Offtopic/fun » because we played well today. Watford manager

MADISON, Wis. -- The offense is a work in progress for No. 9 Wisconsin, but the defense is in midseason form.Bronson Koenig had 16 points, Nigel Hayes scored 10 of his 14 in the second half and the Badgers held Central Arkansas to 28 percent shooting while opening a season of high expectations with a 79-47 win Friday night.The Badgers were never seriously threatened after building a 20-point lead with 15:46 left following an 8-0 run. Hayes did all the scoring with two 3-pointers and a layup.But all that time they spent on defense in preseason practice paid off in the opener at the Kohl Center.Weve done a lot of drills, pulled drills out from yesteryear, put a lot of focus on that, because I knew we were going to have to be a really good defensive team, coach Greg Gard said.Its just one game, but the defensive effort bodes well for when rough-and-tumble Big Ten play starts in late December. Wisconsin pulled away after Central Arkansas got to 19-17 with 7:13 left in the first half.You know about their defense, Bears coach Russ Pennell said. Then we see it up close and personal, you see how good it is. ... They just dont give you anything easy.The Badgers pride themselves on halfcourt defense, in particular how they defend ball-screen and close driving lanes. They were a little over-aggressive early on the boards before asserting their muscles to outrebound Central Arkansas 45-29.I thought we showed a lot of promise and we had flashes of playing really good defense, Koenig said.Once Wisconsin started knocking down shots against the Bears matchup zone, it was no contest.Hayes, the Big Ten preseason player of the year, was 5 of 10 from the field. He finished 2 for 6 from 3-point range after missing his first three shots from behind the arc.Derreck Brooks had 12 points and eight rebounds for Central Arkansas.Ethan Happ added eight points and nine rebounds for the Badgers. They have all five starters and their top nine scorers back from last seasons team that advanced to the NCAA regional semifinals.BIG PICTURECentral Arkansas: Picked to finish 11th in the 13-team Southland Conference in a preseason coaches poll, the Bears hung in with the more talented Badgers until midway through the first half. With a rough schedule befitting a low mid-major school, Central Arkansas should draw confidence following a respectable effort against a potential Final Four team.Their size and physicality really took over in the second half . We just really werent able to stand up to that, Pennell said.Wisconsin: The Badgers are deeper and more experienced than the squad that was stunned in last years season opener by Western Illinois. DMitrik Trice scored six points off the bench in the first half Friday with two 3s. The freshman could give Wisconsin added quickness in a reserve role when Koenig needs a breather. Sophomore Khalil Iverson displayed athleticism with a block minutes after jumping high in the air on the other end for an offensive rebound to save a possession.TAKE A SHOTIt took a little while for Wisconsin to get its bearings on offense, though Gards team finished 11 of 29 from 3-point range. With able post scorers in Hayes and Happ, the Badgers dont normally rely on 3s to score. But Gard for the most part was happy with the shots taken from outside against Central Arkansas zone.If theyre open 3s, well take them. Not that we necessarily just want to shoot all 3s, but it works for the Warriors, joked the verbose Hayes, referring to the NBAs Golden State Warriors.POLL IMPLICATIONSWisconsin should stay at No. 9 in the poll next week, pending how No. 3 Kansas and No. 5 Oregon fared later Friday night.UP NEXTCentral Arkansas: A tough opening-week schedule continues with a trip on Nov. 14 to Oklahoma State.Wisconsin: At No. 22 Creighton on Nov. 15.---For more college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Genaro Armas at: https://twitter.com/GArmasAPMallex Smith Jersey . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. Dylan Moore Mariners Jersey .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. https://www.cheapmariners.com/1865k-jamie-moyer-jersey-mariners.html . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. Norm Charlton Jersey . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Pat Borders Jersey . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said.Tony Pulis struggled to come to terms with how his West Brom side failed to beat Watford on Saturday.The Baggies slipped to a 1-0 defeat at The Hawthorns after Ben Watsons first-half strike, and saw two Saido Berahino penalties saved as the Hornets held on for a victory that moves Quique Sanchez Flores side ahead of Albion in the Premier League.Anybody watching the game today would say how well we played, we just missed our chances, Pulis told Sky Sports. I cannot believe we lost the game. There was no denying West Broms best chances fell for Berahino who, having seen a poor 68th-minute spot-kick kept out by Heurelho Gomes, was denied again from the spot three minutes from time by the inspired Brazilian.But Pulis refused to attribute his sides defeat to the 22-year-old, instead opting to highlight the misses as valuable learning experiences for the England U21 international. Watfords Ben Watson scores the opening goal against West Brom We played really well, everybody played well and Saido was a part of the team performance, the Albion boss said. Good strikers miss penalties and chances.He was desperate to get the ball again for the second one and the lad has made a wonderful save on the second penalty. This happens, hopefully it will make him stronger and better for years to come.Saturdays defeat saw West Brom extend their winless run to four games, with the team subjected to jeers from frustrated sections of the home support on the final whistle.Weve had the best of the game and the fans are disappointed, Pulis said. They are most probably as disappointed as we are because we played well today. Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores was full of praise for goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes as he saved two Saido Berahino penalties Im disappointed we havent picked any points up from the Sunderland game.dddddddddddd Norwich came here and beat us and we didnt think they deserved to.We went to Man City and played well and we played exceptionally well today - lets not kid ourselves, we should be talking about us winning today.The gods are not shining on us at the moment, its a thin line between success and failure and unfortunately today its gone against us.What weve got to do it pick them all up, weve got two easy games against Arsenal and Tottenham.Also See:Gomes heroics thwart AlbionWest Brom videoWest Brom fixturesWest Brom stats ' ' '