Team Efficiency splits 2012 Wisconsin Georgetown Baylor

 As of games played on Tuesday Jan 10, only four teams are at the 30+ level: Ohio State (34.37), Syracuse (32.34), Kentucky (31.16), and Wisconsin (30.48).

I’d say that makes the Buckeyes, Orange, and Wildcats pretty good bets for an Elite Eight run or better, but you can’t trust Wisconsin no matter what the stats say. Twice in the past five tournaments the Badgers have gone into the tournament with a 30+ efficiency split. Two other times they were over 25. They have yet to make it out of the Sweet 16, and didn’t even get there twice. Until Bo Ryan shows his style can actually get the job done in the Tourney setting, I’m viewing their potential with a heavy dose of skepticism.

I said you can’t trust Wisconsin. Same goes with Georgetown. In 2007, their efficiency split was 35+ and they made the Final Four. In 2008, it was 30+ and they lost in the second round. The past two years, it was 25+ and 18+ and they got bounced in round 1. This year the 11th-ranked Hoyas are at just past 21. So even if they end up a 3- or 4-seed, beware of some serious upset potential.

Baylor is on course for a possible one seed, but their 23.83 efficiency split would be by far the lowest of any top seed in the past five years. In fact, only one two seed has had a lower split, and that was the 2010 Villanova team that got upset in the second round.

Wisconsin

ESPN February: It’s no secret that a big factor in the Wisconsin Badgers’ success this season has been their defense. The Badgers’ offense has averaged a pedestrian 1.02 points per possession in Big Ten play — ninth-best in the conference — but Wisconsin has the third-best efficiency margin thanks to a defense that has limited Big Ten foes to 0.95 points per trip. Wisconsin’s offense is not potent enough to pull away from quality competition, but its defense has been good enough to keep the team in almost every game this season. Just four times has a Badgers opponent topped a point per possession, and no team has done better than the 1.08 PPP that Michigan scored on the Badgers on Jan. 8. Say what you want about Wisconsin’s style, but its defense has been very effective even when you take into account that the Badgers play at the nation’s slowest tempo.A sizable component of their defensive success has come on the perimeter. Wisconsin has held opponents to 26.2 percent accuracy from beyond the arc, which is second-best nationally, and there is no doubt that has contributed to the overall statistical success of the defense. But the Badgers’ defense is built for continued success not because of its 3-point percentage defense, but because the Badgers limit their opponents’ 3-point attempts. This is because Wisconsin, or any other college basketball team, has surprisingly little control over their opponents’ accuracy from long distance. Notice that opponents’ 3-point attempt percentage is much more stable from season to season, which is a major clue that a team has more control over its opponents’ 3-point attempts than their 3-point accuracy. Both Duke and Saint Mary’s have been consistently spectacular at preventing attempts during the past decade — only once during that time has either team finished outside the top 10 in defensive 3-point attempt percentage. You won’t find teams that have had anything close to that kind of run in 3-point percentage because of the effect just described. It’s pretty clear that Wisconsin’s defense isn’t a fluke and that its ability to make it difficult for opponents to score will continue. But its 3-point percentage defense is not high on the list of reasons for that. The Badgers’ defense should be feared because it is good at the things a defense has the most control over — opponents’ 2-point percentage and opponents’ 3-point attempts.Wisconsin has held opposing teams to 39.7 percent inside the arc this season, ranking fourth in the country. In addition, the Badgers limit 3-point attempts about as well as anyone. Badgers opponents have taken just 23.3 percent of their shots from 3-point range, which is second in the nation. Ohio State took just seven 3-pointers against Wisconsin last Saturday, and it would be surprising if Minnesota cracks double-digits in that department Thursday. When opponents take but a few shots from long range, a team isn’t going to be affected much by hot 3-point shooting. A great example of the opposite extreme was provided in Wednesday’s classic between North Carolina and Duke. The Tar Heels play stellar interior defense and lead the ACC in 2-point percentage allowed, but they’re dead last in 3-point attempt percentage. Duke got hot from long range, and when you give up 36 3-point attempts, your defense is going to get hurt badly by hot perimeter shooting.

I am sure George will have a lot of notes on Wisco but M played them today and beat them pretty handily! Go Blue!

Stuart – 1-8-12 – Jordan Taylor is solid as always and Wisco leads the nation in the least amount of turnovers. They have led the nation the last 2 years as well. Wisco really has trouble generating any easy baskets. They had almost no fast breaks against M. The big guys for Wisco are not what they usually are. M held Wisco to 38 points until a garbage time basket in the last minute. Wisco plays solid defense but they lack athleticism – very few fast breaks, very few steals, very few blocked shots. Wisco limits teams possessions but they limit their as well. If they get down in a game, they will have a hard time coming back unless Jordan Taylor goes off. Evans is a decent big man. They shoot the 3 OK but they do not shoot it enough to score. If they play well, they will keep it close, but then again they have already lost 3 in the Big Ten so it may be a long year in Madison.

Wisconsin

Typical Wisconsin. They will absolutely dictate the game to the other team. You better be able to hit jump shots to beat them. If you cant shoot on the perimeter you will not fare very well verse them. They will drag you.. as they did UNC.. into a half court game. That said, they were down big to UNC in the first half, clamped down aggressively, and came back. Could be a a vegas note/second half watch. If they are down big at half, the second half will NOT look like the first half.

Wisconsin

vs. Northwestern. A little more athletic that your average Badger team. Tops in the country in points per game defense (54 ppg) and free throw shooting (81 % as a team). 5 starters than can shoot. Most offense runs through Leuer and Taylor. Patient on offense. Smart team that limits turnovers. The Badgers were picked to finish 7^th in the Big Ten and for the 10th straight year under Bo Ryan, they finish no worse than 4^th. He preaches unselfishness.  Their man to man D collapses well around the hoop but they are suspect defending the 3. Barring a Stephan Curry guard who can drill three after three, this team is too balanced and disciplined to not win by 10+

Gerry Ahern’s answer to “which team is building momo in Feb for a deep Mar run”

Watching the way Wisconsin shot, shocked and awed against Michigan State, the Badgers strike me as a team on the rise. Behind underappreciated guard Jordan Taylor and standout forward Jon Leuer, Wisconsin connected on 59 percent of its shots in crushing MSU. The Badgers’ 65.2 percent marksmanship in the first half built a 43-25 lead. Taylor made good on 9-of-13 shots and 3-of-4 from beyond the 3-point arc. He finished with 30 points and put himself squarely into the Big Ten Player of the Year discussion. “Jordan Taylor played like one of the best guards in the country, not just the Big Ten,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said, adding that it wasn’t as if his team wasn’t defending. “His strength, his demeanor. I was very, very impressed.” Leuer wasn’t bad either, finishing with 20 points, making 50 percent of his shots and pulling down six rebounds. It was a huge week for the Badgers (17-5, 7-3), who also took down Purdue 66-59 at home. With the inside-outside presence of Leuer and Taylor, Bo Ryan’s bunch that was picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten before the season may be the team best suited to knock off unbeaten No. 1 Ohio State. The teams meet Saturday in Madison. Should methodical Wisconsin remain on course and continue its history of performing well in the Big Ten tournament, a No. 3 NCAA seed could be a distinct possibility.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin – 2010 Tournament Summary – Stats showed Wisconsin giving way too many points to Wofford in this matchup. It was right. Wisconsin won by 4 and then got creamed by Cornell. They ran out a team that never turned the ball over, had 5 guys who could hit the 3, and they rebounded well.

2011 Outlook – Wisconsin is under the radar again despite the fact they return 12 letterman from a year ago. They did lose Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon but Joe Leuer leads a solid group and has star potential. He really turned heads for a USA team this summer. Add in solid support from forward Nankivil and good guard play from returning guard Jordan Taylor and this is an mid-upper echelon Wisconsin team.

My Notes: What can you say other than.. .”ibid”… this teams success will probably be determined by emerging guard play and health. Those factors will make this an outstanding team or a good team.

Game note: UNLV loss. They really dont have great height.. I was surprised at that. also, they dont really have a solid scoring option outside of Leuer.

Game Note: Notre Dame: “They had some guys that made timely baskets and timely free throws, and that’s how you win those kind of grinders,” Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said. “And both our teams will be in more of them before the season’s out.”  Wisconsin’s frontline bullied and bruised an undersized Irish team early. The Badgers went ahead by eight points in the first half, building enough cushion to overcome some shooting lapses.  Notre Dame began sitting in its zone defense and keeping Wisconsin on the perimeter. The move paid off
Vs Minn: “They were playing at home, they don’t have many turnovers, they’re a very smart team, and we just missed some key free throws and box-out opportunities at the end of the game that really cost us,” Mbakwe said.

Vs Minn: Want to say typical Wisconsin… but point guard is solid. Announce said best in big ten. Their center will be underrated, but he has game. Also the first true center guy I can remember for them.. not a pop shoot the 3, big lug center.. although he is a tad slow on defense. Leuer is such a unique athlete. He is a 6’11 guard. Beyond that, they play amazing defense.

Gottlieb Notes: Smart and sound, Wisconsin is playing well in its own version of the Pack defense. Jon Leuer is the key. UNLV limited his effectiveness, others have not.

Q: Why are Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Texas A&M so difficult to beat at home?
A: There are all types of man-to-man defense. Pack defense is what Dick Bennett used to take his 2000 Wisconsin team to the Final Four. Essentially it is like a zone off the basketball in that every player on the weak side of the floor (the side without the ball) has at least a foot in the lane. Though every player, unlike a zone, has a man to guard, the idea of a pack is that one player must beat the entire team. It is boring and can be beaten by teams that shoot the ball well over a defender and in transition but, with experienced players who trust each other and are physical, it’s tough to play against, especially on the road.

Senior Jon Leuer scored 24 points and junior Jordan Taylor added 15 as the Badgers (16-5, 6-3 Big Ten) again showed their ability to bounce back after a loss. Wisconsin, which lost 56-52 at Penn State on Saturday, has won its past 19 games after losses dating to January 2009

Rivals com top 25 preseason

Preseason top 25
1. DUKE
Why they’re here: Duke has perhaps the nation’s top returning player in F Kyle Singler, the Most Outstanding Player of last season’s Final Four. The arrivals of Liberty transfer Seth Curry and highly touted freshman Kyrie Irving should make up for the loss of All-America G Jon Scheyer in the backcourt. Duke also boasts arguably the nation’s best coach in Mike Krzyzewski. The key player: Irving arrives on campus as the No. 4 prospect in the 2010 recruiting class, and the Blue Devils need him to live up to his billing. Irving, Curry and All-America candidate Nolan Smith all have the ability to play either guard position, but Irving is the most natural point guard of the trio. Duke will need this freshman to play with the poise of an upperclassman by the time March rolls around.
2. MICHIGAN STATE
Why they’re here: The Spartans could be better than the team that reached its second consecutive Final Four last season. Michigan State made its tournament run with G Kalin Lucas on crutches and F Delvon Roe hobbled by injuries. F Draymond Green is Evan Turner-like in his versatility, and G Durrell Summers was the team MVP in March. The key player: Lucas had an up-and-down season because of injuries; he missed the Final Four run with a torn Achilles tendon. When healthy, he’s one of the best point guards in the country, but he missed the entire offseason rehabbing his injury.
3. KANSAS
Why they’re here: With freshman G Josh Selby, Kansas would be the favorite to win the Big 12. Selby is a do-it-all point guard, with tremendous athleticism. Team him with underrated PF Marcus Morris, and KU would have one of the best inside-outside duos in the nation. But while coach Bill Self has said he thinks Selby will play this season, the NCAA hasn’t officially ruled on his eligibility yet. Without Selby, KU is good – but it wouldn’t be this good. The key player: Obviously, it’s Selby. But even if Selby is eligible, G Tyshawn Taylor can’t be overlooked. He is a solid all-around player, and his defense and passing were strong last season. He seemingly can get to the rim against anybody, but Taylor must improve his outside stroke. If he becomes an adequate 3-point shooter, KU would become exceedingly tough to beat.
4. PITTSBURGH
Why they’re here: If there were any lingering doubts about coach Jamie Dixon‘s abilities, they ended last season. This has become a big-time program, one that re-loads and not rebuilds. G Ashton Gibbs is a big-timer, and Brad Wanamaker and Travon Woodall complete one of the better guard triumvirates in the nation. There also are a lot of big bodies up front that will help the Panthers play their aggressive and physical brand of defense. The key player: While the backcourt gets most of the attention, don’t sleep on the frontcourt. Keep an especially close eye on senior C Gary McGhee. He has the size and skill set to be a low-post enforcer on defense and a productive garbage man on offense. If he can push his scoring average to around 10 points – a jump of 3.1 from last season – coach Jamie Dixon would be happy.
5. OHIO STATE
Why they’re here: Do-everything swingman Evan Turner is gone, but the Buckeyes still have enough talent returning and arriving to make another run in the Big Ten. Freshman Jared Sullinger will step in and make an instant impact in the frontcourt. William Buford was perhaps underrated in Turner’s shadow; that won’t be the case anymore. The key player: The Buckeyes have plenty of guards (Buford, Jon Diebler), but no true point guard. Senior David Lighty, who played on a Final Four team as a freshman, could claim Turner’s role as the do-everything swingman.
6. KANSAS STATE
Why they’re here: Kansas will be a hot place to be this basketball season, what with the Jayhawks, Missouri Valley favorite Wichita State and these guys. The Wildcats fell to Butler in the Elite Eight last season, and the bulk of the key players are back, including potential All-America G Jacob Pullen. There also are some solid newcomers who will help K-State challenge Kansas for supremacy in the state and in the Big 12. The key player: F Wally Judge was the crown jewel of last season’s freshman class, but Judge never really seemed to adapt to the trappings of major-college ball. He certainly has all the physical tools. If he lives up to his high school hype, the Wildcats will have one of the best frontcourts in the nation, as he and fellow holdovers Curtis Kelly and Jamar Samuels will be joined by transfer Freddy Asprilla and freshman Nino Williams.
7. VILLANOVA
Why they’re here: Scottie Reynolds – a backcourt fixture for the Wildcats for, what, about 12 or 13 seasons? – is gone, but coach jay Wright still has one of the best backcourts around. Look for senior G Corey Fisher to become a star, and Dominic Cheek, Corey Stokes and Maalik Wayns lend ample backcourt support. Senior F Antonio Pena willingly does all the little things. The key player: Sophomore C Mouphtaou Yarou was sidelined by hepatitis B early last season and struggled to gain his footing once he was healthy. But he has the athleticism and skill level to be a defensive force, and he should be able to provide 10 or so points per game as well. Plus, with Yarou in the lineup, Pena can play power forward, his natural position.
8. SYRACUSE
Why they’re here: Wesley Johnson, Arinze Onuaku and Andy Rautins – all gone. But weep not for coach Jim Boeheim, who once again will be busy in March. Look for junior K Kris Joseph to make the jump from important reserve to go-to guy. Rich Jackson is a physical presence up front, and Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche are solid combo guards. The key player: Freshman C Fab Melo arrives with a load of hype, and the 7-footer should be able to live up to most of it. His name is a perfect fit for Syracuse (come on – anyone named “Melo” has to play for the Orange), and his skills in the low post fit should fit perfectly with what this team needs.
9. BAYLOR
Why they’re here: The Bears were in the Elite Eight last season, and while they lost some key players from that team, there’s still some talent on hand. Most notably, G LaceDarius Dunn is back for his senior season. Dunn is one of the best offensive players in the nation. Big things are expected from true freshman F Perry Jones, an athletic big man who will score, rebound and block shots. The key player: Sophomore A.J. Walton will try to fill the shoes of departed PG Tweety Carter. Walton has good range and while he’s not likely to score as much as Carter (who averaged 15.0 points last season), he has the potential to be a double-figure scorer and a guy who gets four or five assists a night.
10. NORTH CAROLINA
Why they’re here: This ranking admittedly is a leap of faith, considering North Carolina failed to reach the NCAA tournament last season. But we’re betting freshman F Harrison Barnes immediately establishes himself as one of the nation’s top players, and that five-star prospect Reggie Bullock shores up the backcourt. We’re also counting on sophomore F John Henson to make major strides and C Tyler Zeller to stay healthy. The key player: The easy answer is to go with Barnes, but we’re betting he’s the real deal. We also could focus on the continued development of Henson and PG Larry Drew III. But it would really help the Tar Heels if Zeller could stay healthy for an entire season after being injured for large chunks of the past two. If he can play a full season, this highly skilled 7-footer could shore up a frontcourt that has plenty of star power but serious depth concerns.
11. GONZAGA
Why they’re here: Gonzaga returns four starters from a team that went 27-7 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament last season. The Zags have a potential first-round draft pick in sophomore F Elias Harris, a legitimate 7-footer in Robert Sacre and a proven perimeter scorer in G Steven Gray. The key player: The Zags need more production from PG Demetri Goodson. Although Goodson technically was Gonzaga’s starting point guard last season, he had less than half as many assists as SG Matt Bouldin. Now that Bouldin has completed his college career, Goodson needs to emerge as more of a playmaker.
12. KENTUCKY
Why they’re here: The Wildcats are ranked this highly because, with freshman big man Enes Kanter, they will have excellent inside-outside balance and should win the SEC. One problem: Kanter’s eligibility is an issue, and he hasn’t even practiced with the team. He is the centerpiece of yet another fantastic recruiting class put together by John Calipari. The key player: If Kanter is eligible, it’ll be him, as he basically will be asked to be this season’s version of DeMarcus Cousins. If he isn’t eligible, freshman PG Brandon Knight – a big-time talent in his own right – will have more of the scoring responsibility. He and fellow freshman Doron Lamb should form a productive backcourt; how productive it will have to be depends on Kanter’s status.
13. FLORIDA
Why they’re here: All five starters are back from a team that lost in the first round of the NCAA tourney. Plus, there’s a solid group of freshman, headed by physical big man Patric Young. Senior F Chandler Parsons made huge strides last season, and his versatility at 6 feet 9 – he can hit the 3-pointer, as well as put the ball on the floor and get to the rim – is a key part of Florida’s offense. Backcourt depth potentially is a huge problem again, and some freshmen must come through on the perimeter. The key player: G Kenny Boynton struggled with his shot last season as a true freshman and didn’t live up to his offensive hype out of high school. But his defense was surprisingly good, and if he can get his 3-point percentage into at least the high 30s – it was a dreadful 29.4 percent last season – Florida’s offense will be quite potent.
14. ILLINOIS
Why they’re here: Last season was a disappointment that ended in the NIT, but Illinois’ core of G Demetri McCamey, C Mike Tisdale and F Mike Davis returns, and each is a senior. Tisdale and Davis, an imposing frontcourt duo, are a rarity in college basketball as senior big men. Beyond those key seniors, Illinois is looking for sophomore Gs D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul to build on solid freshman seasons. The key player: The relationship between McCamey and coach Bruce Weber bears watching. When McCamey is on his game, he’s one of the best in the country. But he wasn’t consistent, as evidenced by 123 turnovers.
15. MISSOURI
Why they’re here: The Tigers are well-versed in coach Mike Anderson’s version of the “40 minutes of hell” defense, and they’ll again make life difficult for Big 12 foes. Mizzou forced a nation’s-high 659 turnovers last season, though some key defenders moved on. But the top three scorers are back, and G Kim English should get more national notice this season. The key player: Sophomore Michael Dixon should move into departed J.T. Tiller’s role as the Tigers’ point guard. Dixon did a nice job offensively last season and has the potential to be a solid 3-point shooter. But he needs to turn up the defensive intensity. He has the athleticism to do so.
16. BUTLER
Why they’re here: Butler lost star F Gordon Hayward to the NBA, but most of the other key players from last season’s NCAA runner-up return. G Shelvin Mack should develop into an All-America candidate in his junior season. If Butler keeps playing the type of defense it displayed in last season’s NCAA tournament, the Bulldogs should win the Horizon League and make a deep postseason run again. The key player: Senior F/C Matt Howard was the Horizon League player of the year two seasons ago, but his numbers dipped last season as he struggled with foul trouble. Now that Hayward is gone, Howard needs to recapture his 2008-09 production. If he can avoid fouls, Howard should team with Mack to give Butler one of the nation’s best inside-outside duos.
17. PURDUE
Why they’re here: The season-ending injury to F Robbie Hummel is not the end of the Boilermakers. F JaJuan Johnson and G E’Twaun Moore could be the best inside-outside duo in the Big Ten. Just as critical for the Boilers’ success are Lewis Jackson and Kelsey Barlow, who look to share the point guard spot. The key player: The replacement for Hummel will be a work-in-progress sophomore (Patrick Bade), a redshirt freshman (Sandi Marcus) and/or a true freshman (Travis Carroll). Junior G Ryne Smith might be just as important filling in for departed role players Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant. Smith will be a defensive specialist off the bench who also can shoot the 3-pointer.
18. MEMPHIS
Why they’re here: Last season, a depth-shy (and, frankly, talent-shy) Tigers team missed out on the NCAA tourney. That shouldn’t happen this season. Coach Josh Pastner brought in an ultra-talented freshman class, and if the newcomers mesh well with holdovers such as F Wesley Witherspoon, the Tigers can make a nice run in March. The key player: Freshman G Joe Jackson signed with the hometown Tigers out of high school, and it’ll be his job to make sure everyone stays on the same page. Jackson was a prolific scorer in high school, but he’ll have to worry more about getting his teammates shots than getting his points. He’ll still get his points, and we’re betting he does a nice job distributing the ball, too.
19. VIRGINIA TECH
Why they’re here: Virginia Tech returns nine of the top 10 scorers from a team that matched a school record with 25 wins last season. G Malcolm Delaney led the ACC in scoring last year, while F Jeff Allen is the ACC’s active career leader in rebounds, steals and blocks. Virginia Tech’s recent history of Selection Sunday disappointment should end this season. The key player: Perhaps no player in the ACC is more indispensible than Delaney. Not only did he lead the conference in scoring last season, he also ranked sixth in assists, third in free-throw percentage and fourth in minutes. He has the talent to lead Virginia Tech to an NCAA bid much in the same way Greivis Vasquez carried Maryland on his back last season.
20. TEMPLE
Why they’re here: Fran Dunphy has returned the Owls to the top of the Atlantic 10; last season, he guided the Owls to their best regular season (29-6) since 1987-88. The NCAA tournament is a different story, with three consecutive first-round losses. With the inside-outside duo of F Lavoy Allen (who averaged a double-double last season) and G Juan Fernandez, the Owls have what it takes to extend regular-season success into the NCAA tournament. The key player: G Ramone Moore averaged 16.1 points over a seven-game stretch in January and February. As unexpected and sudden as the hot streak started, it ended in the last month of the season. With Ryan Brooks gone, Moore will need to play at a high level over the course of the entire season to take some pressure off Fernandez.
21. WASHINGTON
Why they’re here: The Huskies helped the Pac-10 save face last season with a trip to the Sweet 16, and they look poised to be the class of the conference again. Undersized but high-scoring G Isaiah Thomas leads one of the best and deepest backcourts in the nation. The key player: F Matthew Bryan-Amaning emerged late last season, becoming one of Washington’s best players in the NCAA tournament. He’ll need to sustain that level of play through this season. He’s by far the Huskies’ best option in the frontcourt now that Quincy Pondexter is gone.
22. SAN DIEGO STATE
Why they’re here: The Aztecs return all five starters from a team that went 25-9 and won the Mountain West Conference tournament last season. Kawhi Leonard, Billy White and Malcolm Thomas give San Diego State one of the nation’s top frontcourts. In seasons when San Diego State coach Steve Fisher has returned at least four starters, his teams have won 72.6 percent of their games. The key player: Leonard earned first-team All-MWC honors as a freshman and could mature into an All-America candidate as a sophomore. He recorded 17 double-doubles last season and was the MVP of the MWC tournament. He was the only freshman from an NCAA tournament squad last year to lead his team in points and rebounds.
23. WEST VIRGINIA
Why they’re here: Bob Huggins‘ Mountaineers made a Final Four run last season, but they lost so much talent that another Final Four appearance is too much to ask. Still, WVU should be in the thick of the race in the Big East. Look for underrated F Kevin Jones to become the go-to guy; he’s a physical presence with a nice outside stroke. The key player: G Joe Mazzulla battled injuries last season, but he is a gritty floor leader who knows what Huggins wants done on both ends of the court. He is the epitome of a “glue guy,” and has the potential to average around 10 points and four assists.
24. WISCONSIN
Why they’re here: The NCAA tournament was a letdown, with the Badgers losing in the second round to Cornell, but Wisconsin has been remarkably consistent in the regular season under coach Bo Ryan. Wisconsin has won at least 10 Big Ten games in eight of the past nine seasons and reached the tournament in each of the past 12. The Badgers are an experienced group, led by versatile F Jon Leuer and PG Jordan Taylor. The key player: The departures of Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon mean freshmen will need to contribute at guard. Ben Brust can play either guard spot and shoot the “3.” Hughes and Bohannon combined to make 142 3-pointers last season. Taylor made 35.
25. TENNESSEE
Why they’re here: Freshman Tobias Harris arrives with copious press clippings, and he should provide an immediate offensive presence in the paint. His arrival means the Vols have enough talent to challenge for the SEC East title, but an ongoing NCAA investigation could take its toll. The key player: Junior G Scotty Hopson has shown flashes of stardom, but he has lacked consistency. This needs to be the season he breaks through. He is a silky-smooth player with big-time range, and his size (6-7) helps him overpower smaller defenders.