UW’s four freshman fighting growing pains
MADISON – Wisconsin coach Greg Gard hopes his players, particularly the team’s four freshmen, will benefit in the long run from the grinding 12-point loss at Virginia.
“That is the most physical and the most sound defensive team we’ve seen,” Gard said. “You can (talk) and teach and look at film all you want, but for them to live through it I think will help them grow a little bit faster.”
The next opportunity for UW’s firstyear players – freshmen Kobe King, Nate Reuvers and Brad Davison and redshirt freshman Aleem Ford – to exhibit growth comes in the Big Ten opener.
UW (3-4), which is 0-4 against ranked teams, faces Ohio State (5-3) at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Kohl Center.
The Buckeyes have lost to Gonzaga, Butler and Clemson.
“I think we took a step back today,” first-year coach Chris Holtmann said after Ohio State’s 79-65 loss to Clemson on Wednesday. “I didn’t think that we handled adversity very well, or were as connected as we needed to be.
“We let our frustration get the best of us.”
UW’s four first-year players don’t appear frustrated, but they are learning on the fly that winning doesn’t come easily.
King played well on the overseas tour and averaged 16.0 points and hit 11 of 17 shots in UW’s two exhibition games. He has learned what most freshmen do, that the level of intensity rises once the games count and attention to detail is more critical.
King is shooting 44.8% but is averaging only 4.6 points and 0.9 rebounds per game. He was scoreless in losses to Xavier and Baylor before playing assertively and scoring nine points in a loss to UCLA. He followed that with eight points and two rebounds in a victory over UW-Milwaukee but contributed just two points, one assist and one steal in 21 minutes in a loss to Virginia.
“I can’t be timid or scared out there,” King said. “I did a good job of that early, not worrying and just playing. But I think once the games started counting it became a mental thing. I’ll be able to get back to that.”
Reuvers appeared headed for a redshirt season until the staff decided the team needed another option at power forward. He has played a total of 29 minutes in two games. He is 0 of 2 from three-point range and 0 of 10 overall and it is obvious he needs to get physically stronger.
“Some of those shots are ones I always take and I’ve just missed,” Reuvers said. “It’s tough missing shots you normally make. I’ve got to keep shooting.”
However, he has battled for position and for loose balls on both ends of the court. He is averaging 4.5 rebounds per game and took two charges in the loss at Virginia.
Davison, who has started the last three games along with Ford, has been UW’s second-best player behind Ethan Happ.
He is averaging 10.9 points per game, is shooting 44.1% from three-point range and leads the team in charges taken with seven.
The only red flag is that Davis twice has suffered left shoulder injuries, including during the loss to Virginia. Davison wore a shoulder brace this week and was held out of practice. His status for the Big Ten opener is to be determined.
“He is a guy you’re never going to question his toughness,” Gard said. “He is going to want to play whether he has two arms functional, one arm functional. I’m glad he is on my team.”
Ford, who replaced Andy Van Vliet in the starting lineup, is averaging 4.6 points and 2.9 rebounds. He is shooting 37.9% (11 of 29) but is more focused on becoming more aggressive on the glass.