38
frontcourt for the Badgers.
that could be Sam and Frank. I'm more of that little
"Frank is 7-foot," he said. "When he goes inside
cloud in the sky in the background. When I get in, I
that creates problems, but it also creates problems
just try to contribute and help the team as much as
when he steps out. Most big guys don't want to guard
I can."
that far away from the rim and Frank is usually wide
Duje Dukan, a 6-foot-9 redshirt junior from Deeropen for his 3s and he has been knocking them down.
field, Ill., has assumed the same mindset. That is, to
"Sam usually has a taller
help when and where needed.
guy on him, as well, and he can
"Duje has filled his role," Gard
"That's the one thing about this
take them off the dribble or if
said, "and has gained configroup," Gard said. "They don't rattle dence and he has started to be
they play him with a smaller
guy, he can go down low and
easily. They're very poised and that more aggressive offensively
Frank can switch to play a
and he has gotten better dehas a lot to do with the experience fensively."
high-low game."
Hayes' emergence, particuThe only senior in the rotain the backcourt. Anytime you have
larly his ability to draw fouls,
tion is Brust, whose developgood guards, you always have a
has brought another dimenment over the past few seachance to be very good."
sion to the lineup in his role as
sons from Sixth Man to Top
a complementary piece to KaGun has been noteworthy. "Beminsky. "You have Thunder and Lightning with Frank
fore, "Paris said, "there were times when you hoped
and Nigel," Gard suggested. "They complement each
he got hot. It was like, 'I hope Ben is Ben today. Now,
other because they're different in how they play."
he's more consistent, a more reliable weapon."
When informed of Gard's metaphor, Hayes smiled
The 6-1 Brust is also the third-leading rebounder
and said, "I don't know if I'm Lightning or Thunder;
behind Dekker and Kaminsky.
//
VARSITY January 9, 2014
