Wisconsin freshman guard Jordan Taylor didn't get to this point by some coincidence.
At 6'1\ and 190 lbs., Taylor was never known as a physically imposing figure. But Taylor also says his smaller frame gave him motivation to be more aggressive and prove that he could still compete. The hard work has certainly paid off, as Taylor has already made many positive impressions in just his first year at UW.
Assistant coach Gary Close has seen terrific, steady development from Taylor
over the course of the season.
""The thing I like about him is he wants to be a great player, he wants to improve, he's constantly trying to get better and he has,"" said Close. ""He's really given us a lift in some of the games and I think the sky's the limit. He's a good leader, he's tough, he's competitive, he wants to win and he's got some physical skills as well.""
As if the adjustment to his first year playing basketball at the college level wasn't enough, Taylor also plays point guard, a demanding position that can ill-afford many mistakes. But Taylor has not backed down from the challenge, showing maturity for his age.
""I'm trying to be a leader even though I'm one of the younger guys,"" said Taylor. ""Point guards are supposed to do that no matter how old you are. I'm just trying to stay confident for the next game, be efficient when I'm out there and do what I can to help the team the rest of the season.""
Taylor was a star at Benilde-St. Margaret High School in nearby St. Louis Park, Minn. Taylor progressed steadily throughout high school and saved his best for last in his senior season, when he averaged 22.3 points and 7.1 assists per game and won a Minnesota state Class AAA title. For these accomplishments, Taylor was named Minnesota's Mr. Basketball.
This year, Taylor received limited playing time at the beginning of the conference season, exceeding ten minutes just once in Wisconsin's first four Big Ten games. But in the Badgers' last four contests, the coaching staff has shown greater trust in Taylor, who has averaged more than 20 minutes per game.
During this stretch, Taylor racked up 22 points and 11 assists and committed just four turnovers.
Close said that Taylor's play - particularly during practice - has earned this increased playing time.
""He's gotten to the point now where he demands minutes because he's playing at a high level,"" said Close. ""He's a very intelligent player - he knows what we're asking for him, what we expect of him and then he produces. That's the bottom line - you've got to produce to get on the floor.""
Taylor has also shown a great deal of confidence during this stretch. On Jan. 21 against Iowa, Taylor hit a game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. And in last week's matchup against Purdue, Taylor took several crucial shots in the game's final minutes. Senior guard Joe Krabbenhoft is glad this confidence has translated into success for Taylor.
""It's great to see Jordan out there doing successful things because he's really been doing it all year,"" Krabbenhoft said. ""It was just a matter of time before he started getting that confidence out on the court in front of 17,000 people. Now that he has, he's really helping this team in so many ways.""
Taylor has already achieved a tremendous amount in his freshman season. The experience so far has not only been a positive one for Taylor, but for his teammates as well.
""I love playing with Jordan Taylor,"" Krabbenhoft said. ""The only thing I regret was that we were born three years apart, because he would've been a great player to play with for four years. I'm lucky enough to have him for this long.""
