March 17, 2011

The Badgers turned it over only 7 times a game, a deliberate and welcome by-product of spending 30 seconds on every possession not dribbling the ball. The team's turnover leader is also its leading scorer and rebounder, 6'10 forward Jon Leuer, who puts up 18.9 points and 7.2 boards per game on 48% shooting, but only alongside a ghastly, hideous 1.5 turnovers per game. Despite that travesty, Leuer is a competent inside/outside offensive player; without much explosion or ever looking truly fluid, Leuer can drive the ball, makes jumpshots despite his ugly old release, can create on the low box, and is a constant mismatch as a 6'10 face-up scorer. Alongside him, 6'8 Keaton Nankivil does only two things - protect the rim and shoot three pointers - vitally important roles not readily replicated by the rest of the lineup. Behind him, little-used 6'10 project sophomore centre big Jared Berggren can put up a surprising number of points in limited minutes, although Bo Ryan just doesn't trust him defensively. Freshman Josh Gasser and sophomore Mike Bruesewitz are basically the same player; rugged, decently athletic, tough defenders, who rarely create and aren't particularly good shooters, designed to move the ball and capitalise on wide open opportunities to drive or shoot. The only difference are age, Bruesewitz's three inch height advantage, and hair cuts. (See above. You probably noticed it already, but see above anyway.) And Ryan Evans is similar to them, too; slightly more athletic, but less of a perimeter, Evans's role is to float around the mid-range area, defend the opposing wing, and rock a fabulous high top fade.

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