"I look at her as an upper- classman," Wurtz said. "She really knows what she's do- ing on the court. I saw her in a state tournament game last year and I said, 'This girl can hoop.' I was excited she was coming here.''
Wurtz admitted. "But I have to look at the future and what's best for the team, and what's best for me as well. "I felt really good out there (in the opener), and
it definitely gives you confidence. I wasn't tired or winded at all. Taking the time off, I was really worried about getting out of shape.'' At that, Wurtz acknowledged that this season is already shaping up better for the Badgers. She said that last season was a matter of "lean- ing how to persevere through challenges.'' That was Kelsey's first season at Wisconsin. "We bought into her system,'' Wurtz said, "and
with a year under our belt, we're just that much more confident. I feel we're so much further ahead. I feel really good about this season.'' Even with so many freshmen being asked to contribute?
"They don't have a choice,'' Wurtz said. So, what's the best advice that she would give
for lost time because of a back injury. "It's something that I will probably have to tol- erate for the rest of my life,'' she said. But she's feeling much better and it showed in the season opener. Wurtz had 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the 74-56 win over Milwaukee. When asked about her pain threshold, she said, "I love playing basketball.'' In other words, her own words, she will push the limits. "I'm the type of person who wants to go, go, go,''
them?
"Never get discouraged, never give up, learn from your mistakes,'' she said. Four freshmen played in the opener: Bauman,
Dakota Whyte, Tessa Cichy and Shannon Malone. "It's going to be an up and down,'' Wurtz said of
the normal first-year graph for freshmen. "That's the biggest challenge — being able to stay confi- dent in what they're bringing to the team.'' So far, so good; especially for Bauman. "Nicole is already making a difference,'' Wurtz
said. 45
GREG ANDERSON
