Just named a finalist for the USA Basketball under-19 team, Big Ten Freshman of the Year guard Jolene Anderson certainly has the accolades heading into next season. After averaging 17.8 points per game in her first season and being second on the team in rebounds and assists, Anderson looks to continue her dominance on the court.
Anderson has amazing potential and can hopefully pull the Badgers back into contention following a disappointing 12-16 season. With possible experience in international competition this summer, Anderson could come back an even better player and be the leader the team needs.
With Wisconsin losing many vital players to graduation after a fantastic Elite Eight finish, others are definitely going to have to step up their play, and guard Kammron Taylor seems poised to do it. Showing flashes of brilliance and clutch play (stepping up and nailing the three-pointer at the end of the North Carolina game to keep it within reach), Taylor and forward Alando Tucker could become a dynamic duo for the upcoming season. Taylor just needs to cut down on the turnovers and take charge at the point guard position.
After ending last season 14th in the country and knocking off No. 2 Hawaii in their second to last game, blocker Sheila Shaw and the UW volleyball team are hungry for more.
Leading the team in kills and blocks, Shaw will look to end her Badger career on a high note, hoping to improve on the 22-10 record of last season. Her constant attack on offense should bode well for the upcoming season, as Wisconsin returns most of their team.
Simon Bairu could never run again and he would have a career most runners only dream about. With an individual NCAA title and two straight Canadian Cross Country Championships, along with two straight Big Ten Athlete of the Year and Big Ten individual titles, it will be fun just to see what he does next. The only disappointment has been a second-place finish for Wisconsin in the NCAAs last year, and Bairu may help to rectify that this season.
New captain forward Amy Vermeulen will be looking to do even more for Wisconsin this year. Leading the team in scoring with 12 goals and 11 assists, Vermeulen's offense helped UW to the second round of the NCAAs and a 16-6-1 record. With a tough schedule in the fall and the loss of All-American Molly Meuer, Vermeulen and the rest of the Badgers will have to bring up their game, but they appear up to the challenge.
With Booker Stanley possibly sidelined with off-field problems, transfer running back Brian Calhoun could step up and display the potential he showed in his two seasons at Colorado. After gaining 810 yards in his last season with the Buffaloes, Calhoun might be the spark the anemic Badgers' offense needs.
