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/280435
40 // VARSITY March 20, 2014 thought, 'Oh, great, that's what I did at Air Force,'" Bohnanon said. "So I knew I had to get the scout team together." Bohannon had been called upon in each of the previous two seasons, including his redshirt year, to share his knowledge whenever the Badgers faced Northwestern's version of the system that was installed by former head coach Bill Carmody, who had replaced Carril at Princeton. Bohannon has always taken great pride with his role on the scout team. "The more that we know (as scout teamers), the more that it helps out our team," he pointed out. "And that's what we've kind of built with Dan (Fahey) and J.D. (Wise) and some of the older guys from last year with the Northwestern scout. The more that we can understand it (the Princ- eton offense), the more that we can grasp it, the better off our team can be." On the concepts of the Princeton offense, in short, Bohannon said, "They're trying to get lay- ups and 3-point shots. One through five on the floor has to be a decision-maker. They have to be smart, intelligent players. They wouldn't be at an American or Princeton if they weren't. They defi- nitely have to have a high basketball IQ and that's one of the things that we have to be prepared for." The Badgers will also have to deal with American's defensive prowess. The Eagles limited Boston Univer- sity to only 36 points in the Patriot League tournament championship game. They have allowed 56 or few- er points to their last six opponents. "If we can play defense like we have been all year," guard Jesse Reed told the Washington Post, "I think we might be able to give them a good game." Brennan should have a good un- derstanding of what it takes to com- pete on the NCAA stage. He made it twice to the tournament as a player at Princeton and twice more as an American assistant coach. In 2008, No. 2-seeded Tennessee had only a 53-51 lead with 5:45 remaining be- fore holding the Eagles to just one basket the rest of the way for a 72- 57 win in the first round. In 2009, the Eagles were also on the brink of a major upset of No. 3-seeded Villanova. American led by as many as 14 points in the second half be- fore the Wildcats responded with a late 19-2 run that allowed them to escape with an 80-67 vic- tory. "It wasn't that we took them lightly at all," Villanova coach Jay Wright said afterward. "But they were probably better prepared and executed better." That first round game in the East Region was staged in Philadelphia's Wachovia Center, one of the Wildcats' homes away from campus. Yet, de- spite what should have been a substantial "home court" advantage for 'Nova, the Eagles, a 17-point underdog, were not intimidated by the environ- ment. Rest assured that Brennan will remind his players of that little piece of history before com- ing to Milwaukee. "It's March," Wisconsin senior guard Ben Brust reminded everyone Sunday night on not taking anything for granted before speaking indirectly about American. "Teams didn't just get here by the luck of the draw. They got here with hard work over the whole year. Whoever you play is going to bring it ― it's not just going to be given to you ― you have to go out there and take it."