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Dekker takes learning curve at full speed LUCAS AT LARGE MIKE LUCAS • UWBADGERS.COM going through. Sort of. Gasser didn't have the hype or build-up coming out of high school in Port Washington, Wis. Two years ago, though, he started 30 of 34 games as a true freshman. "Sam just needs to play his game and stay calm,'' said Gasser, who will be sidelined this season after undergoing knee surgery. "A lot is coming at you during your fresh- man year. "It's really easy to go out there and think too much instead of just going out there and playing. I defi- nitely think he's getting better with that, and keeping aggressive.'' Dekker is one of the most high- W profile basketball prospects in school history. "But he fits in great on the court,'' Gasser said, "and he fits in even better off the court, which is re- ally important. He's just a normal kid — like the rest of us. He fits that perfectly.'' There was a missed dunk, and a slam dunk with authority. There was a 3-point hit from the right corner, and an air ball from the left. There was the typical ebb and flow for someone who's getting on- the-job training. Dekker had seven points, six re- bounds, two assists, two steals and one block in 19 minutes. He also had three turnovers in Sunday's 74-56 win over Cornell at the Kohl Center. 16 » VARSITY NOVEMBER 22, 2012 isconsin junior Josh Gasser can relate to what freshman Sam Dekker is It's all part of the learning curve for Wisconsin's Mr. Basketball. "My confidence is a lot higher,'' he said. "I just want to give us a spark off the bench.'' Dekker is not treated any differ- ently than the fifth-year seniors, Ryan Evans and Jared Berggren. A turnover, a bad shot or a poor decision will generally get you a seat on the bench. "There's not as much leniency as there was in high school,'' observed Dekker, who led Sheboygan Lu- theran to its first-ever WIAA state championship as a senior. A quick hook is not a problem, though. His focus is always on get- ting better. "Those things will get fixed,'' Dekker said of the turnovers. "I've just got to let the game come to me. But I'm going to continue to be aggressive. This is part of my game that I've had forever.'' To his credit, Dekker already has a checklist of things that he wants to improve on. He started off by saying that he wants to "make smart plays and play good D'' along with "being a sound fundamental player'' while "learning how to fit within the sys- tem of Wisconsin basketball.'' "Every day is a grind,'' said Dekker, who played for his dad, Todd, in high school. "But you have to be mature about it, and go in with a clear mind.'' On the eve of the Florida game, the Badgers practiced at the O- Dome in Gainesville. During the scrimmaging, Dekker got fouled while going up for a shot, but no whistle came. It was pretty obvious that he got fouled, too. Dekker politely registered his surprise with an "Oh my goodness.'' That was it. Ryan was standing at mid-court and his expression never changed. But he did remind him that there was no whining in basketball. Speaking to the message, Dekker said, "You can't be soft, you can't play weak. They don't call those fouls in practice because they want you go hard and make those bas- kets in the game.'' The practices have exposed Dekker to a different level of physi- cality. "Going up against Ryan (Evans) and Mike (Bruesewitz), you can learn a lot because they're veter- ans,'' he said. "They expect a lot out of me even though I'm a freshman.'' Dekker has been making the transition with another first-year player, guard Zak Showalter. An- other coach's kid, Showalter played for his dad, Steve, at Germantown. "He's playing hard and playing well,'' Dekker said. "Having a good friend at your side, having someone to talk to, is a good thing to have.'' Dekker is not reluctant to hold himself accountable for his mis- takes. "My turnovers weren't very good plays (against Cornell),'' he said. "In Florida, I was pretty clean with the ball. Whenever I have a turnover, I'm always beating myself up. "I can't let that happen again.'' He's learning fast.