For the third consecutive year, the Big Ten’s Wisconsin Badgers have drawn a four seed in the NCAA Tournament. This year, they match-up with a Montana Grizzlies team who hail from the Big Sky Conference and have won fourteen straight games.
Even though the Badgers (24-9) are 3-0 all-time against #13 seeds and appear to be heavy favorites, I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the Grizzlies (25-6).
Wisconsin Badgers Synopsis: Under Head Coach Bo Ryan, the pesky Badgers are 9-1 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. They are led by senior guard Jordan Taylor who averages 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. By now, most people should know that the Badgers are primarily a defensive team as they rank first in the nation while allowing 52.9 points per game. They limit the game’s number of possessions and when they’re shooting well, can stick with anyone in the country. UW was 4-7 vs. the top 25 including four losses to teams who hold a number one seed (Michigan State and North Carolina).
Montana Grizzlies Synopsis: Unless your from Missoula, Montana or a follower of the Big Sky conference, you probably have never heard of the Grizzlies. They have a couple of sharpshooters in Kareem Jamar and Will Cherry who combine to score 29.8 points per game. Montana is a terrific shooting team as they rank 36th in the nation at 46.8 percent. They also have a versatile seven footer, Derek Selvig, who has an uncanny ability to find the open man with three dimes a game. With a win against Long Beach State and a loss to Colorado State, the Grizzlies are 1-1 against current NCAA Tournament teams.
The Match-Up: Wisconsin’s defense will be very important in this game, particularly at the perimeter where they allow teams to shoot only 28.9 percent, good for eighth in the country. If Taylor and the rest of the Badgers guards can slow down Jamar and Cherry, the Badgers should have no problems getting past the Grizzlies. Even though the seven footer Selvig is a great passer, he is not a huge threat on the offensive end. Expect the game to be close for a while, with the Badgers pulling away sometime in the second half.
Odds and Ends: Former Badger player Freddie Owens is an assistant coach on the Grizzlies staff. The Badgers and Grizzlies will play on Thursday in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is 1,127 miles from Missoula, MT and 1,377 miles from Madison, WI. Wisconsin is 2-0 all-time against the University of Montana.
Are you fairly confident the Badgers can move on to the third round of the NCAA Tournament or does Montana have a legitimate shot at the upset? Let me know by commenting below!
Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. He also enjoys to share Fantasy Advice from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best.
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The Badgers always seem to take it to another level in March, even as the rest of Big10 falls, one-by-one (not MSU this year, however). Sconnie will take care of the Griz, and may even give Vandy a run for their money. And that’s comin’ from a Minnesotan who healthily hates our border rivals the other 11 months of the year.
–MplsDale
This is a dangerous match up for Wisconsin. Clearly, they are the superior team, but Montana mirrors them in so many ways. I fully expect Montana to sink back into their own 2-3 zone and force Wisconsin to shoot from the outside. If they’re on, then they’ll probably win. But if not, the Grizzlies have a great shot at an upset. If Vegas puts the over/under at 55, I’ll still take the under.
Good points Mark, I think the match-up is much more closer than perceived. However, the Badgers are battle-tested and the Grizzlies not so much. I’m going to side with experience in this one.
I hope to see shades of 2006 when Montana drew Nevada who the taletnet Nick Fazekus played for at the time. The upset them and then went on to play New Mexico well but fell a little short. I know the Wisconson is favored, but wouldn’t be so quick to write off the Grizzlies. in the Big-Sky semis Jamar set the team off in the second half and they came from behined to knock off Eastern Washington. In the finals Selvig started hot. As long as someone gets hot the Griz have a legitimate shot. Watch the big guys shoot the three ball! Maybe I am just being biast being a Montanan, but I really will be shocked at a blowout. Props to the selection comitee for giveing the Griz a 13 seed this year.
Great points Russ, I also don’t think this will be a blowout. Wisconsin doesn’t really blow out teams and Montana has some very talented guards. Just going with the odds here and thinking the Badgers will be shooting well in this one.