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Personifying the team-first mentality, he said, "I'm
just out there contributing any way I can. If it's scoring,
it's scoring. If it's playing defense, it's playing defense. I
don't really care about the individual stats or anything
like that. I'm going to do whatever I can to help us win."
That can manifest itself in many areas, not the least
of which is at the free throw line. Gasser has the second-most attempts on the team. "Getting to the line is
something I try to do," he said, "because it can really
help out your team; it's easy points, it gets the other
team in foul trouble."
As one of five UW players averaging 10 or more
points, Gasser said, "When we really move the ball,
when we really share it, when we're executing our cuts
and screens, we're pretty hard to guard. We just have
so many weapons, so many shooters, inside and outside."
Gasser is a wild card on defense because he can
guard four of the five positions on the floor. Offensively, he said, "I've gotten better moving without the ball
and setting screens. Watching a guy like Ben (Brust)
last year, he's such a good cutter, and I've learned from
him."
Part of his ongoing education this season has been
to wearing a knee brace.
"There's both good and bad," Gasser said. "I hate
wearing it just because it's uncomfortable. It's there
and I'm always playing with it during games. It's just a
habit. When I'm shooting around in practice or I'm on
my own, I have it off and it feels really good to have off.
"But I know in a game, I'd be a little more nervous to
try driving the lane without it. There's security knowing that it's there. I feel a little more comfortable with
it on even though it may be a little cumbersome. In the
back of my mind, it helps to have it on. There's comfort
there."
Not unlike the comfort level of having a rehab partner in Wurtz last season.
"It seems," Gasser said, "like it's working out pretty
decently for both us so far."
//
VARSITY December 5, 2013
DAVID STLUKA
"I'M JUST OUT THERE CONTRIBUTING ANY
WAY I CAN," GASSER SAID. "IF IT'S SCORING,
IT'S SCORING. IF IT'S PLAYING DEFENSE,
IT'S PLAYING DEFENSE ... I'M GOING TO DO
WHATEVER I CAN TO HELP US WIN."
