When former Badger Boo Wade left the team for good last winter, sophomore Kammron Taylor knew he would be thrown into the mix immediately and have to take over as the team's starting point guard when Sharif Chambliss graduated at the end of the year.
Now a junior, Taylor has emerged as not only the leader on the floor, but also as a legitimate scoring threat behind junior forward Alando Tucker. With the graduation of Chambliss and Clayton Hanson went the majority of three-point attempts from last season. Taylor is now the No. 1 option beyond the arc, and after six games, Badger fans and coaches will be pleased that a remarkable 18 of his 34 attempts have found the bottom of the net.
'I worked hard this summer on my shot and feel very comfortable shooting the three this year,' Taylor said. 'I felt like teams were going to come out and zone us this year because they thought we lost some three-point shooters. I'm just taking what the defense gives to me.'
Last year's Elite-Eight squad was successful because they were able to create shots using their high-low offense. When players were double-teamed in the post, Chambliss and Hanson were able to find their shot beyond the arc. While the Badgers have undergone a major makeover from last season, that philosophy has remained the same with a new combination of Tucker and Taylor. With Tucker driving inside more as the team's main offensive weapon, the opposing defense has been forced to use the double-team more often.
'I have to be able to create for my teammates,' Tucker said. 'Kam has stepped up. He has had a lot of open looks because his man is doubling-down on me and I have to be able to kick the ball out to him.'
While Taylor's Big Ten-leading 18 three-pointers have given the offense a boost, head coach Bo Ryan is not concerned with working Taylor's shooting into the offense any differently than it was at the beginning of the season.
'He doesn't have to be taking any more or any less shots,' Ryan said. 'He needs to be taking open shots.'
Taylor realizes that his primary role in the offense is to set up a scoring opportunity every time Wisconsin has the ball.
'A good point guard is going to keep his team in the game,' Taylor said. 'I feel like we have been in every game so far, but I think I can be a better playmaker and get others involved. I need to keep thinking about taking care of the ball to get us good shots.'
Creating those shots means limiting turnovers and moving the ball quickly. That starts with the point guard and carries over to the rest of the team. While Tucker's talent might get others open, Taylor will have to get Tucker open with his speed and ability to drive to the hoop, something he struggled to use to his advantage a year ago.
Ball control and effective passing is something that comes with experience, which proved good enough last year to compensate for the lack of height and talent. This year the talent could possibly outweigh the experience, but that means more turnovers and a less effective defense. Coming into the season, Taylor realized that for Wisconsin to be succssful, he was going to have to grow up in a hurry. His early 52.9 percent three-point average proves that his confidence is growing.
Taylor will continue to learn his role as the point guard throughout the season, as will the rest of the young Badgers, but it doesn't hurt to be putting up the offensive numbers the point guard has, averaging 17.3 points per game.
He has also come up with some big shots early in the season. Against Eastern Kentucky, Tucker hit a big three-pointer with 3.3 seconds left in the first overtime, allowing Wisconsin to win 95-89 in double-overtime. In the next game against Old Dominion, Taylor's four three-pointers and 27 points carried the Badgers in a close 84-81 victory.
Coach Ryan won't be looking to get Taylor more shots, but there is no doubt the point guard's hot shooting will have the team looking for him at the end of a close game. That was evident at the end of the Wake Forest contest, where Taylor's 30-foot heave at the buzzer left the Badgers an inch short of overtime.
'We're not looking for it by any means, but the shooting has worked with our offense,' sophomore center Brian Butch said. 'That's the important thing. It's flowing with our offense.'
