Varsity - The Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics

Varsity - November 7, 2013

Varsity is the free Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics, covering Badgers football, basketball, hockey and more each week.

Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/207069

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 15 of 64

W LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS // UWBADGERS.COM Dukan looks to contribute any way he can 16 isconsin's Duje Dukan had a solid answer for a tough question made all the more difficult because he didn't play last season and this year has yet to start in earnest, or South Dakota. When Dukan, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound redshirt junior from Deerfield, Ill., was quizzed on what role he might play, he said, "I think it's still in the figuring-out process ― figuring out what it's going to be." He was just being honest; the type of answer that you would expect to get from Dukan, who has appeared in only 21 career games; none last year after coming down with mononucleosis in August. "I'm just trying to find a way that I can contribute any way possible," he said, "whether it's playing the 3 or whether it's playing the 4 and providing some versatility at both positions." With an additional 15 pounds of muscle on his frame, he feels more comfortable "mixing it up a little bit" as a stretch-4 while also functioning as a "bigger-sized mismatch" at small forward. At either spot on the floor, he feels like his experience can be a factor. "That might sound weird to say that," confided Dukan, 21, whose lack of playing experience has already been documented. "But taking that redshirt year," he said, "there were a lot of things that I learned about myself ― not only about the team ― that I can definitely contribute with my game. "In terms of my post-up game, I've learned to be more patient. I'm // VARSITY November 7, 2013 a lot more confident going to the block or just shooting the ball. Defensively, I feel like I'm better than I was a year ago." Once he regained his strength after his bout with mono, Dukan spent last season working on the scout team in practices and he came back this year "knowing I have to take my game to the next level." Accepting that there are going to be some nights where the shots are not going down, and some nights where there aren't going to be any shots, he said, "You just have to find a way to contribute." That might entail grabbing some rebounds on the offensive and defensive glass or locking down the man that you're guarding. "Basically," he said, "it's whatever I can do to help the team." Redshirting last season made that all the more clear for Dukan from the standpoint of "just being able to watch the game from a different perspective" while he was inactive as a player. He would also like to believe that he's better equipped physically to handle some things. It hasn't hurt that a long-time family friend, Erik Helland, has taken over as UW's strength coach. Helland has been with the Chicago Bulls for the last 25 years. Dukan's father, Ivica, is the Director of International Scouting for the Bulls. "I've known Erik since I was 2 or 3," Duje said. Another link between Helland and the Dukans has been former Chicago Bulls player Toni Kukoc, a Croatia native. Duje was born in Split and he and his family return to Croatia every summer. Even though he was raised in the United States, Dukan encountered a level of hazing, if not bullying. "You'd get called a foreigner," he said, "or they'd tell you, 'Go back to your country.'" Limited or not, it was still impactful. "As time went on," he said, "sports were something that helped in breaking down barriers because you interacted with kids and developed friendships." Dukan was among the UW players who recently went to a local elementary school and shared their experiences as a part of an antibullying campaign to bring greater awareness to the problem. It was timely given the Miami Dolphins controversy arising between two offensive linemen, Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin. Sam Dekker brought it to the attention of his UW teammates. "There's really no point in it," Dukan said. "You might think you're going to bring yourself up by bringing someone else down, but you're making it worse for yourself and everybody around you." In a basketball context, Dukan is hoping to bring his game up knowing that it will help this team grow up, starting with Friday's season opener against St. John's in Sioux Falls, S.D. "Can't wait, can't wait, it's going to be a lot of fun," said Dukan, who last played in the 2012 NCAA tournament. It has been a long wait, even if he still has some figuring out to do on his role.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Varsity - The Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics - Varsity - November 7, 2013