BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Nothing says "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" and "Jack Frost nipping at your nose" like the Lahaina Civic Center on the island of Maui during Thanksgiving week. But Wisconsin senior Vitto Brown was more than willing to put everyone in the mood with his special rendition of "The Christmas Song."
As college basketball's tallest and most accomplished baritone, Brown's singing credentials have been well established, so much so that ESPN asked Brown to sing something of his choosing in front of the camera at the Badgers shootaround during this season's Maui Jim Maui Invitational in Lahaina.
"It took about a minute and a half," Brown said, "to think about what song I should sing."
The choice was an oldie, a holiday staple.
"It's November," Brown said excitedly, "and I get to sing a Christmas song."
THE (Ohio State inflection) Christmas Song.
Written in 1945 by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells, it was first sung in 1946 by Nat King Cole.
"I can't remember exactly when I started singing that song," said the 6-foot-8, 225-pound Brown, a veteran of 95 career games, including 46 starts at Wisconsin. "Maybe when I was a senior in high school (Bowling Green, Ohio). It's a song that I have down by memory by now."
Despite singing a cappella on cue in a South Pacific gym miles and miles from home, despite UW managers and assistants meandering on the floor, despite teammate Khalil Iverson bouncing a basketball and shooting jumpers in the background, Brown was not at all distracted.
"It's not hard, I've been doing it for so long now," Brown said of his ability to focus on the lyrics. "It's like I'm always ready. If somebody asks me, I can sing as long as it's not super high and something where I really need my voice warmed up to hit (the high notes). It's not a problem."
If there is a challenge, it's in the performance or the presentation. "It's probably just putting something into it besides just singing the notes," said Brown. "Like the facial expressions. Because of the venue, it was a little awkward having people around. But actually singing it has never been a problem."
At Bowling Green High School, Brown was a part of the Madrigal Singers, a select choir group.
"We'd do Christmas caroling my junior and senior year," he said. "I love singing, period. But Christmas caroling obviously puts people in a good mood. That's usually your older crowd-slash-young kids. I've sang in front of all ages. As long as I can put a smile on someone's face, that's why I do it."
Does someone like Brown — given his skill set and the richness of his voice — sing in the shower? "Not really in the shower," he said. "I found that most people who sing in the shower are the ones who don't sing in real life. That's their space to sing — in the shower — where people can't hear them."
How about singing in the car? Late Night's James Corden has struck gold with Carpool Karaoke. "If it's a song that I know, yeah, I will sing," Brown said. "Or, sometimes when I'm with my family, we'll have some impromptu singing moments, whether it's in the house or in the car. You just never know."
Who's the second-best singer on the Wisconsin roster? Brown knows.
"Chuck, hands down," he said of Charles Thomas IV, a 6-8, 252-pound sophomore out of Highland, Maryland. "His voice is lower and richer than mine. He doesn't have the same confidence or solo capability, but he can definitely hold a note and harmonize. Chuck is good."
If Brown could sing a duet with any performer, living or dead, he would go with the late Luther Vandross. "To me, he's one of the smoothest of all-time," said Brown, who was less sure about a female vocalist. "Maybe Beyonce … back in the day when she used to sing a little bit more."
On Friday night, Brown will be returning to his singing roots with the "Shades of Brown" by teaming up with his mom, dad and sister. Together, they will perform the national anthem prior to Wisconsin's final non-conference game against Florida A&M at the Kohl Center.
Brown's cousin is also a member of the group. But since he won't be able to attend, three UW students have been invited to singalong. There will be a couple of practices and a sound check. Not that Brown needs one. He has been singing the anthem since his freshman year of high school.
"It's the same arrangement," he said. "So, I've got it down."
Once the ball is tipped, he's hoping to sing a different tune.
"I haven't been playing my part," he said with some frustration.
• • • •
Brown left Maui feeling pretty good about his game. Against Georgetown and North Carolina, he was a combined 7-of-9 from beyond the 3-point arc after starting the season 3-of-10. He was also Wisconsin's leading scorer with 15 points in a blowout loss to the Tar Heels.
Since then, Brown has scored in double-figures twice in the last six games. He had 10 points against Syracuse in Madison and 15 against Marquette in Milwaukee. Since making 4-of-5 triples against North Carolina, he has made 6 of his last 28 attempts from outside the arc, including 3 of his last 17.
"You have to go all the way back to Maui," he said, "for the last time that I felt like I really made a good contribution, not just scoring, but playing defense and being more active. I have to get there again. For me, it has always been kind of mental.
"I have to attack the glass more. I should be getting more rebounds with my size and athleticism (He's averaging 3.4 RPG). On offense, I can't be passive the whole time or else I'm not a threat to the defense anymore. They can kind of play off me."
That has resulted, according to Brown, in some deflections and turnovers because opponents have sagged into the passing lanes. As far as his overall shooting percentage from 3-point range (.340 from .400 last season), he said, "That comes from hesitation. It's not anything mechanical."
In Wisconsin's last game, Brown played 19 minutes and accounted for two points (1-of-4 from the field, 0-of-3 from the arc) and four rebounds against Green Bay. "It was like a wake-up call," he said. "I definitely did a lot of reflecting off that. And I'm confident going into this next game."
During Wednesday's practice, UW head coach Greg Gard divided the team and scrimmaged for an hour. By doing so, he broke up the starters. The White squad, coached by Lamont Paris, had Brown, Nigel Hayes, Zak Showalter. The Reds, coached by Howard Moore, had Bronson Koenig and Ethan Happ. The Reds won on a last-second basket, a left-handed hook in the paint from Brevin Pritzl.
"It has been awhile since we've done it like that," Brown said of the split squad concept. "But it's good to kind of mix things up a little bit and not get complacent playing with the same guys all the time. This way, we get to test each other.
"Obviously, you get used to playing against the scout team (daily in practice) and you know how certain guys are going to move. And they know exactly what you're going to do. This is a good refresher and hopefully it will help us going into Friday's game."
During the scrimmaging, Brown got to defend against his roommate, the 6-10 Happ.
"Ethan is very talented," he said, "but what separates him from most guys his size is his motor. It's always going. If there's one thing I could copy from Ethan, it's that motor. He always keeps a defense on edge and you can never relax when he's in the game and anywhere near you."
Happ's footwork and craftiness around the rim are also distinguishing characteristics. It's all about shooting angles and leverage for someone who rarely leaves the lane. "When he gets you down low," Brown said, "he's really good at putting English on the ball and spinning it off the backboard."
The Badgers will go into their Big Ten season banking on their big three of Koenig, Hayes and Happ. But the role players — Brown and Showalter — and the bench, however deep, will factor into their team success against league opponents, starting with the Dec. 27 opener against Rutgers at the Kohl Center.
That will be followed by back-to-back road dates at Indiana (Jan. 3) and Purdue (Jan. 8), two of the most hostile venues anywhere. So Brown is offering this simple phrase, to kids from one to ninety-two, although it's been said many times, many ways …
"This is the best time of the year right now — we definitely love it," he said, meaning conference play is on its way.
