BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Less than 48 hours after a disheartening loss to Penn State, the first in a decade to the Nittany Lions, there was an extended, exasperating film review. That was followed by a competitive practice designed to address and fix a defense that had given up 50 second-half points.
After repeatedly getting burned by fast breaks — according to the final game box the Badgers were dominated 21-3 in this category — Wisconsin coach Greg Gard dusted off a defensive transition drill that reconditioned the players to the importance of getting back and protecting the rim.
Communication was emphasized. Defending with a purpose was stressed.
"We have specific rules in place when transition comes on a loose ball or a bad shot that ricochets and they're going the other way with numbers," said senior guard Trevor Anderson breaking it down from a tactical standpoint. "Identifying the rim and stopping the ball are the two main points.
"If you leave the rim, that's when layups and dunks and chaos can start. So, in communicating, if someone is stopping the ball and you can't see behind you, letting that guy know where you are … if you are in a gap, and just stuff like that … pays dividends on the outcome of that transition.
"After we kind of got our butts kicked by Penn State at their place, that was a big emphasis."
Wisconsin Badgers guards Trevor Anderson (12) and D'Mitirk Trice (0) during an NCAA Big Ten Conference college basketball game against the Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday, January 23, 2021, in Madison, Wis. The Buckeyes won 74-62.
Three days later, it paid off in the rematch at the Kohl Center.
"It was a simple formula or a simple fix," Gard intoned. "But we still had to go play."
The Badgers gave up zero points in transition and thumped the Nittany Lions, 72-56.
"Getting our defense set," Gard added, "is obviously primary no matter who we're playing."
Wisconsin's transition defense will be put the test again Saturday at No. 12 Illinois.
"Obviously, they're really good in transition and they're playing a lot faster than they have in the past and that has been the key for them shooting the ball better from the 3-point line," D'Mitrik Trice said. "They're playing fast and free and sharing the ball which is what makes them really dangerous."
Another UW senior guard, Brad Davison, offered this comprehensive take.
"Transition defense starts on the offensive side of the ball," he reasoned. "Whether it's taking care of the ball, getting good shots, making shots, getting to the free throw line, making sure you don't have any live ball turnovers … all of those things are big factors.
"Transition defense is the key for us in every game, let alone Illinois that gets up and down with the best of them in the country … you've got to hustle back, you've got to get back as fast as you can and take away the rim and try to force them into tough shots.
"We want to make them score against us in the half-court because we have a better chance of stopping them at a higher rate. That was a big difference (in the Penn State win). But it was also our energy, our energy on the defensive side of the ball.
"Most importantly because that kind of sets the tone for the game. It gets our offense going. We always say, 'Come with your defense — let your offense catch up.' That energy — the communication, diving on the floor, getting loose balls, all that stuff — translates into winning games."
• • • •
All that stuff applies to the way that Anderson plays the game. With a passion. With a resolve.
Asked to describe his offensive identity, the Stevens Point, Wisconsin native said, "I would probably say it's just being tough and having a smart basketball IQ … just making the right play whether that's getting in and looking for my shot or setting up other guys.
"Obviously on the defensive end, I'm not the quickest or most athletic guy in the world. But toughness and just having that mindset — 'You're never going to get beat' — makes up for all those other areas I may lack or whatever the case may be."
On Tuesday night, Anderson had seven points in seven-plus minutes of the first half against Penn State. He came off the bench and assisted on a Jonathan Davis 3. And he followed that up by knocking down a couple of free throws, a jumper and completing an old fashioned 3-point play.
In the second half, he had another basket and two more assists on Davis scores.
"He has always helped us when he has come in — in a lot of places," Gard said of Anderson, an ignitor and energizer. "Specifically, they were switching everything and scrambling things up and you eventually have to just break it down and play … break down people and make plays.
"I thought he was able to do that. He was able to get in the paint and get to the rim himself. He found some people from time to time, but he was able to put pressure on the rim with dribble penetration. You get to a point where you go unscripted and you just have to make some plays."
Anderson delivered. After the Penn State win, he was one of two UW players who took part in a Zoom interview session with the media. The other was Davis, who went 4-of-4 from the 3-point arc and scored a career-high 17 points. This was heady stuff for Anderson, let alone the true frosh Davis.
"Getting to represent our team, getting to represent Wisconsin after the game, being one of two players, that was cool, that was fun," said Anderson, who began his college journey at Green Bay in 2016 before transferring to Wisconsin the following year.
"Hopefully, I can have some more of those."
Post-game Zoom appearances after victories.
After a knee injury cut short his first season with the Badgers, he has fought his way back.
"I'm far and away a lot better now from the mental aspect," said Anderson who appeared in just eight games during the 2018-2019 season and still grappled with his rehab/recovery last year. "I was kind of always thinking (about it) because it did hurt. It didn't feel right and that just kind of builds up."
Over time, he has felt more and more comfortable. Physically and mentally. "Now, I'm stronger, I feel better," he said. "And I think that directly correlates to having more confidence and having a better feel for the game. I still have a ways to go. But it definitely feels a lot better than last year."
On his current role for this team, Anderson was candid. Beyond bringing his own brand of intensity to the floor, he said, "I just try to be a point guard. Whatever that looks like. If we need scoring, if we need a couple of assists — get the pace up, whatever that is, I just try to bring that off the bench.
"It's good to be able to do other things than the other guys we have on our roster. Meech (Trice) can create his shot a little more and I have the playmaking ability that can set up other people to have success. Two different guards that are good at different things gives the other team a different look."
At Rutgers, Anderson's toughness surfaced during a scrum in front of the Scarlet Knights bench. After being trapped, and calling a timeout, Caleb McConnell slapped the ball which was still in Anderson's hands. Some woofing and pushing ensued. Much to the delight of Anderson's teammates.
"We just weren't going to back down to those guys after what happened at Michigan," said Anderson, referencing a blowout loss earlier that week to the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. "It was for me, and it was also for my teammates to kind of send a message, 'We're here to fight for 40 minutes.'"
The Badgers take pride in their competitiveness, their fight, and, of course, their experience.
"Obviously, we're one of the oldest groups to ever play the game of basketball … (pause) … in college, I guess," Trice playfully said Thursday of the oft-repeated narrative. But the 24-year-old Trice also suggested a payoff. So did the 23-year-old Anderson, who's averaging 14 minutes off the bench.
"We've all kind of been there before, we all kind of know the deal," said Anderson, vouching for how tough the Big Ten is from game-to-game. "We know not to get too high, or too low. Even when stuff doesn't go well, we've found a way to bounce back immediately the next game."
As was the case with Penn State. The Badgers flipped the script on their transition defense.
"If you would have watched the film, you would understand why we were getting back a little more diligently than the last game," he said. "When we're focused and locked in and everyone is on the same page and connected, these are some of the results that we get."
Whether they can sustain that execution will be answered over the next eight games. Starting with Saturday's challenging matchup against Illinois, Anderson clarified the mission, "We just have to get more consistent with it now and start stacking those wins like we did last year."
Whatever that looks like.
