After coming off a 2-0 preseason when more questions were posed than answered, the Wisconsin men's basketball team headed yesterday for the weekend Paradise Jam tournament in St. Thomas, USVI to begin their regular season play. With the recent frigid temperatures that hit Madison, the sunny skies and 80 degree weather of the islands will be a welcome sight to the Badgers.
'It's gonna be a lot of fun. Be nice to get out of this cold weather,' sophomore center Greg Stiemsma said.
If the Badgers win their first two games on Friday and Saturday'which appears likely, as they will be facing normally mediocre Norfolk State and Eastern Kentucky'they would be expected to face Georgia in the championship game on Monday. Playing three games in four days will be a big adjustment for the Badgers after playing their first two games over a period of nine days.
'It's a lot of basketball in not a lot of time,' Stiemsma said. 'We worked on a little bit of scouting report today, but when you play that many games so quick it is going to be a lot of on-the- fly stuff. So that's our challenge. We are just going to play our game and see how things go.'
'Coaches would like a little more time in between to go over some things,' head coach Bo Ryan said after practice Wednesday. 'But, you know, if you are fortunate enough in the end of the year to be playing, they come pretty fast.'
Both Ryan and his players appeared eager to go up against someone wearing colors other than cardinal and white or a Division III exhibition opponent.
'Players like to play. They tell me they like to practice, but I think they have their fingers crossed behind their back when they say it,' Ryan said.
'It should be a lot of fun. Get some new faces in there. New surroundings, new atmosphere and stuff,' Stiemsma said.
As expected, leading the way for the Badgers into the regular season is junior forward and Preseason All- Big Ten team member Alando Tucker. After averaging a strong 21.5 points per game on 18-of-29 (.621) shooting through his first two contests, Tucker already appears in midseason form and left Lawrence University head coach John Tharp impressed with his play.
'The great thing about him is they get the ball to him in great positions where he can use his athletic ability,' Tharp said. 'I think he's got a terrific first step, and once he gets into the paint he can score over you, and he's got some moves that he can run on you as well.'
Coach Ryan also applauded Tucker's early season efforts, citing the defensive presence he brings to the floor.
'He did a great job. He works hard. He did some things defensively where he got some deflections or steals. He energized our guys defensively.'
While the beaches of St. Thomas will undoubtedly look quite inviting, senior forward Ray Nixon emphasized this is a business trip.
'We got to view it just like any other game. Just like if it was over here in Madison. It's always business,' he said.
