The Starting 5: Wisconsin vs. Xavier Basketball Preview

[Da-news-now]

Wisconsin has gotten off to a molten hot start, crushing both South Carolina State and Yale. However, South Carolina State is one of the worst teams in college basketball and Yale was missing two of its best players. So while the early returns are good, we don’t really know how good this team is. But we’re about to find out. Xavier is ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll and like Wisconsin...

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[TW]

I'm going to be watching this one with anticipation. If the Badgers do get past Xavier, they may actually get some love in the rankings. Just a pittance, at 24 or 25 would be great for this point in the season. It could give these kids a lift, and make them even more coachable, and better, as the season moves along. Nothing builds confidence more than beating a ranked opponent, when you're trying to gain recognition for yourself.

Of course they'll downplay it some, if Wisconsin wins, saying it was because they played at the Kohl Center. It may be true, but for the Badgers, that won't mean anything. A win is a win, and Xavier is a class program, capable of making a run deep in the NCAA tourney next spring.

 

[57packer]

Yup, looking forward to this one, and the 2 after it. Three straight games against solid tournament type teams. Xavier is probably the best of the bunch, but the 2 in Kansas City - Baylor and either Creighton or UCLA will be legitimate tests as well. They almost certainly won't win all 3, but you want to see them "compete" in all 3. Do that, and with some growth, they could be in the tournament come March.