You would not exactly call the Wisconsin Badgers (4-1 overall) front court players, Brian Butch, Greg Stiemsma and Jason Chappell a three-headed monster. Not yet that is.
The trio of Badgers will step forth this season, aiming to replace three-year starter and All-Big Ten player Mike Wilkinson down low.
Wilkinson averaged 14.3 points per game a year ago (second on the team only to Alando Tucker) and he compiled a team high 31.8 minutes per contest.
'It's definitely hard to replace Mike Wilkinson,' said Butch, a 6'11' sophomore center. 'But we keep on working hard and doing what we have to do and keep on improving every day.'
Aside from his performance on the court, Wilkinson's leadership as a teammate and knowledge of Big Ten competition may prove to be a larger hole to fill.
'It's hard to replace a guy like Mike, just as one guy, right away,' said Stiemsma, another intimidating 6'11' presence in the paint. 'I think the key is that we all have to keep working together to kind of take over that role. Mike did so many things on different levels that if we can each match that, and each of us do our own little thing, hopefully we add up to what he brought as a whole.'
It would seem that with Stiemsma, a ruthless defender and rebounder in the post, and Butch, a shot blocker with a soft touch around the basket, the two players would be perfect compliments to each other in the post.
Yet both have battled injuries since joining the Badger program and still carry the 'potential' label on them heading into the 2005-06 season.
'Things are feeling a little bit more comfortable this year on the floor, and I am getting to feel more comfortable with the guys out there and just the whole system and competition,' Stiemsma said. 'I'm feeling good. I'm feeling ready to be out there.'
Butch, a former first-team Parade All-American at Appleton West High School was one of just four players in history from the state of Wisconsin to be named to the McDonald's All-American team. However, the transition to the collegiate game has not gone as smoothly as most would have liked.
He averaged just 9.7 minutes off the bench last year and played only 35 minutes in the last eight games after missing six games with infectious mononucleosis.
'I know people expect a lot from me,' said Butch, who is in his third season with the Badger program. 'I think my confidence has come up a little bit better, but knowing the offense and being around the offense, it definitely helps you out.'
If the first five games have been an indication of how this season will pan out, Badger fans may finally be seeing a player finally reaching his potential on both ends of the floor. Butch, in his first season as a starter, is averaging 15.8 points per game (third on the team) and a team high 6.8 rebounds per contest.
'He made his career in high school scoring 30 points a game, so he can score,' Stiemsma said. 'That is what he's used to doing and once he gets comfortable doing that, you have to keep feeding him.'
Another player that is beginning to play well is Chappell, a 6'10' junior forward who finally appears healthy in his fourth season with the Badgers.
'Jason's been playing real well taking on that leadership role,' Stiemsma said. 'He's one of the older guys, so we look to him. He's been here longer than we have so if we have questions or anything, Jason's a cool guy we can talk to. It's really nice to have a guy like that.'
Chappell recently played his most complete game as a Badger in Tuesday's loss to Wake Forest, scoring 11 points and grabbing three rebounds in 24 minutes of play. His performance came on the same court where his father, Len Chappell, was an All-American for the Deamon Decons in 1961 and 1962.
Together, the Badger big men down low figure to play a pivotal role in the success of this years group.
'As a team we feed off each other, not just the three of us, but as a whole team,' Butch said. 'That's a good thing to be part of as a team.'
