Young players need to be ready
UW freshmen could have big roles due to new rule
MADISON – When the NCAA announced last month that basketball players and other athletes who compete in winter sports in 2020-21 will not lose a season of eligibility, the focus of some basketball fans immediately turned to seniors.
Given the option, would some choose to return for another season in 2021-22?
That question was particularly relevant in discussing Wisconsin’s men’s team, which features six scholarship seniors.
Yet head coach Greg Gard noted the rule will play a critical role season and he is prepared to take advantage by ensuring members of the freshmen class are prepared to contribute.
“In this environment you never know what is going to happen with COVID,” he said. “You hope nobody (tests) positive. But, does that happen on a game day and you have to remove that person? Talk about next man up.
“We need all hands on deck and it gives us a luxury. That is my thought: Everybody is redshirting but nobody is redshirting because everybody can get a year back if they want it.”
Gard cited the 2017-18 season as an example of turning to a freshman to plug a hole in the lineup.
Forward Nate Reuvers was a skilled but skinny 215-pound freshman, and the staff opened the season hoping to
redshirt him.
He did not play in UW's first five games but Gard determined the team needed another front-court player who was at least willing to bang around the basket and Reuvers made his debut in the sixth game of the season.
Reuvers finished with 15 starts and 28 games played and averaged 5.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. He got tossed around at times but the experience was valuable.
“I learned three years ago when my mind was set on Nate Reuvers to redshirt,” Gard said. “And then I watched progression, along with other things that put us in a position where he had to play.
“Watching him (grow) from October to December or January changed my mindset. Don't get stuck in your ways. Things can change really fast.”
According to the UW staff, three of the freshmen have stood out during practice: guard Johnny Davis and big men Ben Carlson and Steven Crowl.
Davis averaged 27.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game as a senior at La Crosse Central High School. He is an explosive athlete who excels on both ends of the floor and could help fill the void created by the departure of Brevin Pritzl.
“Johnny has done some things early in practice that we're excited about,” assistant Joe Krabbenhoft said. “I think he's got a very bright future here. He can do a lot of things on both ends of the floor.
“He's got the ability to make some wow plays but the thing I've been impressed with him is his ability to soak in information, from the coaching staff (and) from his teammates.
“He is a guy – and we've liked them here for a long time – guys who have a lot more questions than answers. Johnny is definitely one of those guys. He is just a treat to coach.”
Carlson and Crowl are both listed at 6-foot-9. Both were finalists for Mr. Basketball in Minnesota last season, Carlson at East Ridge High School and Crowl at Eastview. Both, according to Krabbehoft, are too versatile to be pigeonholed as big men.
“Both those guys have a very high IQ,” he said. “We label them as big guys but they probably won't hold that label forever because they're just very versatile. They see and think the game in probably more of a guard's mindset, which is fun to coach.”
Reuvers and fellow senior Micah Potter are UW's top big men and along with forwards Aleem Ford and Tyler Wahl the Badgers on paper have a deep, versatile foursome.
Reuvers and Potter, according to Krabbenhoft, have been outstanding student teachers.
“Every drill we're in, every time there is a question, sometimes they jump to it before one of us coaches can get to it,” Krabbenhoft said.
“I think Micah and Nate have been tremendous leaders.”
Reuvers and Potter know the 2020-21 season could be different from what they've experienced and the first-year players have to be ready to step in.
“It's going to be abnormal,” assistant Alando Tucker said. “You never know who is going to have to step up. Everybody is going to be counted on.”