DAVID STLUKA
DAVID STLUKA
DAVID STLUKA
"You can't ask for a better start to the
season in terms of competition," Close said,
"and finding out what your team has got
and what it has to work on."
time, and he came through for us again."
Jackson, per usual, was reluctant to make a big
deal out of one shot, however clutch or timely. "I
feel like if I can follow through on any shot," he said,
"it's going in. I felt that was a good shot."
He also felt he could have played better.
"On my part, I've got to take better care of the
ball," he said. "I'll go back and look at the film. As an
overall performance as a point guard, I can't have a
4-to-5 game. I'll get better at it."
He was making reference to his four assists and
five turnovers. But the stat line ― which also included 13 points and seven rebounds ― doesn't
take into account the three Florida turnovers that
he forced with his hustle and solid defensive positioning.
"That's what I'm supposed to do," he said.
What he's unwilling to do is dwell on the negative.
"This is the time now to get that out of your system, get it out, don't harp on it," he said. "I've learned
over the years by harping on things that are negative, you're not helping yourself."
But you can help yourself by playing quality opponents like St. John's and Florida. "We have to
learn from it, whether it was good or bad," Jackson
said, "and tonight it happened to be good."
Saturday night will offer another challenge. After
a neutral site win over the Red Storm and a home
court win over the Gators, the Badgers will now be
tested by a true road game at Green Bay.
The Phoenix returns four starters, including Alec
Brown, the top center in the Horizon League.
"You can't ask for a better start to the season in
terms of competition," Close said, "and finding out
what your team has got and what it has to work on."
Wisconsin's non-conference schedule is among
the most challenging in college basketball.
"Hopefully," Gard said, "we can grow through it
and come out alive."
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