UW vs. Purdue
Badgers freshman tailback Jonathan Taylor brings back memories of Ron Dayne
MADISON – D’Mitrik Trice was in their shoes a year ago:
A freshman at Wisconsin looking to find his niche.
Trice had the luxury of joining a veteran team, led by four seniors with NCAA Tournament experience.
UW’s three freshmen this season – guards Brad Davison and Kobe King and forward Nate Reuvers – have joined the program at a time when minutes are available.
“All three of them are going to be a big part of this team,” Trice said Friday during the team’s annual media day. “Obviously, in Australia, we got a chance to see what they could do and they contributed a lot more than what anybody really expected.
“Kobe was terrific. Brad was the leading scorer in one game. Nate surprised people by being able to finish around the rim.
“I think those three guys are really going to open a lot of eyes.”
Davison, King and Reuvers all performed well during UW’s fivegame trip to New Zealand and Australia. Not only will they help determine whether UW will extend its streak of NCAA Tournament appearances to 20 this season, but they form a significant part of the future of the program under coach Greg Gard.
Davison, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound combination guard, can shoot, distribute and defend. His overall game and tenacity no doubt will be compared to former UW guard Josh Gasser.
“I think the biggest thing for me is to try to be a leader right from the
start,” said Davison, who is always talking and spends time on the floor battling for loose balls. “Whether that’s offense, defense, communicating ... whatever I can to help the team win.”
King, 6-4 and 203, is an explosive athlete who can attack the basket or score from the perimeter.
“I think I can bring energy, offensive rebounding, scoring and defense,” said King, the cousin of Jimmy King, who was a member of Michigan’s Fab Five. “A few times I guarded the best player overseas.”
Reuvers, 6-10 and 215, showed the staff in early workouts and again during the five-game trip he is physically strong enough to help immediately. “I’m definitely comfortable,” Reuvers said when asked about banging inside, “but it is tough because they’re bigger.
“I’ve got to learn how to use my body (length).”
Redshirt junior forward Ethan Happ, who has battled Reuvers in practice, sees a player who should be able to score inside and stretch defenses because of his ability to hit from the three-point line.
“He’s got good touch around the rim,” Happ said. “He is a good shooter. That obviously helps him. But defensively is always a struggle with freshmen.
“He might not look the strongest but he is sneakystrong. He’s not going to be intimidated by anyone.”
Gard, preparing for his second full season as head coach, suspected in June that Davison and King would be ready to help immediately. He wasn’t sure whether Reuvers would be sturdy enough physically.
The overseas trip solidified his views.
“It reaffirmed what I thought I knew about Davison and King,” Gard said. “I had a pretty good idea Davison was going to be mentally ready. He is not your typical freshman, physically or mentally.
“Kobe physically is pretty advanced. The one who has made the jump is (Reuvers).
“If you would have asked me back in June, I would have probably said he was not going to be ready. That changed early in August and continued through the tour. I thought he got better and better.
“I have to remind myself that they are freshmen. There’s going to be some hiccups at times. There’s going to be some valleys that we’re going to have to work through.”