Andy Van Vliet Shines in Wisconsin’s Second Overseas Win

While Wisconsin fans were sleeping last night, the Badgers basketball team beat the New Zealand Breakers for the second straight time. While the last game was fairly close, this one was a 87-53 domination. Like the first matchup, the game was disappointingly not streamed. However, there are a few important conclusions that can be drawn from the box score and highlights. The most noteworthy story...

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I'm not certain the Badgers had any question going in that they had the talent to shoot from the outside. The question has been whether or not there are guys who can play inside, and help in the arc. I'm not convinced yet, that Happ has much help. Especially when I saw that Pritzi led the team with 3 offensive rebounds. Where's the big guys?

It was nice seeing another guy come out of a cocoon. We need some aircraft carriers doing it too!

I actually did have some questions about the outside shooting. Trice showed a good touch early last year, but tailed off badly through the Big-10 season and the post-season. Pritzl was just plain bad from outside all year - though he came in being touted for that ability. Van Vliet was supposed to have a good shooting touch, but he played so little last year that you couldn't tell. Happ, Iverson and Thomas are just plain bad from outside. Illikainen was supposed to have some shooting ability but he was another guy who never actually got it going. That pretty much covers all the returning guys. Hopefully Davison and King will help as true frosh and Pritzl and Van Vliet can continue what they are doing. Reuvers, another frosh, can supposedly shoot but he might not be physically ready to contribute much this year. We'll see.

Inside help will have to come from Iverson and Thomas. Both have the physical ability but need to stay out of foul trouble and work on some inside shots/moves apart from a dunk. Van Vliet has been rebounding well and might be part of the answer though I doubt he ever develops much of an inside game despite his 7' height.

I wasn't concerned about the outside shooting to be honest. I knew Trice had the skills, and watching Pritzi at the end of last year, I saw flashes of things to come. I also knew the Badgers were bringing in some solid outside players as well, so I was confident of what they could do. Where I was concerned, just like 57 packer, is whether or not Iverson and Thomas can step up their game, and if Illikainen and Van Vliet can offer intermediate offense, and drives off the wings, so defenders can't drop down on Happ, to make him less of a force.

My next concern is the free throw line. We were pathetic last year. I hope that's improved. I hope Happ has put up 300 free throws a day since the NCAA tourney.