 (or 1795 or 1932).
And then, suddenly, you notice that, well shucks, your column is somehow strung out for miles. The surface is muddy and slippery, and somehow funnels you into a place you don't want to be. The natives sharpen their knives, and scream more loudly for your blood. You can't bring your talent and power to bear, and your weaponry, so bright and shiny when you left home, doesn't work anymore. Those ridiculously old-fashioned weapons that the Madisonians have suddenly look pretty functional. That drunken general is up on his feet, shouting out orders and looking at you with a gleam in his eye. Your airpower is grounded due to the wind and the cold, and you can only curse and realize that now you know what many other beautiful teams of the past have realized - Madison's basketball court is a pit, a hell-hole, fit for no gentleman worthy of the name, and you have left yourself open to the trap.
February 8th, 2013 at 1:48 PM ^
Michigan will win. Iowa almost beat Wiscy at the Kohl Center.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:08 PM ^
I also think Michigan will win this game. Wisconsin does not match up well with this Michigan team. They will do their best to slow the game to a crawl and try to keep the score in the 40's or 50's. If you look up and down the lineups, I just don't see where Wisconsin has an advantage.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:22 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 4:05 PM ^
There's a common denominator there . . . . . .
Don't get me wrong we've got a great team, but until we win a big time game on the road we haven't separated ourselves from the pack.
February 8th, 2013 at 4:36 PM ^
Well we did win at Minnesota, which is one of the better road wins anyone has recorded in league play (even if Minn was only a fradulent contender).
February 8th, 2013 at 6:18 PM ^
This is not always true. We definitely did not get Iowa or Northwestern's best shot. I don't think Illinois or Minnesota really played their best against us either.
February 8th, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^
This game has me a bit worried...but to be honest, other than PSU and NW, so does every road game
February 8th, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^
We're going to spot all 40 of the points they are going to score in the first half, while falling behind by 15, yet still win by 20.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:05 PM ^
A football town with a drinking problem...
February 8th, 2013 at 2:15 PM ^
a drinking town with a football problem?
February 8th, 2013 at 3:17 PM ^
We have these really great parties though, they do them at this big venue that holds like 80k people. Everyone's all drunk & singing & dancing, it's pretty rowdy. Something happens down in the middle with just a few people, but a lot of the times we don't really notice it.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:08 PM ^
I'll be at the game saturday
February 8th, 2013 at 2:14 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 2:15 PM ^
Wisconsin is NOT good this year and we should win. They cannot make free throws to save their live and the offense seems to be "toss the ball around aimlessly for 32 seconds on the perimeter and then jack up a desparation three and see if it goes in".
Now the thing we have worry about is that sometimes those prayers ARE answered (seemingly about 65% time against us) and when they're not the rebounds go randomly to whoever is lucky enough to be standing in the right space when the bounce off the rim. A rebounding "lottery card" if you will.
If Wisconsin gets real lucky they can win. Odds are they won't though and we will.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:26 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 2:42 PM ^
We're nowhere near as bad as Wisconsin at the line. We shoot 70.3% as a team good for a little better than middle of the pack in the nation and conference. Wisconsin shoots 62.2%...good for 331st in the nation and dead last in the conference. They struggle.
February 8th, 2013 at 4:57 PM ^
this statement is when Wisconsin won in Bloomington and Michigan did not.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:26 PM ^
This game will give us a snapshot for a 1st round NCAA game - OK team and we're not at home but the refs will be fairly neutral.
If we play well, we win by 20. If we play poorly, the pressure falls on us as the favorite and it could get dicey at the end.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:51 PM ^
It's kinda cold on the patio this time of year, but you get the idea. Next to Lincoln, Madison was the best fan experience I've had.
Michigan by 12.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:19 PM ^
They don't set out the chairs & tables on the terrace in the winter. :( You can still go out there & walk around, though.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:10 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 3:17 PM ^
I was about to call you an expletive-laden name for scoring free tix (my non-free tix just fell through, so I'm bummed), but then quickly realized that I should celebrate your good luck, especially since Maize and Blue will be well-represented in the front rows. Be loud. Be visible. I hope to see you at the Kohl Center tomorrow!
February 8th, 2013 at 3:47 PM ^
How are they "not good?" Teams don't win 70% of conference games in any major conference- particularly this years top conference without being "good."
They have a relatively easy schedule left compared to the teams above them as well- they very easily could continue their string of top-4 conference finishes.
Yes they didn't look great against Iowa- but Iowa is a solid team- with a little luck instead of all bad luck they'd be ahead of Minnesota. Illinois is also 3-7 like Iowa is and they have had breaks- don't sleep on Iowa- and talk about Wisconsin not being good is silly,
Wisconsin's style of play is not glamerous- but their results are consistent and definitaly good. Should we win- yes- but it has nothing to do with them not being good. If they slow down the pace it shouldn't impact us too much. We are built aroudn efficieny- scoring more points per possession than our opponent- the number of possessions does not seem to impact that too much with this years team- we can run, we can go slow, we can do both...
The two things you relied on for your arguement are also weak. We aren;'t great at free throws either... free throw percentage and overall success I do not believe are too highly correlated- and offensive efficieny is important- but moswtly so in relation to your defensive efficiency. Wisconsin won't blow many teams out- and won't get blown out often- their games due to their style are closer- but they manage to be successful or at least show well in all games. I think people assume ugly play equals bad play- it does not- just as beautiful play does not mean great play necessarily.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:43 PM ^
I can play that game too.
February 8th, 2013 at 4:10 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 6:53 PM ^
Any wolverines fans going to the game tomorrow ?
February 8th, 2013 at 11:43 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 8:33 PM ^
Wisconsin lost to Virginia at home, Iowa on the road, and lost handily to Ohio on the road. They are a middle of the pack Big Ten team that Michigan should win by 6-10 points.
February 8th, 2013 at 8:34 PM ^
and any of you going to the game should take time to check it out--even in mid winter.
Madison is part of what makes the big BIG. Go Blue!
February 8th, 2013 at 10:32 PM ^