Having lost an entire front court to graduation, UW fans expected change heading into the 2011-2012 men’s basketball season, but had no clue what that change would be. Sunday Badger nation got their first look at the new product, as Wisconsin debuted a team with much more emphasis on depth and physicality than on star players and big time scorers.
Perhaps the biggest story to come out of the Red Team’s 72-56 victory was the leading scorer, a point guard not named Jordan Taylor but rather Ben Brust, the sophomore who spent last season as the point guard for UW’s scout team.
“His decision making as a point guard wasn’t as good as it is now…” UW head coach Bo Ryan said after the game. “He’s quick, we always knew that. He’s even quicker now.”
The Hawthorn Woods, Illinois native finished Sunday’s scrimmage with a game-high 22 points while also adding four assists and three rebounds in the Red team victory.
“Its nothing that we haven’t seen before,” Taylor said of Brust’s scoring. “Its just something new to the fans. Its no surprise to us.”
With the guard positions taken by Taylor and fellow sophomore Josh Gasser, Brust is looking to take hold of that third guard spot, a role the Badgers need to fill in order to have the kind of depth necessary to endure the brutal Big Ten season.
“I want that,” Brust said of taking on the third guard role. “I want to be out with the guys helping the team and winning games.”
Taylor showed flashes of last year’s brilliance, but was clearly suffering from some rust after having surgery in the off-season, finishing the game with 16 points to lead the White side.
With both returning starters filling the guard spots, much of the attention heading into Sunday’s scrimmage centered around the new-look front court, comprised largely of players with plenty of experience in a Badger uniform, but little experience in a starting role.
Juniors Mike Bruesewitz and Jared Berggren certainly showed their capability of scoring, each posting 18 points for the red side, many of those coming on the interior. Junior Ryan Evans also got into the scoring act, putting up a double-digit effort for the White squad and creating several open looks from mid range, something he has thrived on thus far in his Badger career.
If Badger fans are looking for one player to replace the scoring of Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil, they will never find one. But with the depth this year’s team seems to have, it doesn’t appear that the scoring will be lost.
In addition to additional depth, especially in the frontcourt, the Badgers will likely be a more dynamic team on the offensive end, a welcome sight for fans who are beginning to tire of the slow paced Wisconsin offense of recent years.
The Badgers now set their sights on the beginning of the season, with an exhibition game against UW-Stevens Point coming up on Saturday night.
Badger nation’s BCS hopes may have been dashed, but there is plenty of reason to get excited about UW basketball.
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