UW’s ability to protect the basketball has been one key to their 9-2 start
Turnovers have been down this season
MADISON – Comparing a team’s performance from one season to the next can be dicey.
Personnel changes must be considered. The strength of schedule usually changes.
Yet there is little doubt that Wisconsin (9-2, 3-1 Big Ten) is a better team through 11 games this season than the first 11 games last season in just about every statistical category.
The Badgers, who opened at No. 11
in the NCAA NET rankings Monday, are scoring more points, limiting the opposition to fewer points, shooting more efficiently, making it more difficult on opposing shooters and taking better care of the basketball.
UW’s assist-to-turnover numbers might be the most compelling.
The Badgers had almost as many turnovers (124) as assists (128), for a 1.0 assist-to-turnover margin through 11 games last season. UW’s numbers this season: 160 assists and only 91 turnovers for a 1.8 assist-toturnover margin. The reasons for the improvement are several.
UW’s top three guards have combined for 84 assists and 28 turnovers, a 3.0 assist-to-turnover margin.
Brad Davison has 30 assists and six turnovers (+5.0); D’Mitrik Trice has 37 assists and 15 turnovers (+2.5); and Trevor Anderson has 17 assists and seven turnovers (+2.4).
Senior guards are expected to value the ball. However, the improvement by Nate Reuvers, Aleem Ford and Tyler Wahl has also been critical in UW cutting down on its turnovers so far this season.
Reuvers this season: eight assists and 13 turnovers. Last season: seven assists and 27 turnovers.
Ford this season: 13 assists and nine turnovers. Last season: 13 assists and 17 turnovers.
Wahl this season: 17 assists and eight turnovers. Last season: 13 assists and 11 turnovers.
UW this season is averaging 8.3 turnovers per game. Dating to last season, when they finished No. 4 nationally in turnovers per game at 10.0, the Badgers have committed 11 or fewer turnovers in 29 consecutive games.
The last time UW had 12 or more turnovers was Dec. 31, 2019. They had 14 in a victory over Rider.
UW has limited its turnover total to single digits in seven of 11 games this season. Perhaps the most impressive game in that group came in an 85-76 victory at Michigan State. UW turned the ball over on its first four possessions but finished the game with seven.
“Once we settled in a little bit we were better,” head coach Greg Gard said.
The efficient passing has resulted in all five starters averaging at least 10.0 points per game.
“You never know who is going to be the guy that night,” assistant coach Alando Tucker said. “It’s the way we share the ball . ...
“It’s the unselfishness of our guys. Make the (extra) pass to the great shot. That is kind of the mantra we live by.”