[Cracked Sidewalks] UW-Madison Preview

[Dawson Rental]

I can't believe that no one has mentioned #2 scorer Khalil Iverson leaving in this thread.  Happ leaving is one thing, losing him and Iverson is something tougher.  Aleem Ford will have to take a big step up, as well as Reuvers for them to again be dangerous.  I think that Kobe King starts.

[brewcity77]

I can't believe that no one has mentioned #2 scorer Khalil Iverson leaving in this thread.  Happ leaving is one thing, losing him and Iverson is something tougher.  Aleem Ford will have to take a big step up, as well as Reuvers for them to again be dangerous.  I think that Kobe King starts.

+1

He was so good down the stretch when no one else (aside from Happ) could be counted on to score. I haven't seen him discussed much but think he's almost as big a loss as Happ simply because it leaves them with no proven, reliable scorer.

[Pops Sims]

Happ kept staying in school and I was fed by Wisconsin media it was so he could develop for the next level.  Greg Gard did zero for getting his game ready for the next level.  It was laughable when it was suggested and laughable looking back on it.

Player development doesn't always include "getting ready for the next level". Player development also includes improving your game to be a productive player in college. I'm not sure who you were reading but not being able to shoot the "3" consistently these days, pretty much dooms a "big" from not playing in the NBA.  Achieving All-American status as a "3-star" recruit is the very definition of player development.

[The Sultan]

While some people don't think Gard is in Bo's class in terms of "player development", exhibit "A" would be Happ. While his shooting "skills" were lacking (obviously), his low post game allowed him to achieve All-American status.

Did Happ really improve all that much at UW?  I mean sure he was better, but was that due to Gard "developing" him, or was it simply due to experience?  He wasn't all that much different as a senior than he was the previous two years.  He improved at passing, but was no better at shooting, rebounding or turning the ball over.

Player development doesn't always include "getting ready for the next level". Player development also includes improving your game to be a productive player in college. I'm not sure who you were reading but not being able to shoot the "3" consistently these days, pretty much dooms a "big" from not playing in the NBA.  Achieving All-American status as a "3-star" recruit is the very definition of player development.

Not really.  He could have just been an underrated recruit.

[Uncle Rico]

Player development doesn't always include "getting ready for the next level". Player development also includes improving your game to be a productive player in college. I'm not sure who you were reading but not being able to shoot the "3" consistently these days, pretty much dooms a "big" from not playing in the NBA.  Achieving All-American status as a "3-star" recruit is the very definition of player development.

If Gard isn't developing guys for the next level, why is he recruiting 5 stars?  It's a waste of time.  And I read Tom Oates and he tells me Gard and Wisconsin develop guys for the NBA

[Pops Sims]

If Gard isn't developing guys for the next level, why is he recruiting 5 stars?  It's a waste of time.  And I read Tom Oates and he tells me Gard and Wisconsin develop guys for the NBA

I know you're focused on player development equating to "playing in the NBA". That's great but improving and developing your game to be a productive college player fits the definition as well.

UW's program with few exceptions (Sam Dekker) recruits very few 5 star  recruits. Tom Oates presumably was referring to Kaminsky when he referenced developing 'guys for the NBA'. Kaminsky came in as an "unheralded" 3 star recruit and was a first round NBA draft choice.

UW's program, somewhat atypically, is a "player development" program even though that definition doesn't HAVE to include the NBA. How else do you account for the program's consistent success over the last 20+ years? To achieve that success, identifying and developing talent is of paramount importance.   

[warriorjoe]

Nov. 17 could be a long day in Madison for the Badgers.

Go Warriors!

[Dr. Blackheart]

Nov. 17 could be a long day in Madison for the Badgers.

Go Warriors!

It's Sunday Funday!

[Jay Bee]

Did Happ really improve all that much at UW?  I mean sure he was better, but was that due to Gard "developing" him, or was it simply due to experience?  He wasn't all that much different as a senior than he was the previous two years.  He improved at passing, but was no better at shooting, rebounding or turning the ball over.

...and, I think heading into junior year there was a bunch of talk re: a 3-point game.. he hadn't tried one in years 1 and 2... goes 1-11 as a junior... 0-5 as a senior. Couldn't get that - or no matta FTs so bad that they did matta - figured out at all, even though they tried.

#ExtendGard (nh)

[brewcity77]

On the menu today, Badger roadkill.