Greg Gard didn’t hide his frustration after Wisconsin’s nine-point win over Delaware, and it’s not hard to see why. The Badgers escaped with a result that Vegas expected to be much more comfortable, but the offense never really found its footing.
That shouldn’t come as a total shock. Wisconsin lost both of its top scorers in the offseason, with Nick Boyd out of eligibility and now in the NBA G League, while John Blackwell transferred to Duke.
Gard then built around defense in the portal, targeting players who can defend first and shoot as a bonus. The tradeoff is showing up early: the defense is ahead of the offense.
Jack Janicki said it plainly after the game: "We’re a little bit further defensively than offensively, right now at this point."
Gard went a step further when he talked about the attack that has yet to click the way he wants. "That’s probably been the biggest thing," Gard lamented about the offensive struggles. "We practice better offensively than what we have played."
The numbers backed up the eye test. Wisconsin’s bench shot 3-for-16, and if Janicki’s production is removed, the other six bench players combined to go 0-for-11. Add in the sloppy stretches, the clunky possessions and eight turnovers, and there was plenty for Gard to pick apart despite the win.
One of the biggest issues, in Gard’s view, is the way the bigs are handling ball screens. "We’ve got to raise their level of play," Gard said. "We’re getting good position for the ball screen and the roll, and we’re getting there, but we’re either way up too high, too early, not in a position where we can play on that high-low before we go back to the other side of the floor."
He sees it as a timing problem more than anything else. "So that’s a timing thing," Gard continues. "We’re going to have to break that down even more, show them on film."
Finishing through contact is another area that bothered him. "We left some points there where we’ve got to play through contact much better than what we did tonight."
Even with the offensive frustration, Gard isn’t sounding alarmed about the long term. He pointed to last year’s team as a reminder that scoring can come in waves, and he believes this group will get there too.
"I know last year’s team could really score," Gard said. "This year’s team will score.
I think we’ll be better offensively. What’s that number going to be?
I don’t know."
For now, Wisconsin has time to clean things up before the schedule tightens. The Badgers will face Fairfield and Coastal Carolina next, then Seton Hall at home, followed by Northeastern before the Big Ten grind arrives.
In Other News...
Wisconsins 2-0 Start Comes With One Early Concern
Wisconsins 73-64 win over Delaware gave the Badgers a 2-0 start, and for most of the final seven minutes they looked in control enough to keep the Blue Hens at arms length. It was another sign that this group can defend, stay organized and find enough scoring to put a game away, even while the roster continues to take shape early in the season.
Still, the first two games have also shown where the polish is missing. The Badgers are still settling into a new mix of players, and there were reminders against Delaware that the offense can be more aggressive and the bench can give more. Owen Foxwell, Eian Elmer, Jack Janicki and Jackson Ball all had their moments, but Wisconsin is still searching for the kind of consistent depth that will matter once the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Is Winning With Defense While One Problem Still Lingers
Wisconsins second win of the season came with a familiar look in one area and a much better one in another. The Badgers beat Delaware 73-64 and, after a shakier opener, showed the kind of team defense that can keep them in games while the offense sorts itself out. Jack Janicki, Braeden Carrington, Owen Foxwell and Victory Onuetu all had a hand in that effort, giving Wisconsin the kind of collective lift it needed on both ends.
The lingering issue is still on the front line, where injuries to some forwards have slowed the Badgers offensive rhythm and limited what they can do inside. Even with the defense trending up, Wisconsin is still working through those absences and the ripple effect they have on scoring balance. For now, the formula is clear enough: defend well, find enough production from the rotation, and keep waiting for the roster to get closer to full strength. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin May Have Found The Frontcourt Answer Fans Needed
Victory Onuetu gave Wisconsin a much-needed reminder of what he can bring to the frontcourt in a recent game, putting together a sturdy all-around effort that stood out for its efficiency as much as its production. The Hofstra transfer finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks, and he did it without getting himself into foul trouble, a notable step forward for a player whose early stretches had been interrupted by whistles.
Greg Gard praised Onuetus energy and discipline, seeing signs of real progress in how he handled the game. Delaware coach Martin Ingelsby also came away impressed by Onuetus physicality and the way he affected the action, which only adds to the sense that Wisconsin may be finding a more reliable interior presence as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]