For Ray Nixon, Saturday's game against Marquette was exactly what he needed to jump start his final season at Wisconsin.
'Every player needs a game like that to boost their confidence and get a game ball for them self,' Nixon said. 'Especially with it being my senior year, that's the type of game I needed.'
It's not easy being the lone senior on a young team continually learning from game to game. Nixon is in his fourth year in the program and has finally earned a spot in the starting lineup. Coming into the year, the 6'8\ forward never averaged more than 11.7 minutes per game, but played a big role off the bench a year ago.
Now, after the loss of five seniors, Nixon took over the senior leadership role all by himself.
'I try to lead by example. The seniors last year played hard all the time and didn't have to say much because us younger guys would see what they were doing and say, 'Hey, that's what I need to do.' Between myself, Alando [Tucker], and Jason [Chappell], we just try to lead by example,' Nixon said.
The senior forward did just that against Marquette, breaking out with 15 points on 60 percent shooting, adding three steals to go along with only one turnover.
'My teammates found me early in the game and I took what the defense gave me. It was the best game of my career,' Nixon added.
He might be the lone senior, but that doesn't mean he doesn't learn anything from the younger players.
'I see myself as a leader. A lot of guys look up to me, and a lot of guys help me. The younger guys too,' Nixon said. 'One through 15, we are a team and if you can help me, I'll take the advice, and if I can help you, I expect you to take the advice.'
The Milwaukee native and former star at Whitefish Bay Dominican was part of the same recruiting class as Tucker and Chappell, who both red shirted their sophomore years with injuries, resulting in Nixon playing in 31 games. With that experience, he was able to develop into the player he is now.
'I was very immature as a freshman,' Nixon said. 'I just wanted to get in there and play basketball. Now things are a lot more important and every game means something.'
Nixon credited his head coach with helping him develop as a Division I basketball player.
'[Coach Ryan] helped a great deal. He sits us down every spring and tells us what we need to work on. He sees things that we can do to help this basketball team. It's always great to have a coach like that.'
Nixon has continued to show improvement in the young season with both his defense and shooting. Last year he shot 41 percent from beyond the arc, one of his biggest weapons. Jumping into the starting lineup this year, Nixon aimed to keep that number consistent with the additional shots taken as a starter. Though that number is down slightly, Nixon has made up for it with a more complete game, averaging four more points per game than last season on 42 percent field goal shooting.
Wearing the number four because of the age he was when he picked up a basketball, Nixon has not always been a hoops fan first.
'I was always a football guy, but I was better at basketball,' he said.
If the first eight games of his senior year are any indication, Badger fans will be happy he concentrated his game on the basketball court and not on the football field.
'It's my senior year and I want to go out with a bang,' he said.
