Notre Dame-Wisconsin NCAA preview

The Irish are most effective when they get their transition game going, and point guard Demetrius Jackson is the ringleader. The matchup between Jackson and Wisconsin's Bronson Koenig will be a key. Jackson will look to push the action, while Koenig will stretch the Irish defense with his three-point shooting. The Irish have to keep Wisconsin's 6-foot-8 junior Nigel Hayes off the foul line. Hayes leads the Big Ten in free throw attempts with 256. He is shooting .738 from the foul line.

The Badgers have to stop the three-point shooting of Notre Dame, especially against 6-8 junior V.J. Beachem, who hit 18 of 36 threes in his last seven games and 6 of 12 in the two NCAA tournament wins. Overall he is shooting 43.6 percent from beyond the arc. He is averaging 16.5 point in Notre Dame's two tournament wins. Overall, Notre Dame is effective from beyond the arc, shooting 37.2 percent. The Badgers have to keep Notre Dame off the boards. The Irish outrebound teams by about two per game. Notre Dame 6-10 senior Zach Auguste should receive special attention. He is averaging a team-leading 10.9 rebounds, including 3.4 per game on the offensive glass.

Ethan Happ, a 6-9 redshirt freshman for Wisconsin was not only named Big Ten freshman of the year but was an all-defensive choice. He led the conference in steals, averaging 1.8 per game. In addition to averaging a double-double (14.3 ppg., 10.9 rpg.), Notre Dame's Auguste averages more than one blocked shot per game and will make coming into the paint difficult.

Koenig is much more than just a clutch shooter. His performance has been highly consistent all season and at all points of the game. He is shooting .396 from three-point range (82 for 207). Teammate Vito Brown, a 6-8 junior, is actually Wisconsin's leading three-point shooter (.404), but he has attempted just 89 threes. What is interesting is that he never attempted a three-pointer before this season. Beachem is by far Notre Dame's most effective three-point shooter, but another clutch performer is St. Joseph's Prep grad Steve Vasturia, who is shooting .355 from beyond the arc. Reserve Matt Ryan is shooting .377 from three-point range and is another threat.

Wisconsin has recent history on its side, having played in the last two Final Fours. On a relatively young team, Hayes is experienced in the crucial games. Last season for instance, he had 12 points and five rebounds as Wisconsin beat previously undefeated Kentucky in the national semifinals. His leadership has been invaluable this season for a team that began the year 9-9 and has gotten progressively better ever since.

Notre Dame is a veteran team, with one senior, three juniors and a sophomore in the starting lineup, and the Irish don't panic when down. The Irish were down by 12 in their opening 70-63 NCAA win over Michigan and earned a trip to the Sweet 16 when freshman Rex Pflueger tipped in the winning basket in a 76-75 second-round win over Stephen F. Austin. Notre Dame trailed by five points with less than two minutes left, but the veteran team didn't panic and eventually avoided the upset.