A time tested face freckled with battles from Platteville to Seattle. A coaching prodigy with Gene Keady pedigree and hair to match. One a mirror reflection of the other at different periods in time. Their teams an embodiment of blue collar values. Both winners. The Wisconsin Badgers (16-2) travel to West Lafayette Saturday afternoon to play the rapidly maturing Purdue Boilermakers (14-5).

Defense Begins

Wisconsin and Purdue embody the values of team basketball. While both rosters are replete with players who, given the opportunity, could drop 20 on you, coaches Bo Ryan and Matt Painter have developed sound systems that emphasize discipline, balance, and above all else, defense.

To succeed, these programs have made a concerted commitment to defense on every possession. Not taking a possession off requires mental toughness, and from the example their coaches, Wisconsin and Purdue are mentally tough. Purdue leading scorer, sophomore Keaton Grant explains “[I]n terms of philosophy, we’re [WI & PU] both defensive-minded first. That’s the biggest thing. Then, the offense comes.” Such are words that would make notorious curmudgeons Dick Bennett and Gene Keady beam with pride.

Offensive Balance

On offense, Wisconsin has balance. Through January 22, five different layers score at least twenty points in a game. The versatility of the Swing Offense has a knack of finding opportunities for a varying cast of players at all points on the floor. A testament to Bo Ryan’s philosophy, Wisconsin has grown, not regressed, with the absence of star players Alando Tucker and Kammron Taylor. Without a star player, the emergence of Trevon Hughes as a consummate point guard has translated to more balanced distribution of the ball from Brian Butch to Joe Krabbenhoft to Marcus Landry to Jason Bohannon to versatile freshman Jon Leuer.

Purdue is also deep, with players from Robbie Hummel to Chris Kramer from E’twaan Moore to the crafty Nemenja Calasan, Scott Martin and Maurice Green all playing both ends of the floor and all equally capable of erupting on offense.

Tend the Garden

But in a game where a Mackey Arena sellout and Wisconsin’s front court bulk will surely factor into the outcome, it’s guard Michael Flowers who brings the intangible qualities of leadership that typically inspires his teammates. Flowers has consistently been the one Badger who infuses a commitment to defense upon his team. He’s a lock down on the ball defender and, despite having a difficult night guarding Manny Harris on Tuesday as the frosh unloaded for 26, Flowers will no doubt challenge Keaton Grant.

Grab a Rebound

Against Michigan this past week, Wisconsin was uncharacteristically out rebounded, at home nonetheless, by 12, including 20 on the offensive end. Still, the Badgers hung tough, as they tend to do, in the face of a Manny offensive outburst. The Badgers are deeper, more grizzled, and bigger in the post. But games are not won and rebounds are not corralled on paper but rather on sweat equity.

Against Bo Ryan’s #11 Badgers, Purdue has the opportunity to mark the reestablishment of Boilermaker tradition under Matt Painter. Whether they’re successful today or not, the next step for Purdue will come and when it does, Purdue, like Wisconsin, will remain at the top of the Big Ten indeterminately.

Grand Valley State Rolls

In case any Spartans fans were curious, Michigan State’s pre-season Division II nemesis, Grand Valley State, is now 21-0 and ranked #2 in the Country. They’re beating opponents by over 22 points a game while limiting them to 37% shooting. Putting them on Michigan State’s schedule is another example of a great coaching decision made by Tom Izzo. Division II or not, Grand Valley State is a solid program and their coach, Ric Wesley, an long time Johnny Orr assistant needs to be recognized and commended.

Depleted Huskies In Bloomington

Indiana hosts UConn in what will be the Hoosiers biggest challenge yet this season. On Friday morning from the lobby of the team hotel in Bloomington, Coach Jim Calhoun announced sophomores Jerome Dyson and Doug Wiggins have been suspended indefinitely from the team for the proverbial “violation of team rules.”

The suspensions aren’t cheap as Dyson averages 14 points and Wiggins is the Huskies number one man off the bench. Still IU will need to keep DJ, their sole post presence, on the floor and away from foul trouble, as he, not Eric Gordon, has become IU’s most indispensable player. Deep into January, IU remains a mystery. We’ll have a better gauge on exactly how strong IU is after they either defend or surrender their home floor.

One for Goldy

Minnesota plays Ohio State in one that the Golden Gophers can, should and have to win. Keep an eye on Damian Johnson, who affects games with incredible defense, and appreciate his effort. Again, containing Jamar Butler is key to beating Ohio State as coach Tubby Smith knows well. For Minnesota, a healthy Al Nolen is critical as is Lawrence McKenzie playing under control, not with the haphazard speed and quick trigger he exhibited last season.

Posted by TD Lawlor on Saturday, January 26th, 2008 at 9:52 am.