Note: Hi! Hope you’re all doing well. While I may still publish stuff here every so often, you’ll be able to find all of my Wisconsin WBB coverage over at Badger Notes this season. I’ve been writing about football, volleyball, and hoops over there for a few months and I’d love for you all to join me.
Final Score
Wisconsin Badgers 84
Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks 64
Four Factors
eFG%: 53.1
Turnover%: 15.9
Off. Rebound%: 33.3
FTA/FGA: 29.2
Key Stats
FG%: 49.2 (32-of-65)
Opp. FG%: 38.6 (22-of-57)
3P%: 31.3 (5-of-16)
Opp. 3P%: 35.3 (6-of-17)
FT%: 78.9 (15-of-19)
Opp. FT%: 66.7 (14-of-21)
Points Per Possession: 1.217
Opponent Points Per Possession: 0.865
Rebounds: 37 (12 offensive)
Opponent Rebounds: 36 (12 offensive)
Turnovers: 11
Forced Turnovers: 21
Team Leaders
Serah Williams: 30 points (12-of-17 FG), five rebounds (four offensive), two steals, one block, +36
Ronnie Porter: 18 points (7-of-8 FG, 1-of-1 3P), five rebounds, eight assists, four steals +32
D’Yanis Jimenez: 15 points (5-of-13 FG, 0-of-2 3P), four rebounds, one assist, three steals, +14
Brooke Schramek: seven points (2-of-6 FG, 2-of-5 3P), four rebounds (one offensive), one assist, one block, +15
Whitewater Team Leaders
Aleah Grundahl: 13 points (4-of-13 FG, 0-of-1 3P), four rebounds (three offensive), two assists, one steal, -26
Kacie Carollo: 10 points (3-of-7 FG, 2-of-4 3P), seven rebounds (one offensive), two assists, -17
Three Thoughts
No Lily Krahn, Halle Douglass, or Sania Copeland on Sunday. Douglass is obviously still rehabbing from her ACL injury last year and I’m sure all precautions are being taken before she’s allowed back on the court in a game environment. The absences of Copeland and Krahn are more difficult to explain specifically.
The Journal Sentinel’s Mark Stewart, who does a nice job with his women’s hoops coverage, tweeted before the game that Douglass (knee) and Copeland (unknown) weren’t going to play but did not mention Krahn at all. Head coach Marisa Moseley had said in a presser before the game against Whitewater that none of those three would play, but didn’t offer up any reasons for what is ailing Copeland/Krahn.
Hopefully the knocks on Copeland and Krahn are minor because they are both expected to be contributors on the team this year. That brings me to what Moseley’s initial starting lineup was! Obviously Serah Williams and Brooke Schramek were out there, but there were also three new faces in the starting five. Veteran Natalie Leuzinger was bumped into the opening lineup from the bench and Ronnie Porter appears to be the team’s point guard of the future. True freshman D’Yanis Jimenez was the fifth and final starter, which is a bit of a surprise, but she acquitted herself nicely against UWW.
If I had to guess, Copeland (once healthy) might start over Leuzinger, who is more of a Swiss army knife type who can come off the bench and affect the game without scoring. First off the bench was Spanish freshman Ana Guillen who got her money’s worth by committing five fouls in 10 minutes. Freshmen Leena Patibandla (19 mins.) and Imbie Jones (16 mins.) received the most run off the bench in the game.
Moseley’s rotation could change drastically throughout the season and will definitely be something to watch.Serah Williams was dominant and looked like an All-B1G forward. She dropped 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting while also knocking down six of her seven free throws. Four of her five rebounds were on the offensive end, she recorded three stocks (steals+blocks), and only committed one foul and one turnover.
For a team heading into the season having lost most of their major offensive contributors, this was the exact type of performance they needed to see from Williams. She looks ready to be the hub of UW’s offense and I’m hopeful some outside shooters develop around here so teams get punished for doubling her.Ronnie Porter’s distribution was awesome! The Badgers, as a team, struggled greatly with turnovers last season. They loved turning the ball over. Couldn’t get enough of it in fact! Well, in her first game as starting point guard for Wisconsin, Porter dished out eight assists and only turned it over twice. A 4:1 assist to turnover ratio is excellent (and unsustainable) for anyone, let alone a sophomore starting her second career game.
The Badgers had brought in grad transfers at point guard during the first two years of Moseley’s tenure but didn’t this year. I asked Moseley about that at Big Ten Media Days and she said that she liked what they had on the roster already. As a longtime Ronnie Porter Supporter I hoped that meant she took a big jump this offseason and this game did nothing to dampen my enthusiasm.
Not only was she pulling the strings as a playmaker, she also went 7-of-8 from the field, making her only three-pointer and getting to the free throw line for four attempts. I haven’t even mentioned that she pulled down five boards and got four steals either! Really nice game from Porter.
Final Thought
I’m aware that there isn’t a ton to take away from any of these preseason games, especially when they’re against a D-III team, but what Wisconsin did against Whitewater is far preferable to the alternative. Williams looked impressive against overmatched opponents, like she should, and the team as a whole looked decent on both ends of the court, which is nice to see with so many new faces in the rotation.
UW’s non-conference schedule is a little bit “easier” this year than in year’s past, which is good for a young team, and so hopefully they can build some momentum before they head into the meat grinder that is Big Ten play.
Next Game: REGULAR SEASON OPENER!!!!!!!! Tuesday, Nov. 7; vs. Milwaukee; 6:30 p.m. CT; BTN+; Kohl Center