Red Defeats White 46-44 in Wisconsin's Red-White Scrimmage
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin basketball has officially arrived with the Badgers’ annual Red-White Scrimmage on Sunday at the Kohl Center in Madison. After a tight 30-minute contest, the Red team prevailed with a 46-44 win over White.
The scrimmage gave a good glimpse into the offense with a lot to like. The biggest question heading into the season will be how the new-look Badgers will produce with the amount of roster turnover. Key players such as John Tonje, Steven Crowl and Max Klesmit have been replaced with a mix of transfers and international talent.
Nick Boyd and John Blackwell Shine for Both Teams
The star of the scrimmage was undoubtedly Nick Boyd, who finished with 21 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field. He took almost all of his shots inside the paint or at the free-throw line, drawing contact. He got to the charity stripe and went 8-for-8.
The way Boyd slices through the defense, primarily as a slasher, will be a huge plus for an offense that thrives on spacing. The San Diego State transfer will complement John Blackwell, who had 13 points and seven rebounds for the White team.
Blackwell was able to create shots for the White team, mostly in the midrange and from the three-point line. The junior nailed a deep shot to tie the game with less than 15 seconds left, but a foul on Boyd led to the game-winning free throws.
Spacing is the Biggest Strength
Last year’s offense was historic for the Wisconsin basketball program. This year, while it may not be as strong, the Badgers should remain an elite scoring team.
Threes were a major emphasis to go along with the spacing. The Badgers had a lot of their big men running along the arc, including Austin Rapp, who led the White team with 15 points. He wasn’t creating shots off the dribble, but rather was in the right place at the right time for easy buckets.
Of the 84 total shots taken, 44 were three-pointers (52.4%). The Badgers shot 10-44 from deep (22.7%). The spacing is a huge strength, but Wisconsin can’t afford to live and die by the three.
Defense, Paint Touches Remain a Concern
With that comes the need for paint touches. The Badgers had a few dishes to Will Garlock and Aleksas Bieliauskas for some easy paint points. Even if it didn’t result in a layup or dunk, the paint touches opened up efficient shots.
On the defensive end, Wisconsin’s efficiency will rely heavily on stopping opponents in the paint. Boyd, Blackwell and Andrew Rhode are capable defenders, but there appeared to be a lack of presence around the basket.
The Badgers will take a short trip to Milwaukee to play Oklahoma at the Fiserv Forum on Friday. Against an SEC opponent, the exhibition matchup should give fans a better feel for the team this season.
