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UPDATED: March 18, 2017 9:00 a.m.
BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Mike Lucas had a front-row seat as eighth-seeded Wisconsin knocked off ninth-seeded Virginia Tech, 84-74, to advance in the East Region of the 2017 NCAA Tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., on Thursday.
Now the Badgers prepare to face the tourney's overall top seed, Villanova, Saturday at 1:40 p.m. CT on CBS. Mike digs into what he saw from courtside against the Hokies and don't miss his gameday preview of the Wildcats.
DOES NOVA HAVE THE WRIGHT PLAN FOR HAPP?
Daniel Ochefu was usually overshadowed by the "stars" in Villanova's starting lineup last season. More has been written and said about the graduation loss of Ryan Arcidiacono than the 6-foot-11, 245-pound Ochefu, who was an unsung member of that national championship team. A starter in 34 of 37 games, Ochefu averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds while leading the defense in blocks (57). Ochefu's understudy was 6-9, 240-pound Darryl Reynolds who got extended minutes last January and February when Ochefu was sidelined at various points. Now that Ochefu has moved on to the NBA (an undrafted free agent with Washington), the Wildcats don't have the benefit of a tag team at the rim.
In Thursday's win over Mount St. Mary's, which featured a three-guard attack, Reynolds played 16 minutes and didn't take a shot from the field. He had six rebounds and four fouls. Nova has a seven-man rotation and when Reynolds is off the floor, the options are 6-7, 250-pound Eric Paschall and 6-5, 205-pound Donte DiVincenzo who had a double-double (21 points, 13 rebounds) in their opener. On the season, Reynolds is averaging 4.6 points and 5.4 rebounds. He has blocked 29 shots, second most behind 6-7 forward Mikal Bridges who has 32.
How will the Cats handle Ethan Happ in the paint?
"They'll make it tough for him," suggested UW assistant Howard Moore. "I haven't seen them do a lot of doubling. But they will hard-dig. They will chest-up and move their feet — a lot like we have been traditionally (in low-post defense). They'll try not to foul and they'll be in a position to try and keep him from getting angles and out of the paint. They'll work him, they'll fight him. They'll show a little bit of a hard stunt and then get out, especially if there are shooters (on the perimeter), they won't totally commit to the post and he'd be wide-open (single coverage)."
After watching some film of Villanova, taking note how the Cats defend the low block, Happ said, "So far, I haven't really seen any doubles. But it could change obviously. And they could switch it up. Sometimes they could double and sometimes they could hard-dig and sometimes they could play just one-on-one. They play a lot like us. They're not going to hurry it up the floor, they're going to take their time and control the tempo. It will be a grind it out game."
Villanova coach Jay Wright has the utmost respect for Happ. "He's got the best hands of any player of his size we've played against and also the best feet," Wright said Friday. "Put them together in the same guy, that's a really tough match-up, in that he could score in there (the paint) but he passes extremely well out of there. If he's got size on you, he can score over you. If you have size on him, he can score around you with his ball-handling."
Although Nova edged Purdue, 79-76, in mid-November at Mackey Arena (West Lafayette, Indiana), the Boilermakers got 22 points from Isaac Haas (8-of-10 FGs) and 20 from Caleb Swanigan (8-of-13). Can Happ and Nigel Hayes be as productive? "He's a nightmare match-up," Wright said of Hayes. "He has developed as a passer, decision-maker and shooter. When he first came in, he was kind of a rugged, aggressive, energy guy. Now, he's just a complete basketball player. It's pretty scary how I just described those two guys (Happ and Hayes) and they're on the same team, right? It's a good team."
UW coach Greg Gard was quizzed on Hayes and what has made him so effective during this post-season. "Number one, he understands what time of year it is," he said. "Number two, he's made a conscious effort to take advantage of his advantage — and that's basically playing 15 feet and in."
IRONMEN
Hart and Kris Jenkins played in their 145th career games against Mount St. Mary's, breaking a tie with Arcidiacono for the most in school history. When the ball is tipped against Nova, Hayes will break a tie with Josh Gasser by playing in his 149th career game, a UW record.
GARDO SEZ
"What I see in Villanova is a championship program type of swagger, and I've seen it in our guys, too, just from the benefits of being in two Final Fours. They understand what it's about and what you have to go through and also have that air of confidence that borders on arrogance. Without being arrogant, you watch Villanova walk on the floor and they are very confident, led by Jalen Brunson, who has always been a championship level guard. Hart carries that same type of presence about him. I see it in our guys, too. I think it's embedded in both programs."
BK3 AND GHOST OF JON BRYANT PAST
Zak Showalter was amused to hear Bronson Koenig fretting over his shooting mechanics at halftime. "He was saying, 'Man, I've just got to flick my wrists and they'll go in,'" recounted Showalter, who was smiling because Koenig went on to set the school record for 3-pointers in a game with eight (8-of-17). The previous mark was seven and it was shared by 11 different players, including Jon Bryant who had seven triples against Fresno State in the 2000 NCAA Tournament opener, the first step in a Final Four run (Tracy Webster also had seven in a 1994 second-round loss to Missouri). Koenig finished with a career-high 28 points against the Hokies.
"I was just trying to stay aggressive and take advantage of every opportunity I got," said Koenig, who had made 36 percent (20-of-56) of his 3-point shots in 14 previous NCAA games; no bigger make than his buzzer-beating game-winner against Xavier in the second round last season. When asked if he had a good early rhythm against the Hokies, Koenig admitted to giving himself a halftime pep talk. "I knew I had to start following through on my shot rather than pulling down," he explained. "When I do follow through, it feels pretty good. I said that to a few people. I knew I was going to get opportunities with the way they switched and their zone and my teammates did a great job of screening for me and getting me open."
Koenig definitely got Villanova's attention. "We definitely have to find Koenig," said point guard Jalen Brunson. "He's a great shooter, but they're real balanced."
IVERSON'S RESILIENCY WAS INSPIRING
On Feb. 16, Khalil Iverson had 10 points and four rebounds in a loss at Michigan, the Big Ten equivalent of Virginia Tech in playing style. However, over his next six appearances combined, Iverson scored just 11 points (3-of-10 FGs) and became an after-thought in the rotation. He played 4 minutes against Iowa, 9 against Minnesota and 3 against Indiana before returning to Ohio because of a family tragedy, the death of two cousins. After scoring 11 points and pulling down seven rebounds in 21 minutes against Virginia Tech, most of his heavy lifting coming in the first half, Iverson said that he had dedicated the game to his cousins. "It definitely cleared my mind a little bit," Iverson confided.
When pressed on his mindset for the Hokies — especially knowing that they were comparable to the Wolverines — Iverson said, "Most of the attention is on guys like Ethan (Happ) and Nigel (Hayes) and B (Koenig). I was basically playing off them. When they're getting double-teamed, I was just making a rim-cut. If your man leaves you, then you're going to be open. For the offensive rebounds, I've grown up (realizing) that if someone shoots the ball on one side of the court then it's typically going to the other side (weak side). I was doing simple, small things to try and help."
His teammates were impressed. "I can't imagine the week that he has gone through," Showalter said. "To come out here and play like a grown man … really picked us up." Added Vitto Brown, "Khalil is a tough kid who has been through a lot of things. Honestly, I think that (playing) might have helped him tonight. That toughness that he has definitely carried over. He gave us more than a lift." Interjected Hayes, "He played the epitome of a sixth man or a seventh man, if you will. He did everything that you're supposed to do. When you come off the bench, you're supposed to add in some way whether it's rebounding, points or defense. He did a tremendous job for us. You see him on the glass and his arms and elbows are above the crowd as he was coming down with the ball."
DOUBLING DOWN ON NIGEL
Hayes was one rebound shy of a double-double against Indiana in the first game of the Big Ten tournament. Since then, he has gone 3-of-3 against Northwestern (18 points, 10 rebounds), Michigan (14 and 11) and Virginia Tech (16 and 10). That matched his career high for consecutive DDs. "What we like to say, especially Ethan and myself, players make plays, players step up," Hayes said. "It's kind of just what had to happen. Being a senior, I know the feelings and emotions of watching other guys when it (their career) is over and I tried my best not to let that happen tonight." Hayes was 8-of-9 from the free throw line and didn't miss an attempt in the second half in some tense moments down the stretch. He was shooting only 58 percent for the season after making 74 percent in each of the previous two years. "I was upset. I'm a good (free throw) shooter," said Hayes. "I just had a really, really long slump."
QUOTE WORTHING NOTING
On the value of the UW's NCAA tourney experience versus Virginia Tech's lack of experience, Brown said, "It allowed us to withstand their runs and answer back right away. An inexperienced team maybe we would have crumbled at some point and allowed their momentum to carry them in front of us. Even though we were trading baskets, we still maintained control."
QUOTE WORTHING NOTING 2
On the play of Hayes at the low block when he was scoring, drawing fouls and making free throws, Showalter said, "That's when Nigel is at his best. When he can finish around the rim, especially because he's so good with the ball. His hands are so strong, guys can't slap it away. They go for the ball and he's good at getting that contact."
NOTE WORTH QUOTING
The Badgers were 19-of-25 (.760) from the free throw and made 15 of their last 16; Hayes was 8-of-9, a far cry from their season-long quandary shooting from the stripe. The last time Iverson was on the line was against Minnesota in the regular-season finale and he went 1-of-4. Iverson made his first two attempts against Virginia Tech. "Of course that definitely helps," he said of the confidence boost. He ended up with career highs in makes and takes from the line (7-of-8).
THE SKINNY ON VILLANOVA
The Wildcats didn't look anything like the defending national champions and the overall No. 1 seed when they missed their first eight shots against Mount St. Mary's and trailed 5-0 at the first media timeout. They didn't take their first lead until 1:22 remaining in the first half. And they trailed after the first possession following intermission before going on a 21-6 run to eliminate any thoughts of a No. 16 seed pulling off the unthinkable. Donte Divincenzo came off the bench to lead the Cats in scoring with 21 points (9-of-15 FGs) and 13 rebounds. Josh Hart, a national player of the year candidate, took only five shots and had 11 points. Kris Jenkins was completely off his game (2-of-13 FGs, 0-of-6 from the arc).
"My first thoughts?" said UW assistant Howard Moore, who has the scouting report on Nova. "It's like a mirror-image of us in the sense of, they're a very disciplined team, veteran-led. The tempo is very comparable. Both teams play at the same pace. It's going to be a pace where we can do what we do, grind it out, and make it a game. They don't get rattled. They don't get too high. They don't get too low. Their proficient in both ends. Hart is a phenomenal player. Jalen Brunson is probably one of the best point guards in the country as far as finding his opportunities and opportunities for teammates. They only go seven deep. But they can do a lot with those seven guys."
