Wisconsin at Xavier: Key storylines to watch in the Gavitt Games matchup

Can Wisconsin space the floor?

Ethan Happ is the superstar of the Wisconsin Badgers. There is no doubt about that. Yet, he cannot be at his best as a player without help from his teammates. And while Happ is arguably the best post scorer in the nation, possibly his best attribute is his passing. When opponents collapse on Happ with double-teams in the paint, he is easily able to see over defenders with his size and find the open man on the perimeter. The issue for the Badgers last season, though, was that Happ’s teammates were simply unable to find the bottom of the net from three.

In fact, Wisconsin only returns one player (Aleem Ford, who is currently out with injury) who shot considerably better than the national average from three last season. And while the healthy returns of Kobe King, D’Mitrik Trice, and Brad Davison should improve the perimeter scoring, none of them are particularly well-known as sharpshooters in their collegiate careers.

When shots aren’t dropping for the Badgers, Happ can get smothered in the paint and bad things tend to happen. That is why it is vital that at least two or three players emerge as legitimate 3-point threats not only in this game but throughout the course of this season. And in the season opener against Coppin State, there were some encouraging signs. Most notably, Brevin Pritzl (4-for-7) and Trice (5-for-9) scorched the nets from distance.

If Wisconsin is able to hit 3-pointers consistently against Xavier, they should be in great shape.