Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Badgers get off on the right foot with Conference-Opening Win
Like Coach Ryan said after the game, we’re 1-0 in the Big Ten and we have 17 more to go. That kind of put it into perspective for us that it is only one game. It was a big game for us, and we’re going to try to use it as momentum into the Big Ten season. Right now we have to start focusing on Illinois. We’ll enjoy this one but look to Illinois.”
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Leuer Gets UW Going in Easy Victory
After a week off for finals, the Badgers quickly erased any thought of rust as they cruised to an 80-56 victory over Coppin State on Thursday night. The Eagles did manage to get on the board, but that 2-0 Coppin State lead would be the last deficit UW would face as a 20-7 Wisconsin run quickly put the game out of reach.
Needing 26 points to get to 1,000 for his career, senior forward Jon Leuer was hot early, hitting 4/5 from three-point range in the first four minutes of play to post the first 14 UW points, eventually going on to finish the game with 19 points and 5 rebounds.
"I was able to knock down the first couple and got into a rhythm,” Leuer said. “My teammates were finding me in open spots, and I was finding myself open a lot against that zone. I was just picking spots where I knew teammates could find me, and I just knocked them down."
As has been the case throughout the non-conference season, Jon Leuer's hot start gave way to Jordan Taylor's crisp finish. After Leuer gave Wisconsin the lead, it was Taylor that made sure the Eagles never posed a real threat from there in. The junior guard didn't score in the first 12 minutes of play but still managed to match Leuer's 19 points while also grabbing 7 rebounds and contributing 6 assists.
Though the same Leuer-Taylor story was certainly a part of this victory, the 31 points contributed by UW’s bench was a welcome sight as the Badgers head into conference play.
“They went in and made things happen. They were active. Each individual has strengths and each individual has weaknesses, and we just keep probing for the strengths. To try and get guys to understand what they can do when they come in…” UW head coach Bo Ryan said. “So entering the Big Ten season hopefully we’ll stay in the position that we are, in that guys just keep working. The bench, you’ve got to have it. Nobody plays five guys and you’re not going to be successful without it.”
One of those surprises was senior Tim Jarmusz. Coming off a disappointing 2009-2010 campaign, Jarmusz’s non-conference performances thus far had been nothing to get excited about. But the forward finally caught fire on Thursday night, finishing the night 4-5 from beyond the arc for 12 points in 16 minutes of play off the bench.
And with brother Adam home from Afghanistan for the holidays, Thursday night truly was a special one for the Oshkosh native.
“Today was just one of those nights where I felt like anything I threw up was going in,” Jarmusz said. “Adam was here but he's been to a couple games before. We just worked really well at moving the ball in the zone and find people. I was just able to knock down shots when I was open."
Despite disappointing losses at UNLV and in the Old Spice final against Notre Dame, the Badgers head into conference play with a very respectable 10-2 record including wins over Marquette and NC State. But starting with Minnesota on Tuesday night, the cupcake games are now over and every night will bring a significant challenge.
Needing 26 points to get to 1,000 for his career, senior forward Jon Leuer was hot early, hitting 4/5 from three-point range in the first four minutes of play to post the first 14 UW points, eventually going on to finish the game with 19 points and 5 rebounds.
"I was able to knock down the first couple and got into a rhythm,” Leuer said. “My teammates were finding me in open spots, and I was finding myself open a lot against that zone. I was just picking spots where I knew teammates could find me, and I just knocked them down."
As has been the case throughout the non-conference season, Jon Leuer's hot start gave way to Jordan Taylor's crisp finish. After Leuer gave Wisconsin the lead, it was Taylor that made sure the Eagles never posed a real threat from there in. The junior guard didn't score in the first 12 minutes of play but still managed to match Leuer's 19 points while also grabbing 7 rebounds and contributing 6 assists.
Though the same Leuer-Taylor story was certainly a part of this victory, the 31 points contributed by UW’s bench was a welcome sight as the Badgers head into conference play.
“They went in and made things happen. They were active. Each individual has strengths and each individual has weaknesses, and we just keep probing for the strengths. To try and get guys to understand what they can do when they come in…” UW head coach Bo Ryan said. “So entering the Big Ten season hopefully we’ll stay in the position that we are, in that guys just keep working. The bench, you’ve got to have it. Nobody plays five guys and you’re not going to be successful without it.”
One of those surprises was senior Tim Jarmusz. Coming off a disappointing 2009-2010 campaign, Jarmusz’s non-conference performances thus far had been nothing to get excited about. But the forward finally caught fire on Thursday night, finishing the night 4-5 from beyond the arc for 12 points in 16 minutes of play off the bench.
And with brother Adam home from Afghanistan for the holidays, Thursday night truly was a special one for the Oshkosh native.
“Today was just one of those nights where I felt like anything I threw up was going in,” Jarmusz said. “Adam was here but he's been to a couple games before. We just worked really well at moving the ball in the zone and find people. I was just able to knock down shots when I was open."
Despite disappointing losses at UNLV and in the Old Spice final against Notre Dame, the Badgers head into conference play with a very respectable 10-2 record including wins over Marquette and NC State. But starting with Minnesota on Tuesday night, the cupcake games are now over and every night will bring a significant challenge.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Badgers Complete In-State Sweep with Victory over Green Bay
While the temperatures outside the Kohl Center may have been hovering around zero, the shooting of Wisconsin’s big men inside the arena was much, much hotter. On the backs of 3 double digit scoring efforts from the front court, UW was able to notch a 70-56 win over Green Bay and head into the finals break with a sweep of all three in-state rivals.
Senior forward Jon Leuer once again led the scoring with 22 points, but it was the performance put in by sophomore Mike Bruesewitz that captured the attention of the meager Kohl Center crowd. On the strength of 6-8 shooting (2-4 from 3-point range), Bruesewitz notched a career-high 18 points to go along with 4 rebounds and a block.
“ I think the difference between Mike his freshman year and now is that he feels so confident in what he is doing now,” senior forward Keaton Nankivil said. “All summer, he was one of the toughest match-ups day-in and day-out with the number of things he can do and how hard he plays. I think all of the guys on the team knew what he was capable of.”
Coming off a solid offensive performance of his own on Saturday, Nankivil continued to shoot the ball well, hitting 4-5 three’s and finishing the night with a season-high 16 points and 6 rebounds.
“Any time we can get good production and get things going like Mike and Keaton did tonight, it’s just another dimension for our team,” Leuer said. “Multiple guys scoring in double figures, four tonight, that just puts pressure on the defense {…}We’re a pretty dynamic team when we have all of these good parts working.”
While much of the 2nd half was played with Wisconsin holding a double-digit lead, this game was anything but a blowout in the early going. Although the Badgers shot the ball well from the onset, the Phoenix matched them through the first 9 minutes, taking a 13-12 lead with 10:53 left in the first half before Jon Leuer’s free throws just 24 seconds later put Wisconsin ahead for good.
Like they have done in many recent games, the Badgers didn’t look back upon taking the lead, finishing the first half on a 21-8 run to take a 12-point lead into the half.
“I thought in the first half we had a five-minute span that really cost us the game,” Green Bay head coach Brian Wardle said. “I thought the last five minutes in the first half, where we broke down defensively and we took a few bad shots, killed our rhythm and now we’re down 11 or 12.”
From there, Wisconsin grew the lead to 18 early in the second half as the offense continued to work the ball inside-out and in turn get UW open looks time after time.
“Usually you’re working with a lead trying to get to the free throw line, or make people pay by being aggressive,” UW head coach Bo Ryan said. “We did it sometimes, we didn’t do it all the time, but our points per possession were pretty good, we got to the line and for the most part we hit them. Our 3-point shot selection was excellent.”
Now sitting at 9-2, the Badgers will take a nine-day break for finals before finishing out the non-conference slate next Thursday against Coppin State. Beyond the Eagles, Big Ten play is now just two weeks away with this season’s sole date with Minnesota set for December 28.
Senior forward Jon Leuer once again led the scoring with 22 points, but it was the performance put in by sophomore Mike Bruesewitz that captured the attention of the meager Kohl Center crowd. On the strength of 6-8 shooting (2-4 from 3-point range), Bruesewitz notched a career-high 18 points to go along with 4 rebounds and a block.
“ I think the difference between Mike his freshman year and now is that he feels so confident in what he is doing now,” senior forward Keaton Nankivil said. “All summer, he was one of the toughest match-ups day-in and day-out with the number of things he can do and how hard he plays. I think all of the guys on the team knew what he was capable of.”
Coming off a solid offensive performance of his own on Saturday, Nankivil continued to shoot the ball well, hitting 4-5 three’s and finishing the night with a season-high 16 points and 6 rebounds.
“Any time we can get good production and get things going like Mike and Keaton did tonight, it’s just another dimension for our team,” Leuer said. “Multiple guys scoring in double figures, four tonight, that just puts pressure on the defense {…}We’re a pretty dynamic team when we have all of these good parts working.”
While much of the 2nd half was played with Wisconsin holding a double-digit lead, this game was anything but a blowout in the early going. Although the Badgers shot the ball well from the onset, the Phoenix matched them through the first 9 minutes, taking a 13-12 lead with 10:53 left in the first half before Jon Leuer’s free throws just 24 seconds later put Wisconsin ahead for good.
Like they have done in many recent games, the Badgers didn’t look back upon taking the lead, finishing the first half on a 21-8 run to take a 12-point lead into the half.
“I thought in the first half we had a five-minute span that really cost us the game,” Green Bay head coach Brian Wardle said. “I thought the last five minutes in the first half, where we broke down defensively and we took a few bad shots, killed our rhythm and now we’re down 11 or 12.”
From there, Wisconsin grew the lead to 18 early in the second half as the offense continued to work the ball inside-out and in turn get UW open looks time after time.
“Usually you’re working with a lead trying to get to the free throw line, or make people pay by being aggressive,” UW head coach Bo Ryan said. “We did it sometimes, we didn’t do it all the time, but our points per possession were pretty good, we got to the line and for the most part we hit them. Our 3-point shot selection was excellent.”
Now sitting at 9-2, the Badgers will take a nine-day break for finals before finishing out the non-conference slate next Thursday against Coppin State. Beyond the Eagles, Big Ten play is now just two weeks away with this season’s sole date with Minnesota set for December 28.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Team Effort Comes Up Big in Road Win Over Marquette
In front of a hostile crowd of over 19,000 at the Bradley Center on Saturday, the Badgers finally notched that signature non-conference victory with a 69-64 win over Marquette.
While dominating performances from Jordan Taylor and Jon Leuer had fueled much of the 7-2 start, Saturday’s victory was very much a team effort. Though Leuer and Taylor still led the way with 17 and 16 points respectively, contributions from role players like Keaton Nankivil (12 points, 3 rebounds), Mike Bruesewitz (2 points, 8 rebounds), and Jared Berggren (8 points) got Wisconsin over the hump.
“In order to win games like this on the road against good teams, you have to have that kind of effort from other guys…” UW Head Coach Bo Ryan said after the game. “They’ve had opportunities and in this game they took advantage of them.”
Though the Badgers have taken care of business at the Kohl Center, Saturday’s win was the first on the road, countering what was sure to be criticism of their ability to win away from Madison heading into the Big Ten slate.
“They weren’t frazzled, you know, the great advantage was we played in Vegas in a possession-for-possession game,” Ryan said. “That’s how we walk away with this one today.”
Despite improved shooting from the Badgers, Marquette still out-shot UW by nearly 3%. The difference ultimately came down to Wisconsin’s domination on the offensive boards, allowing them to outscore the Golden Eagles 21-4 on 2nd chance opportunities.
With Marquette a team fully capable of getting on a scoring spurt, the 15 offensive rebounds were a huge part of UW’s ability to hold a lead (albeit barely) that burgeoned from 2 at the half to as much as 12 in the 2nd half before MU started their final run.
“That was huge for us,” senior forward Jon Leuer said. “Getting those 2nd chances and then we were able to bring it back out and run the clock.”
Though Marquette trailed the entire game after Keaton Nankivil’s 3-point bucket just over 5 minutes into the game, this was a battle for all 40 minutes.
Wisconsin held a 2-point lead at the half and was quickly able to take that lead to double digits, starting the half on a 21-11 run over the course of just under 9 minutes.
After holding that lead around the 10-point mark for the next five minutes, Marquette finally went on the run everyone in the Bradley Center knew they would make.
The Badgers only missed 3 free throws down the stretch, but the Golden Eagles capitalized on every one of those, going on an 14-5 run of their own to cut the lead to just two with less than ten seconds left.
Having already missed a crucial front end of a one-and-one earlier, Jordan Taylor hit the first free throw to give UW a 3-point cushion but missed the 2nd to give Marquette a chance.
At that point, Josh Gasser put an end to the madness, knocking a dribble off Marquette guard Dwight Buycks’ knee and giving Wisconsin the ball and in the minds of most in the crowd, the game.
“As a freshman, to make the kind of plays he does, it gives us a huge lift,” Leuer added. “He’s helped us out a lot and he’s going to continue to help us out.”
After Jordan Taylor added two more free throws, Marquette was out of time and Wisconsin was on their way back down I-94 with that signature win they’d come to Milwaukee to get.
While dominating performances from Jordan Taylor and Jon Leuer had fueled much of the 7-2 start, Saturday’s victory was very much a team effort. Though Leuer and Taylor still led the way with 17 and 16 points respectively, contributions from role players like Keaton Nankivil (12 points, 3 rebounds), Mike Bruesewitz (2 points, 8 rebounds), and Jared Berggren (8 points) got Wisconsin over the hump.
“In order to win games like this on the road against good teams, you have to have that kind of effort from other guys…” UW Head Coach Bo Ryan said after the game. “They’ve had opportunities and in this game they took advantage of them.”
Though the Badgers have taken care of business at the Kohl Center, Saturday’s win was the first on the road, countering what was sure to be criticism of their ability to win away from Madison heading into the Big Ten slate.
“They weren’t frazzled, you know, the great advantage was we played in Vegas in a possession-for-possession game,” Ryan said. “That’s how we walk away with this one today.”
Despite improved shooting from the Badgers, Marquette still out-shot UW by nearly 3%. The difference ultimately came down to Wisconsin’s domination on the offensive boards, allowing them to outscore the Golden Eagles 21-4 on 2nd chance opportunities.
With Marquette a team fully capable of getting on a scoring spurt, the 15 offensive rebounds were a huge part of UW’s ability to hold a lead (albeit barely) that burgeoned from 2 at the half to as much as 12 in the 2nd half before MU started their final run.
“That was huge for us,” senior forward Jon Leuer said. “Getting those 2nd chances and then we were able to bring it back out and run the clock.”
Though Marquette trailed the entire game after Keaton Nankivil’s 3-point bucket just over 5 minutes into the game, this was a battle for all 40 minutes.
Wisconsin held a 2-point lead at the half and was quickly able to take that lead to double digits, starting the half on a 21-11 run over the course of just under 9 minutes.
After holding that lead around the 10-point mark for the next five minutes, Marquette finally went on the run everyone in the Bradley Center knew they would make.
The Badgers only missed 3 free throws down the stretch, but the Golden Eagles capitalized on every one of those, going on an 14-5 run of their own to cut the lead to just two with less than ten seconds left.
Having already missed a crucial front end of a one-and-one earlier, Jordan Taylor hit the first free throw to give UW a 3-point cushion but missed the 2nd to give Marquette a chance.
At that point, Josh Gasser put an end to the madness, knocking a dribble off Marquette guard Dwight Buycks’ knee and giving Wisconsin the ball and in the minds of most in the crowd, the game.
“As a freshman, to make the kind of plays he does, it gives us a huge lift,” Leuer added. “He’s helped us out a lot and he’s going to continue to help us out.”
After Jordan Taylor added two more free throws, Marquette was out of time and Wisconsin was on their way back down I-94 with that signature win they’d come to Milwaukee to get.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
As Season Looms, Nothing's Changed With Badger Basketball
As the season-opener for Wisconsin Men’s Basketball lies just 16 days away, Bo Ryan spoke during the team’s annual media day Thursday at the Kohl Center.
Despite losing key contributors in guards Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes, the 2010-2011 Badgers look poised to continue their trend of outperforming expectation.
If there is one thing that can be said about Bo Ryan’s program, it is that the program takes precedent over the individual. Ryan may not get the top recruits, but he always gets the right ones. In the nine years since he took the helm, this philosophy of team-first, philosophy-based recruiting and coaching has led to an NCAA tourney birth in each year, running the Badgers’ tourney streak to 12, third in the nation to Michigan State’s 15 and Kansas’ 19(?).
Ryan believes that ultimately it is the emphasis on character in recruiting that has been the key to continuing this unprecedented streak. “I firmly believe its your players, “ Ryan argued when asked about the key to this consistency. “Their conversations in the locker room, their camaraderie in the off-season, the idea that they don’t want to let something down.”
While the consistent philosophy of the program certainly gives reason to believe that expectations may once again be exceeded, the loss of both starting guards definitely presents a challenge as Ryan and his staff try to use the pre-season to build up depth at these positions.
Still, Ryan doesn’t think that this is a problem this team cant handle.
“They’ve never ranked our recruiting class so you know we don’t have anyone coming,” Ryan joked.
Among this unheralded recruiting class is 6-3 guard Josh Gasser. Also a high school quarterback, the Port Washington native has made an impression in the early going. “He’s got confidence in his shot,” Ryan pointed out. “Nothing rattles him, that’s what I like about him.”
With Jordan Taylor expected to take the other guard spot, Gasser will definitely be in the conversation as the program tries to fill in the second vacated spot.
Gasser joins 6-10 center Evan Anderson, 6-7 forward Duje Dukan, and 6-1 guard Ben Brust in a freshman class that, while characteristically lacking national attention, is exactly what coach Ryan is looking for.
Though doubts remain and uncertainties abound with this unproven group, the work ethic of the program is as strong as ever.
“If there was an award for the hill,” Ryan said, referring to the team’s famed pre-season conditioning ritual. “We would have won the championship this year.”
With the Big Ten as strong as ever, this work ethic will be crucial as the Badgers try to overcome the loss of two scorers and team leaders in Bohannon and Hughes.
Judging by the expectations of the national media, it would seem that Badger nation is in for a rough season. But then again if the last nine years should have taught us anything, we shouldn’t read much into these so-called “expectations”.
Despite losing key contributors in guards Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes, the 2010-2011 Badgers look poised to continue their trend of outperforming expectation.
If there is one thing that can be said about Bo Ryan’s program, it is that the program takes precedent over the individual. Ryan may not get the top recruits, but he always gets the right ones. In the nine years since he took the helm, this philosophy of team-first, philosophy-based recruiting and coaching has led to an NCAA tourney birth in each year, running the Badgers’ tourney streak to 12, third in the nation to Michigan State’s 15 and Kansas’ 19(?).
Ryan believes that ultimately it is the emphasis on character in recruiting that has been the key to continuing this unprecedented streak. “I firmly believe its your players, “ Ryan argued when asked about the key to this consistency. “Their conversations in the locker room, their camaraderie in the off-season, the idea that they don’t want to let something down.”
While the consistent philosophy of the program certainly gives reason to believe that expectations may once again be exceeded, the loss of both starting guards definitely presents a challenge as Ryan and his staff try to use the pre-season to build up depth at these positions.
Still, Ryan doesn’t think that this is a problem this team cant handle.
“They’ve never ranked our recruiting class so you know we don’t have anyone coming,” Ryan joked.
Among this unheralded recruiting class is 6-3 guard Josh Gasser. Also a high school quarterback, the Port Washington native has made an impression in the early going. “He’s got confidence in his shot,” Ryan pointed out. “Nothing rattles him, that’s what I like about him.”
With Jordan Taylor expected to take the other guard spot, Gasser will definitely be in the conversation as the program tries to fill in the second vacated spot.
Gasser joins 6-10 center Evan Anderson, 6-7 forward Duje Dukan, and 6-1 guard Ben Brust in a freshman class that, while characteristically lacking national attention, is exactly what coach Ryan is looking for.
Though doubts remain and uncertainties abound with this unproven group, the work ethic of the program is as strong as ever.
“If there was an award for the hill,” Ryan said, referring to the team’s famed pre-season conditioning ritual. “We would have won the championship this year.”
With the Big Ten as strong as ever, this work ethic will be crucial as the Badgers try to overcome the loss of two scorers and team leaders in Bohannon and Hughes.
Judging by the expectations of the national media, it would seem that Badger nation is in for a rough season. But then again if the last nine years should have taught us anything, we shouldn’t read much into these so-called “expectations”.
Badgers Spread the Wealth in Exhibition Win
In front of a crowd of over 17,000 UW men’s basketball opened up their 2010-2011 campaign on Saturday as 11 players scored en route to a solid 84-59 victory over UW-LaCrosse on Saturday night.
Despite returning three starters and twelve letter-winners, the focus throughout the pre-season has been on filling the gaps left by the departure of guards Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes. Although Jordan Taylor is sure to fill in one of the vacated guard positions, the exhibition opener was an opportunity for the coaching staff to get an idea of what they have in their arsenal in trying to fill out that final spot in the lineup.
“I wanted to try and get a look at a lot of people,” Coach Bo Ryan said after the game. “So {the exhibition game} served its purpose.”
Amongst the potential candidates for that final starting job, it was senior Tim Jarmusz who was put in that final spot on Saturday, finishing with 5 points and 5 rebounds in just 16 minutes.
“He didn’t need to get a lot of minutes because he’s had more experience…” Ryan explained. “Tim was solid.”
With junior Rob Wilson limited to just five minutes with a strained hamstring, freshman Josh Gasser got an opportunity to get into the mix, playing 20 minutes and 9 points and 4 rebounds while looking nothing like a freshman in his first college action.
“Doesn’t surprise me that he walked on the court and never changed expressions…” Ryan said. “He’s the kind of player people are going to enjoy seeing around here for four years. He’s a player.”
While the focus in the exhibition opener was obviously on the backcourt, the veteran frontcourt was as solid as expected. Senior Jon Leuer came out strong, putting up 11 points in the first half and 15 overall in a double-double that also included 10 rebounds and 2 assists in just 27 minutes. Leuer used his size advantage, leading a Wisconsin charge inside that had the Badgers outscoring UW-L 32-0 in the paint.
“Our guards and even our big guys did a good job of looking inside,” Leuer said.
Fellow senior Keaton Nankivil started off cold, missing his two shots before recovering to finish 6 for 9 from the floor for 15 points to go along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 22 minutes of action.
The domination inside by Wisconsin led to 15 offensive rebounds, softening the blow especially as the Badgers struggled from the field early on.
“A lot of it is just aggression early on, that’s one thing the coaches really try pound in our heads,” Nanikivil said. “It’s a loose ball every time, and when we have players like Mike and Jon who can really hit the glass hard, and Ryan Evans did a good job tonight. At the same time I think it’s going to get a little harder down the road when sizes and that kind of stuff equals out.”
With the regular season looming less than a week away and just one more exhibition contest remaining, the Badgers still have many questions yet to be answered. But remember, this is a Bo Ryan team we are talking and thus early season questions are nothing new.
Despite returning three starters and twelve letter-winners, the focus throughout the pre-season has been on filling the gaps left by the departure of guards Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes. Although Jordan Taylor is sure to fill in one of the vacated guard positions, the exhibition opener was an opportunity for the coaching staff to get an idea of what they have in their arsenal in trying to fill out that final spot in the lineup.
“I wanted to try and get a look at a lot of people,” Coach Bo Ryan said after the game. “So {the exhibition game} served its purpose.”
Amongst the potential candidates for that final starting job, it was senior Tim Jarmusz who was put in that final spot on Saturday, finishing with 5 points and 5 rebounds in just 16 minutes.
“He didn’t need to get a lot of minutes because he’s had more experience…” Ryan explained. “Tim was solid.”
With junior Rob Wilson limited to just five minutes with a strained hamstring, freshman Josh Gasser got an opportunity to get into the mix, playing 20 minutes and 9 points and 4 rebounds while looking nothing like a freshman in his first college action.
“Doesn’t surprise me that he walked on the court and never changed expressions…” Ryan said. “He’s the kind of player people are going to enjoy seeing around here for four years. He’s a player.”
While the focus in the exhibition opener was obviously on the backcourt, the veteran frontcourt was as solid as expected. Senior Jon Leuer came out strong, putting up 11 points in the first half and 15 overall in a double-double that also included 10 rebounds and 2 assists in just 27 minutes. Leuer used his size advantage, leading a Wisconsin charge inside that had the Badgers outscoring UW-L 32-0 in the paint.
“Our guards and even our big guys did a good job of looking inside,” Leuer said.
Fellow senior Keaton Nankivil started off cold, missing his two shots before recovering to finish 6 for 9 from the floor for 15 points to go along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 22 minutes of action.
The domination inside by Wisconsin led to 15 offensive rebounds, softening the blow especially as the Badgers struggled from the field early on.
“A lot of it is just aggression early on, that’s one thing the coaches really try pound in our heads,” Nanikivil said. “It’s a loose ball every time, and when we have players like Mike and Jon who can really hit the glass hard, and Ryan Evans did a good job tonight. At the same time I think it’s going to get a little harder down the road when sizes and that kind of stuff equals out.”
With the regular season looming less than a week away and just one more exhibition contest remaining, the Badgers still have many questions yet to be answered. But remember, this is a Bo Ryan team we are talking and thus early season questions are nothing new.
Mixed Results in Red-White
Back at the Kohl Center, Sunday’s Red-White scrimmage had much more of a game-like feel than last week’s season-opening Fieldhouse Madness.
Keaton Nankivil’s second half performance hammered that feeling home even more. While fellow senior Jon Leuer looked somewhat rusty for the opposing Red squad, Nankivil was in form throughout the 32-minute contest. The Madison native continued his tradition of standout scrimmage performances, leading the way for the third consecutive year with 22 points on 10 of 15 from the field while grabbing 8 rebounds as his White team notched a 65-51 victory.
Despite the individual success, Nankivil was quick to note that Sunday was all about the team.
“I thought our team played very well. We utilized the stuff that Coach Gard gave us…” Nankivil said. “I give a lot of credit to Jordan Taylor and our guards.”
After losing both guards with the departure of Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes, guard play will be a key for the Badgers and today was a big first step toward rebuilding depth in those positions.
Jordan Taylor, the most experienced and clear leader amongst the remaining guards, made his presence felt in all aspects of the game, putting up 9 points on just 4 for 13 from the field but contributing 10 assists and 2 steals to go along with 3 rebounds.
Taylor’s consistency will be crucial in the early part of the year as the younger guards adjust to play at the collegiate level.
“I think we know what we’re gonna get out of Jordan {Taylor},” Nankivil added. “He’s one of the most solid guards in the country. I love playing with him and I think everybody does.”
Lost in the spotlight was Brett Valentyn’s hot hand, as the guard led the White side out to a five-point halftime lead on 4 for 4 from beyond the arc in the first half before adding another three early in the second half to give him 17 points for the game.
On the Red side, Jon Leuer went through stretches looking like the All-America candidate he is projected to be, but struggled for much of the contest. Despite Leuer committing 6 turnovers and going just 4 for 14 from the field, Coach Bo Ryan was quick to warn against an overreaction following this pre-season scrimmage
“Jon I think was trying to do too many things when they got behind…” Ryan said. “I’m glad it happened here.”
Seeing more consistent time than last weekend, the 4 Badger freshman all showed definite signs of improvement. Each got on the board, with center Evan Anderson (white) eventually pacing the group with 6 points despite picking up 5 fouls (no ejections were allowed in the scrimmage). Duje Dukan added 5 for the Red squad to go along with Ben Brust’s 4 and Josh Gasser’s 3-point, 2 assist, 2 steal, and 4 rebound performance.
With the pre-season opener against UW-Lacrosse less than two weeks away, it is clear that the Badgers have yet to fully put all of the pieces together. Still, with Bo Ryan at the helm and a group of players that are meshing perfectly, the progress this team needs to see is certainly within reach.
Keaton Nankivil’s second half performance hammered that feeling home even more. While fellow senior Jon Leuer looked somewhat rusty for the opposing Red squad, Nankivil was in form throughout the 32-minute contest. The Madison native continued his tradition of standout scrimmage performances, leading the way for the third consecutive year with 22 points on 10 of 15 from the field while grabbing 8 rebounds as his White team notched a 65-51 victory.
Despite the individual success, Nankivil was quick to note that Sunday was all about the team.
“I thought our team played very well. We utilized the stuff that Coach Gard gave us…” Nankivil said. “I give a lot of credit to Jordan Taylor and our guards.”
After losing both guards with the departure of Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes, guard play will be a key for the Badgers and today was a big first step toward rebuilding depth in those positions.
Jordan Taylor, the most experienced and clear leader amongst the remaining guards, made his presence felt in all aspects of the game, putting up 9 points on just 4 for 13 from the field but contributing 10 assists and 2 steals to go along with 3 rebounds.
Taylor’s consistency will be crucial in the early part of the year as the younger guards adjust to play at the collegiate level.
“I think we know what we’re gonna get out of Jordan {Taylor},” Nankivil added. “He’s one of the most solid guards in the country. I love playing with him and I think everybody does.”
Lost in the spotlight was Brett Valentyn’s hot hand, as the guard led the White side out to a five-point halftime lead on 4 for 4 from beyond the arc in the first half before adding another three early in the second half to give him 17 points for the game.
On the Red side, Jon Leuer went through stretches looking like the All-America candidate he is projected to be, but struggled for much of the contest. Despite Leuer committing 6 turnovers and going just 4 for 14 from the field, Coach Bo Ryan was quick to warn against an overreaction following this pre-season scrimmage
“Jon I think was trying to do too many things when they got behind…” Ryan said. “I’m glad it happened here.”
Seeing more consistent time than last weekend, the 4 Badger freshman all showed definite signs of improvement. Each got on the board, with center Evan Anderson (white) eventually pacing the group with 6 points despite picking up 5 fouls (no ejections were allowed in the scrimmage). Duje Dukan added 5 for the Red squad to go along with Ben Brust’s 4 and Josh Gasser’s 3-point, 2 assist, 2 steal, and 4 rebound performance.
With the pre-season opener against UW-Lacrosse less than two weeks away, it is clear that the Badgers have yet to fully put all of the pieces together. Still, with Bo Ryan at the helm and a group of players that are meshing perfectly, the progress this team needs to see is certainly within reach.
Ryan Talks Youth at First Weekly Presser
Despite returning three starters and 12 letter-winners from last year’s 24-9 squad, much of the pre-season focus has been on the newcomers to badger basketball.
Still, #24 Wisconsin is faced with the task of finding replacements for two of their three All-Big Ten selections from last season in guards Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes.
Although junior guard Jordan Taylor, a starter toward the latter part of last year, is likely to be tapped for the starting point, the race for the second guard vacancy is wide open. One player in the mix is freshman Josh Gasser. A former high school quarterback, the 6’3” Port Washington native has impressed coach Bo Ryan throughout pre-season workouts and into the early practice and scrimmage slate.
“Josh Gasser is not 18, or 19. He’s 21, 22,” Ryan said. “The way is sees the floor is maturing.”
While coach Ryan has certainly been impressed by the leadership experience and floor sense of Gasser, he also noted that another freshman, Ben Brust, has been off the charts in his displays of athleticism.
Seen by many as a Bohannon-type player, the former Iowa recruit and late badger pickup has quickly become another potential option as Ryan and the badger coaching staff try to fill the gaping hole in that final guard spot.
“Ben Brust is the fastest guy coming off screens that I’ve ever coached,” the 27-year coaching veteran said. “I’ve had some guys with a little bit of speed, but he’s like a bullet.”
Though the second guard spot is the obvious question mark heading into Saturday’s exhibition opener, the other newcomers are sure to play a pivotal role in supporting a cast of big men that includes returning starters in seniors Keaton Nankavil and Jon Leuer.
One of the question marks among this group is the status of freshman Evan Anderson. The 7-foot Stanley native was thought to be leaning toward redshirting, but coach Ryan was quick to note that Anderson’s work in practice has gotten him to a level where that route is no longer a foregone conclusion.
“Evan Anderson is more physical than we realized…” Ryan said. “You can {now} play in the exhibition games and then decide after those.”
The final piece of the freshman puzzle, 6’8” freshman Duje Dukan, remains a work in progress with tremendous upside.
“Duje is just a colt,” Ryan said. “He’s gonna be a very good player.”
Although this diverse set of newcomers look poised to blend in well with the noted culture of badger basketball, there is sure to be a learning curve, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
“The biggest thing all four of them have to learn is what we do defensively,” Ryan said. “You can always go to a playground, to the open gyms, and you’re fine. Defense is what’s gonna make the difference.”
As the season looms on the horizon, Wisconsin basketball is right on the brink of the national scene, a position this program has grown accustomed to throughout Bo Ryan’s tenure.
Still, #24 Wisconsin is faced with the task of finding replacements for two of their three All-Big Ten selections from last season in guards Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes.
Although junior guard Jordan Taylor, a starter toward the latter part of last year, is likely to be tapped for the starting point, the race for the second guard vacancy is wide open. One player in the mix is freshman Josh Gasser. A former high school quarterback, the 6’3” Port Washington native has impressed coach Bo Ryan throughout pre-season workouts and into the early practice and scrimmage slate.
“Josh Gasser is not 18, or 19. He’s 21, 22,” Ryan said. “The way is sees the floor is maturing.”
While coach Ryan has certainly been impressed by the leadership experience and floor sense of Gasser, he also noted that another freshman, Ben Brust, has been off the charts in his displays of athleticism.
Seen by many as a Bohannon-type player, the former Iowa recruit and late badger pickup has quickly become another potential option as Ryan and the badger coaching staff try to fill the gaping hole in that final guard spot.
“Ben Brust is the fastest guy coming off screens that I’ve ever coached,” the 27-year coaching veteran said. “I’ve had some guys with a little bit of speed, but he’s like a bullet.”
Though the second guard spot is the obvious question mark heading into Saturday’s exhibition opener, the other newcomers are sure to play a pivotal role in supporting a cast of big men that includes returning starters in seniors Keaton Nankavil and Jon Leuer.
One of the question marks among this group is the status of freshman Evan Anderson. The 7-foot Stanley native was thought to be leaning toward redshirting, but coach Ryan was quick to note that Anderson’s work in practice has gotten him to a level where that route is no longer a foregone conclusion.
“Evan Anderson is more physical than we realized…” Ryan said. “You can {now} play in the exhibition games and then decide after those.”
The final piece of the freshman puzzle, 6’8” freshman Duje Dukan, remains a work in progress with tremendous upside.
“Duje is just a colt,” Ryan said. “He’s gonna be a very good player.”
Although this diverse set of newcomers look poised to blend in well with the noted culture of badger basketball, there is sure to be a learning curve, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
“The biggest thing all four of them have to learn is what we do defensively,” Ryan said. “You can always go to a playground, to the open gyms, and you’re fine. Defense is what’s gonna make the difference.”
As the season looms on the horizon, Wisconsin basketball is right on the brink of the national scene, a position this program has grown accustomed to throughout Bo Ryan’s tenure.
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