DAVID STLUKA
grows, her game will grow. I'm looking forward to
watching her throughout her career.''
As far as her game, Ryan said, "My sister has a
motor, an incredible motor. She's probably got the
best work ethic overall in our family as far as the
pedal to the medal goes.''
The fact that Lauren Evans shot 71 percent from
the free throw line (17-of-24) this past season might
suggest that she would be the ideal person to pass
along a few pointers to her brother.
"No, we don't really talk about field goal percentages or anything like that,'' said Ryan, who has endured a season-long slump from the stripe. Overall,
he's shooting 43 percent.
"When we talk, we talk about success in general.
We're doing whatever we need to do to go out there
(the court) and help win the game; we're not talking about percentages in particular.''
Ryan and Lauren Evans got to talk during the Big
Ten tournament last weekend. They were joined
in Chicago by their parents: Greg, a retired State
Farm agent, and Roxane, a nurse.
Team Evans numbered 11 at the United Center.
"They travel well,'' Ryan said. "The supporting cast
has been incredible for me. I've been really blessed
when it comes to that.''
Also in Chicago was his uncle, Dave Evans, a
two-time All-American in wrestling at Wisconsin.
In 1979, he was third at the NCAA championships
at 158. Mind you, he had a tough act to follow in
that weight class.
Evans took over for a Hall of Famer: Lee Kemp, a
three-time NCAA and world champion.
In 1980, Evans moved up to 167 pounds and
was one of three Badgers wrestlers to win Big Ten
championships. The others were Andy Rein and
Mitch Hull.
Dave Evans has encouraged his nephew to take
advantage of the moment. "When you're on the
biggest stage,'' Ryan echoed, "go out there and enjoy every part of it.''
Greg Evans has a similar philosophy on life and
sports and balancing the disciplines. He, too, was
a college wrestler; a letterwinner in the mid-'80s at
Minnesota.
"He has given me a lot of confidence throughout
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