BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — After five exhibitions in New Zealand and Australia, a closed scrimmage against Missouri (and frosh phenom Michael Porter Jr.) and two more exhibitions on their home floor, the prelims are over.
After eight dress rehearsals — hardly the norm but especially welcomed — are Wisconsin's players, old and new alike, ready for Friday night's season opener against South Carolina State?
"Very eager," freshman Kobe King said.
"That's an understatement," fellow newcomer Brad Davison interjected. "Ever since we committed, we've been talking about getting out there for the real games. So it's definitely something we're looking forward to and a moment we can't wait to have on Friday."
"They're itching and eager to get started and show how they've improved and what they've learned," said UW assistant Joe Krabbenhoft echoed after Sunday's 85-56 win over Stout at the Kohl Center.
"The biggest thing for me is how tight they are as a whole. From one through 17 (on the roster), everybody has come together really well. With a bunch of new faces, you always wonder how it's going to mix. But some of our older guys who have experience and know how we do things have done a great job of setting the tone.
"And you have to give credit to the five new guys who have come in and really bought in. They've all jumped in with both feet. They're so much fun to coach and be around."
Out with the old: Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig, Zak Showalter, Vitto Brown, Jordan Hill.
In with the new: Kobe King, Brad Davison, Nathan Reuvers, Walt McGrory, Trevor Anderson.
King and Davison have already shown that they're ready to contribute as true frosh. Even though they've been coming off the bench, the first two subs, they'll probably log starter's minutes.
No decision has been made yet on Reuvers and whether he will redshirt. He's gifted but lean. McGrory turned down tenders to walk-on. Anderson is a UW-Green Bay transfer who will sit this year.
"Roles are starting to be defined a little bit and the rotation has come into play," Krabbenhoft said. "Guys are starting to figure out where they fit in and what their job is."
The starting guards have been D'Mitrik Trice, who didn't play Sunday after tweaking an ankle during Saturday's workout; and Brevin Pritzl, who injured his foot during Sunday's second half, but was cleared to return had the game been closer.
Khalil Iverson has been on a wing with Andy Van Vliet and Ethan Happ in the front court.
The 7-foot Van Vliet has piqued everyone's curiosity with his improvement.
"He has made huge strides, that's well-documented," Krabbenhoft said. "But he'd be the first one to say it, and I'll say it, too, he's got a long way to go.
"And that's a compliment to him because I think he can be that much better. He's that talented and he's got that much potential. I'm proud of him for coming this far."
King and Davison round out a seven-man rotation. Aleem Ford and Charles Thomas are getting opportunities to expand it to nine. And just about everyone else is in play to make it 10 deep.
"Everyone is still competing, still fighting," Krabbenhoft said with relish, "to see if they can get more minutes or prove to the coaches, "Hey, I belong in this spot. Or, hey, I'm coming for this spot.'"
Looking Ahead to South Carolina State
- Picked to finish seventh in 13-team Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
- Coming off 11-20 season, 7-9 in conference play.
- Ranked last in MEAC in scoring defense (80.2 ppg).
- Must replace a couple of 1,000-point career scorers (Eric Eaves and Edward Stephens).
- Leading returning scorer and rebounder Tashome Riley has been lost for season with injury.
- Guard Donte Wright had 21 points (5-of-8 triples) in 83-69 exhibition loss to Coastal Carolina.
- Head coach Murray Garvin, the 2016 MEAC Coach of Year, has 52-85 record.
- School enrollment: 2,529. Campus is in Orangeburg, South Carolina (37 miles from Columbia).
- South Carolina State offers nuclear engineering degree in partnership with UW and NC State.
- Two alums, Deacon Jones and Harry Carson, are in NFL Hall of Fame.
