Post by bucky415 on Oct 27, 2006 14:08:25 GMT -5
Only five hours left until the match that I most want the Badgers to win every year. I really, really don't like Penn State. I think the rest of the Big Ten can understand that. I am going with emotion, so I think the Badgers are going to find a way to win tonight in front of a big and enthusiastic crowd.
I think the key to the match for Wisconsin is the play of the middles. Jones and Nelson completely outplayed them at Minnesota; that can't happen tonight for the Badgers to have any shot. I think Wisconsin does match up decently with the Lions, who get most of their kills from the left side. That is going at the strength of the Badger defense. I know the Lions have a much stronger left side tandem than anyone the Badgers have faced, probably including Texas (I don't want to think about that), but I also think the Badgers should be able to slow them down somewhat. You can't stop players that good, but I think you can hold their percentages down enough to win. The Badgers also need offense from the middles to keep PSU from keying on Dolgner and Carlini.
Unfortunately, I would guess that PSU is also very strong at stopping left side offense with Salyer, Walbridge, and Harmotto very capable of putting up a dominant block. Thus, the Badgers can't put everything on Dolgner and Carlini and expect to win. I would also have Dolgner try the jump serve and see if she can get it in bounds. When you are the less talented team, you have to take some risks. Just ask UCLA's football coach.
Anyway, I am hoping for a match that gets cut a lot when ESPN2 shows it on sunday. I think the longer the match goes, probably the better for the home team. I don't expect PSU to be rattled by the environment, since they took care of business at LSU and Texas, but the Badgers might get a lift from it. I will say that I am very glad Tortorello and Walters are gone; I am sure Glass and Holehouse are good players, but not too many players are at the elite level in their first years starting. Hodge maybe, Gordon definitely, but those are exceptions.
I think the key to the match for Wisconsin is the play of the middles. Jones and Nelson completely outplayed them at Minnesota; that can't happen tonight for the Badgers to have any shot. I think Wisconsin does match up decently with the Lions, who get most of their kills from the left side. That is going at the strength of the Badger defense. I know the Lions have a much stronger left side tandem than anyone the Badgers have faced, probably including Texas (I don't want to think about that), but I also think the Badgers should be able to slow them down somewhat. You can't stop players that good, but I think you can hold their percentages down enough to win. The Badgers also need offense from the middles to keep PSU from keying on Dolgner and Carlini.
Unfortunately, I would guess that PSU is also very strong at stopping left side offense with Salyer, Walbridge, and Harmotto very capable of putting up a dominant block. Thus, the Badgers can't put everything on Dolgner and Carlini and expect to win. I would also have Dolgner try the jump serve and see if she can get it in bounds. When you are the less talented team, you have to take some risks. Just ask UCLA's football coach.
Anyway, I am hoping for a match that gets cut a lot when ESPN2 shows it on sunday. I think the longer the match goes, probably the better for the home team. I don't expect PSU to be rattled by the environment, since they took care of business at LSU and Texas, but the Badgers might get a lift from it. I will say that I am very glad Tortorello and Walters are gone; I am sure Glass and Holehouse are good players, but not too many players are at the elite level in their first years starting. Hodge maybe, Gordon definitely, but those are exceptions.
