Photo by: David Stluka
Koenig dazzles, but Red wins annual scrimmage
October 23, 2016 | Men's Basketball
VIDEO: Scrimmage gives Gard first look at chemistry among this year's roster <i class="icon-video"></i>VIDEO: Red/White Scrimmage Highlights <i class="icon-video"></i>PDF: Final Box Score
Senior scores game-high 16 points, but Happ's double-double leads Red in win
> Final Box Score (PDF)
MADISON, Wis. – If the turnout of 7,306 fans for the annual Red/White Scrimmage was any indication, Wisconsin faithful appear to be pretty excited for the 2016-17 men's basketball season.
Led by Ethan Happ and Zak Showalter, Team Red edged out a 48-46 win over Team White at the Kohl Center on Sunday afternoon. Happ tallied a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Showalter finished with 12 points of his own to go along with two assists.
It was Happ's two free throws with seven seconds remaining that broke a 46-46 tie. Bronson Koenig then missed a runner at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime, instead sealing the Red win.
Koenig and fellow senior Nigel Hayes led the way for Team White. Koenig scored a game-high 16 points, while also recording five assists and three steals. Hayes tallied 11 points and grabbed a pair of rebounds to go along with two assists and a steal.
"It was great to get out here in front of a big crowd and finally play some five on five," Koenig said. "It was really fun. We haven't been playing much five on five, we've been focusing more on the details. It was nice to get out there and get a feel while playing against each other."
Koenig, who has talked about his improved athleticism this offseason, made several highlight reel plays including back-to-back triples, a no-look dish for a bucket by Alex Illikainen and a pretty step-back baseline jumper.
"Bronson is definitely quicker, leaner, faster with the ball," head coach Greg Gard said. "Some of the decision making that we have talked about will get better as we go through and get more accustomed to who's on the floor together. Physically though, I think the whole team has taken a step in the right direction. Now we just have to put the pieces together."
Sophomore Andy Van Vliet made his 2016-17 debut for the Badgers and did not disappoint, tallying seven points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block. Illikainen also had an impressive afternoon scoring nine points on 4-for-4 shooting with seven rebounds.
The scrimmage also provided a first look at freshmen D'Mitrik Trice and Aleem Ford for the Cardinal and White. Trice finished with three points and one rebound, while Ford recorded a pair of blocks and one rebound.
"We're very competitive up and down the lineup," Gard added. "Guys really played hard and really haven't cared who's a senior or who's a freshman. They've done an exceptional job at attacking every day with the goal of getting better. No matter how I mix and match the teams, it's been very competitive."
A complete box score of stats is included with this recap.
Wisconsin begins its season hosting UW-Platteville for an exhibition on Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. in Madison. The contest will serve as Brain Cancer Awareness Game and fans in attendance will receive a free grey Brain Cancer Awareness Wristband, while supplies last. Brothers and opposing head coaches, Greg and Jeff Gard wanted the game to have extra meaning, as the date also marks the one-year anniversary of the passing of their father, Glen Gard, who died of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
HEAD COACH GREG GARD
On one of this seasons's goals being to cut down on turnovers
"There were still too many and it was fitting that the team who turned the ball over the least won the game. Albeit, not a huge difference in turnovers, but also not a huge difference on the scoreboard. Some of it timing, some of it's who is on the floor. They haven't been with the same five at all really. We've mixed and matched all fall. There are some things we need to clean up individually, but it's also some of the chemistry with who's on the floor."
On the new fouling rules and adjustments
"I think a little bit (of adjustment), but we didn't really see anything at the rim today other than the cylinder play with Bronson (Koenig). It's not going to be anything different with what we teach. We try not to use our hands, we try to play with our feet and play position defense. I thought the officials did a good job. We have officials in quite often to help us try to clean things up and help us with certain things we may be missing or little subtitles."
On Bronson Koenig
"He's definitely quicker, leaner, faster with the ball. Some of the decision making that we have talked about will get better as we go through and get more accustomed to who's on the floor together. Physically though, I think the whole team has taken a step in the right direction. Now we just have to put the pieces together."
On any surprise with Red Team beating White Team
"None at all, because I see the same thing in practice. We're very competitive up and down the lineup. Guys really played hard and really haven't cared who's a senior or who's a freshman. They've done an exceptional job at attacking every day with the goal of getting better. No matter how I mix and match the teams, it's been very competitive."
On Andy Van Vliet's performance
"I don't think you can count on him banking in 3s all the time. I thought yesterday he practiced as well as he has practiced in two years. He's going through it for the first time too, so there are going to be some things we can learn from. This is going to be a great film to watch and use to improve."
SENIOR POINT GUARD BRONSON KOENIG
Opening statement
"It was great to get out here in front of a big crowd and finally play some five-on-five. It was really fun. We haven't been playing much five-on-five, we've been focusing more on the details. It was nice to get out there and get a feel while playing against each other."
On the team's improvement and play
"It's nice when you can come down and get a ball screen with guys who can either roll or pop and shoot."
On what he wanted to accomplish during the scrimmage
"Just go out here and play my game. Just have fun, really."
On the first half and showing off-season improvements
"I showed glimpses here and there, but I didn't show everything yet. I'm excited for the season."
On cutting turnovers down this year
"We haven't played too much together and it was good to see us together. Now we know what we need to work on."
MADISON, Wis. – If the turnout of 7,306 fans for the annual Red/White Scrimmage was any indication, Wisconsin faithful appear to be pretty excited for the 2016-17 men's basketball season.
Led by Ethan Happ and Zak Showalter, Team Red edged out a 48-46 win over Team White at the Kohl Center on Sunday afternoon. Happ tallied a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Showalter finished with 12 points of his own to go along with two assists.
It was Happ's two free throws with seven seconds remaining that broke a 46-46 tie. Bronson Koenig then missed a runner at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime, instead sealing the Red win.
Koenig and fellow senior Nigel Hayes led the way for Team White. Koenig scored a game-high 16 points, while also recording five assists and three steals. Hayes tallied 11 points and grabbed a pair of rebounds to go along with two assists and a steal.
"It was great to get out here in front of a big crowd and finally play some five on five," Koenig said. "It was really fun. We haven't been playing much five on five, we've been focusing more on the details. It was nice to get out there and get a feel while playing against each other."
Koenig, who has talked about his improved athleticism this offseason, made several highlight reel plays including back-to-back triples, a no-look dish for a bucket by Alex Illikainen and a pretty step-back baseline jumper.
"Bronson is definitely quicker, leaner, faster with the ball," head coach Greg Gard said. "Some of the decision making that we have talked about will get better as we go through and get more accustomed to who's on the floor together. Physically though, I think the whole team has taken a step in the right direction. Now we just have to put the pieces together."
Sophomore Andy Van Vliet made his 2016-17 debut for the Badgers and did not disappoint, tallying seven points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block. Illikainen also had an impressive afternoon scoring nine points on 4-for-4 shooting with seven rebounds.
The scrimmage also provided a first look at freshmen D'Mitrik Trice and Aleem Ford for the Cardinal and White. Trice finished with three points and one rebound, while Ford recorded a pair of blocks and one rebound.
"We're very competitive up and down the lineup," Gard added. "Guys really played hard and really haven't cared who's a senior or who's a freshman. They've done an exceptional job at attacking every day with the goal of getting better. No matter how I mix and match the teams, it's been very competitive."
A complete box score of stats is included with this recap.
Wisconsin begins its season hosting UW-Platteville for an exhibition on Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. in Madison. The contest will serve as Brain Cancer Awareness Game and fans in attendance will receive a free grey Brain Cancer Awareness Wristband, while supplies last. Brothers and opposing head coaches, Greg and Jeff Gard wanted the game to have extra meaning, as the date also marks the one-year anniversary of the passing of their father, Glen Gard, who died of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
HEAD COACH GREG GARD
On one of this seasons's goals being to cut down on turnovers
"There were still too many and it was fitting that the team who turned the ball over the least won the game. Albeit, not a huge difference in turnovers, but also not a huge difference on the scoreboard. Some of it timing, some of it's who is on the floor. They haven't been with the same five at all really. We've mixed and matched all fall. There are some things we need to clean up individually, but it's also some of the chemistry with who's on the floor."
On the new fouling rules and adjustments
"I think a little bit (of adjustment), but we didn't really see anything at the rim today other than the cylinder play with Bronson (Koenig). It's not going to be anything different with what we teach. We try not to use our hands, we try to play with our feet and play position defense. I thought the officials did a good job. We have officials in quite often to help us try to clean things up and help us with certain things we may be missing or little subtitles."
On Bronson Koenig
"He's definitely quicker, leaner, faster with the ball. Some of the decision making that we have talked about will get better as we go through and get more accustomed to who's on the floor together. Physically though, I think the whole team has taken a step in the right direction. Now we just have to put the pieces together."
On any surprise with Red Team beating White Team
"None at all, because I see the same thing in practice. We're very competitive up and down the lineup. Guys really played hard and really haven't cared who's a senior or who's a freshman. They've done an exceptional job at attacking every day with the goal of getting better. No matter how I mix and match the teams, it's been very competitive."
On Andy Van Vliet's performance
"I don't think you can count on him banking in 3s all the time. I thought yesterday he practiced as well as he has practiced in two years. He's going through it for the first time too, so there are going to be some things we can learn from. This is going to be a great film to watch and use to improve."
SENIOR POINT GUARD BRONSON KOENIG
Opening statement
"It was great to get out here in front of a big crowd and finally play some five-on-five. It was really fun. We haven't been playing much five-on-five, we've been focusing more on the details. It was nice to get out there and get a feel while playing against each other."
On the team's improvement and play
"It's nice when you can come down and get a ball screen with guys who can either roll or pop and shoot."
On what he wanted to accomplish during the scrimmage
"Just go out here and play my game. Just have fun, really."
On the first half and showing off-season improvements
"I showed glimpses here and there, but I didn't show everything yet. I'm excited for the season."
On cutting turnovers down this year
"We haven't played too much together and it was good to see us together. Now we know what we need to work on."
Players Mentioned
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