Wisconsin mailbag: Is the Michigan loss reason to worry, who will transfer among readers' burning questions
DENVER - Before Wisconsin faces Montana in a first-round NCAA tournament game Thursday, beat reporter Mark Stewart answered your questions about the game and the teams.
Q. What does their loss to Michigan mean? Michigan is a team with a high turnover rate and they still lost?
Mark Stewart: The way I look at that game is that UW shot a season-low 22% and still almost won. I’d be more encouraged about that rather than spend any more time feeling disappointed that UW lost. Michigan is a really good defensive team and in that game it turned the ball over eight times. That was the Wolverines’ second-lowest total of the season.
Q. Going back to the Michigan loss, the low shot percentage and fade down the stretch. How much do you attribute to a team playing 4 games in 4 days? Or, is there another team weakness that could show up in the first round of March Madness?
Mark Stewart: It would be natural to think that playing four games in four days caught up with UW. The Badgers, to their credit, didn’t use that as an excuse. But given the lead they lost – Wisconsin was up by 11 in the second half – and their inability to hit open looks, you can’t help but think that was a factor. This was also a physical game, which may have eventually worn on UW. I don't know if I'd consider the low shot percentage vs. Michigan a weakness, but sometimes the three-pointers aren't going to fall and Wisconsin has to be ready to adjust when/if that happens.
Q. When does the transfer portal open AND what is your insight on whether you feel Daniel Freitag will enter it AND whether the Badgers will 'pony up $' to keep John Blackwell?
Mark Stewart: The portal is open from March 24 to April 22. And honestly I have no insight into where those players’ heads are when it comes to their futures. I’ve seen no signs that either is interested in moving on, but you never know. That’s the world of NIL these days.
Q. HOWINTHEHELLARETHEYPLAYINGIINCOLORADO?
Mark Stewart: Here is a link to a story written by JR Radcliffe that does a very good job of explaining what happened.
Q. Before the season began , I was among those expecting to see much of transfer Cam Hunter. Then I believe injury got him off to a rough start. What's his status now? Is he expected to bolt in the transfer portal (again) after the season?
Mark Stewart: Hunter has been slowed by injury, though he is fine now. His playing time has more likely been slowed by the emergence of Jack Janicki, who is getting about 12 minutes per game. Will he leave? Who knows. It does no good trying to speculate on that stuff. We’ll just have to wait to see what happens.
Q. It looked like the Badgers lost their legs in the championship game vs Michigan. Four games in four days will do that to a team. How do you see the team?
Mark Stewart: It won’t be easy, given the potential second-round matchup vs. BYU, but I like the Badgers' chance to get to the second weekend. One thing UW has done a good job of this season is keeping games close even when it isn’t necessarily playing well. That skill will serve the Badgers well in the tournament and give them a chance to win every time out.
Q. In a tight game, who do you most want taking the final shot?
Mark Stewart: One of the beauties of this team is that it could be John Tonje or Blackwell or Max Klesmit. All three have done it at some point this season.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin mailbag: Michigan loss, transfer portal on readers' minds
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