RU has 6 reliable players now, instead of 7, when Mag was healthy and getting better.
The starting lineup will stay intact and Simpson just needs 24 to 26 minutes.
The lineup that gets RU to 70 points and will win the most games of the remaining 5 is.
Simpson
Spencer
McConnell
Hyatt
Cliff
Mulcahy is probably better suited playing with Reiber, they have good chemistry and Reiber needs someone to set him up for spot up 2s or 3s.
I would also play Palmquist with Reiber and Mulcahy, because you would have 2 spacing bigs as you shooters and you can mix in either Spencer and Hyatt/Caleb.
Mulcahy
Spencer/Simpson
Caleb
Palmquist
Reiber
That is a lineup that can force Mulcahy to a wing to spot up shoot, or drive and create from the wing or foul line.
I suspect Wisconsin is going to mix in some zone defense and make Hyatt and Mulcahy beat us from the corner 3s, or off the dribble from 2.
Wisconsin doesn't have the defenders to play 40 minutes of man defense vs Cliff or Mulcahy, if he is focused and attacking. If Paul is passive, I would roll the dice with Simpson trailing Chucky Hepburn and let Caleb get the assignment of freshman shooter Essigian, who had 20 pts vs Michigan the other night.
If RU plays focused defense, this game is in the 50s....if RU plays focused defense and plays a B to B- offensive game, they win by 6 to 10 points.
Another passive 3 to 4 shot attempt 34 to 35 minute game from Mulcahy is a game RU can still win vs Wisconsin, if the defense and pace is slowed and where Wisconsin wants. But it will be very tight and a game that shouldn't be as close as we want.
Push the tempo do what Nebraska did to RU.....take the 1st available open look and play defense on the other end. Make Wisconsin execute their offense and they don't Offensive rebound (last in the conference in OREB).