Wisconsin vs Louisville: 5 biggest storylines for 2020-21 clash

Reuvers and Potter side by side

As indicated by the box-scores, Coach Greg Gard enjoys playing 6’10 Micah Potter and 6’11 Nate Reuvers in the frontcourt together, so much so that they have both started each of the six games Wisconsin has played to start the season. With that in mind, as indicated by the game versus  Loyola (IL) Basketball, some matchups are not conducive to doing so.

Due to the Ramblers not having the option to play anybody over 6’9, Coach Gard was forced into rotating his near seven-footers with each other as he has done frequently. So far this season both hover around 23 minutes per game.

The Badgers are more effective on both ends of the floor with Potter and Reuvers both on, but if they are to do so versus Louisville it will be dependant upon their ability to defend the perimeter and how well Quinn Slazinski, Samuell Williamson, and Jae’lyn Withers are connecting from beyond the arc.

If history continues its current pattern, the answer to that is not very well, as the Cardinals’ frontcourt trio averages under two three-pointers combined per game. Withers’ preferred method of scoring is to receive the ball in the corner and to drive baseline, as for Williamson, he will set a high screen then proceed to slash through the key to receive the ball with momentum going toward the rim.

Both those methods will benefit the Badgers’ bigs’ as neither will extend their on-ball defense beyond the arc, as the other provides heavy help in the key.  A lot of pressure will be taken off Potter and Reuvers defensively if they only have to protect the paint. The time they play together will be important as Sandro Mamukelashvili and Ike Obiagu were able to create opportunities executing a high-low post offense when Seton Hall lost to Louisville by a single point.