NCAA Tournament: Wisconsin Takes on Cal State Fullerton

Don’t get excited.

There’s nothing attractive about the way the Wisconsin Badgers play, but in the end they come out on top (even if it is in a mediocre Big Ten).

Riding a 10 game winning streak, collecting both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles for the first time in school history on the way, Wisconsin will now see how it compares to the rest of the pack in the NCAA Tournament.

Up first is No. 14-seed Cal State Fullerton.

The Titans, like the Badgers, have come together at the right time, winning 10 of their past 11 games. However, unlike last year when Wisconsin struggled as the No. 2 seed against Texas A&M Corpus Christi, this first round matchup shouldn’t present too many challenges for the men in cardinal and white. Here’s why:

Size matters

CSF’s biggest regular is 6-6. Four players on Wisconsin, including its best player, Brian Butch (6-11), are taller. Owning the glass has meant owning the win column this season. UW is nearly unbeatable (20-2) when out-rebounding the opposition.

Close doesn’t cut it

The Titans are 2-4 in games decided by seven points or less, whereas the Badgers are 6-3, two of which came on late game-winning three-pointers against Texas and Indiana.

Balance equals success

As good as Wisconsin was last season, reaching the top of the rankings in early February, the complete reliance on All-American Alando Tucker and Kamron Taylor hurt. Head coach Bo Ryan’s swing offense wouldn’t swing as other players tended to let the ball die in either one of their leader’s hands. It’s a different story this year. A number of Badgers can score evidenced by the team’s start to the Big Ten slate when five different players scored 20 or more points in five consecutive games. Overall, six Badgers average over seven points per game.

Been there done that

CSF hasn’t been to the tournament since 1978. Wisconsin is making its 10th consecutive appearance. Teams that haven’t experienced the NCAAs tend to play tight, awestruck by the atmosphere, leading to insurmountable first half deficits.

Slow but steady wins the race

Wisconsin led the Big Ten in scoring defense and field goal percentage, holding opponents to 54 points per game on 38 percent shooting. This could mean trouble for the Titans, who averaged 86 points per game and like to keep the game in transition.

Round Two

Should Wisconsin defeat Cal State Fullerton, it would face the winner of the Kansas State/USC game. The Trojans would offer a tougher matchup in terms of seeding (the six versus the eleven). However, the Wildcats would be tougher to beat because Michael Beasley is unstoppable. He’d be able to have his way inside and out.

The Badgers play excellent team defense and have terrific individual defenders in Michael Flowers and Joe Krabbenhoft, but no one has the combination of size and quickness to contain the NCAA POY candidate.

Furthermore, UW wouldn’t have the size advantage it has grown accustomed to playing with as Beasley and other regular Darren Kent are 6-10.