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#30 Wisconsin Badgers
Big Ten
2004-05: 25-9, 11-5, 3rd
2004-05 postseason:
NCAA
By
Joel Welser
Wisconsin headed to the
Elite Eight last year on the shoulders of a great senior class.
The seniors have moved on, but you can never count out a Bo Ryan
coached team. It might take a little time to get things going,
but the Badgers will be dangerous by the time Big Ten
competition begins.
Who’s Out:
Forward Mike Wilkinson developed into the team leader. He
averaged 14.3 points and a team high 7.4 rebounds. Zach Morley
tacked on 7.4 points and 4.7 boards in 17 starts. Fellow
frontcourter Andreas Helmigk started 12 contests, putting up 2.4
points and 1.9 boards. In the backcourt, the three point
shooting takes a major hit with the absence of Sharif Chambliss
and Clayton Hanson. Chambliss averaged 7.5 points his only
season in Madison. Hanson added 6.5 points and shot a solid
45.5% from beyond the arc.
Who’s In:
The Badgers could use some help off
the bench. Joe Krabbenhoft and Marcus Landry will immediately
step in and compete for minutes. Krabbenhoft, a 6-7 small
forward, averaged 17.0 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists
last year at Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
He has a solid perimeter game and his toughness will get him
plenty of quality playing time this year. Marcus Landry, brother
of Purdue star Carl Landry, will add some more athleticism under
the basket for Wisconsin. The 6-7, 215 pound power forward
averaged 16.1 points and 5.9 rebounds at Vincent High School in
Milwaukee last year. Shooting guard Phillip Perry is a great
athlete who can get to the basket, but his outside shot lacks
consistency. DeAaron Williams redshirted last year after
averaging 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists at Limestone
High School in Peoria, Illinois. Forward Kevin Gullickson and
wing Morris Cain will walk on to the Badgers.
Who to Watch:
Alando Tucker is the only returning
starter and that isn’t a bad guy to have back. The 6-6 forward
led the team with 15.2 points and tacked on 6.1 boards. The
All-America candidate is an extremely explosive athlete who
scored over 20 points on nine occasions during the 2004-2005
campaign. Tucker will have to be the leader on and off the court
as the Badgers adjust to life without Wilkinson, Morley, Helmigk,
Chambliss and Hanson.
Projected
Conference Rank:
If we’ve learned anything over the
last five years, it is that as long as Bo Ryan is at the helm,
the Badgers will finish in the top three of the Big Ten no
matter who they lose. However, this is a young team. Wisconsin
is very talented, but the lack of senior leadership will keep
them at 5th in the Big Ten. With the overall strength
of the conference this year, the Badgers still won’t have to
break a sweat on Selection Sunday.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected Starting
Five:
Kammron Taylor,
Junior, Guard, 8.4 points per game
Michael Flowers,
Sophomore, Guard, 1.2 points per game
Alando Tucker, Junior,
Forward, 15.2 points per game
Ray Nixon, Senior,
Forward, 2.5 points per game
Brian Butch,
Sophomore, Center, 3.6 points per game
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