Whether you call it the second round or the third round, Wisconsin (24-8) will face Kansas State (23-10) this afternoon in Tucson with a spot in the Southeast Regional on the line. Looking for their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2008, the Badgers will have to bring their A game if they hope to top a Wildcat team that has rebounded from a mid-season slide to once again play up to their billing as one of the most talented teams in the nation.
As with Thursday's battle with Belmont, Saturday will be a matchup of complete opposites. Wisconsin likes to slow the game down and play 40 minutes of physical, defensive-minded basketball while KSU is one of the more explosive offensive teams in the nation, averaging over 73 points per game throughout the season.
"I think just we have to do exactly what they're trying to do, play at our own pace," junior guard Jordan Taylor said Friday. "Play at the pace that we're comfortable at, you know. And we feel like we can make plays at a lot of different speeds. Just stay within ourselves and within our scheme. And just trying to make plays out of that."
In order to manage the pace and tempo of the game, the Badgers will have to neutralize the potent offensive weapon that is Wildcat senior guard Jacob Pullen. A teammate of UW senior forward Jon Leuer on the USA Select Team, Pullen is one of the best guards in the nation, fully capable of putting his team on his back both offensively and defensively.
"Players like that definitely bring out the best in you," Taylor added. "You definitely have to bring your A game. But at the end of the day it's about the team."
With both teams having beaten a top-ranked team thus far this season (Wisconsin over Ohio State, Kansas State over Kansas), the team that is able to bring their A game to McKale Center on Saturday afternoon will be tough to beat.
In order for the Badgers to do just that, they will have to handle the full-court pressure that Coach Frank Martin has made a hallmark of the Wildcats' game.
"Well, what makes for good pressure is anticipation, length in the passing lanes, trying to get you to do things that you don't see everyday..." UW head coach Bo Ryan said at Friday's press conference. "So hopefully we'll be able to get our looks. And if they extend too much, maybe we can get some easy baskets or attack a rim, maybe get somebody in foul trouble."
Against Belmont, the Badgers were able to do just that, holding the Bruins to just 58 points while committing only 12 turnovers (high for UW, low for virtually anyone else). But while the pressure Kansas State brings will be similar to Belmont's, the Wildcats have far more size, presenting yet another challenge to the Badgers' tournament run.
Much of that size comes from the frontcourt duo of senior Curtis Kelly and junior Jamar Samuels. The two bigs have combined for 19 points and nearly 11 rebounds per game.
"From what I've seen them do they can do a lot," UW senior forward Jon Leuer said. "They're both very active and long and athletic. So, you know, they have good touch around the basket. They're physical. And, you know, we're going to have to do our best to try to limit their touches and, you know, not let them get into a rhythm."
While Wisconsin comes in as the seed-wise favorite, it is Kansas State that hopes to avoid a disappointing end to a truly topsy turvy season. For a Badger team that was forecast to simply be in the mix for a bubble spot, a win Saturday would be icing on an already surprising cake of a season.
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