Brust on ESPN College Basketball page

WestCoastHawk

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Colgate Raiders vs. Wisconsin Badgers - Recap - November 16, 2011 - ESPN

"Ben Brust drains 4 of Wisconsin's 10 3-pointers in win over Colgate"

Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. -- Two games into the season, Wisconsin (No. 13 ESPN/USA Today, No. 14 AP) appears to have weathered a few significant personnel losses from a team which reached the NCAA round of 16. The Badgers have made some notable gains, as well.

Sophomore reserve guard Ben Brust scored a career-high 17 points to lead Wisconsin to a 68-41 win over Colgate on Wednesday night.
"We've got some different pieces from last year, especially with Ben shooting the ball from outside," preseason All-America point guard Jordan Taylor said. "I don't know if we had that last year."
Brust scored 13 points in the first half, including four 3-pointers. The Badgers (2-0) were 8 of 14 from beyond the arc as they built a 42-20 halftime lead.
It was the second straight game in double figures for Brust, who scored a total of 10 points in 15 games as a freshman.
"I learned a lot from the scout team and the limited minutes I had last year," Brust said. "I'm just trying to take advantage of what's coming to me."
He hit his second 3-pointer from 25 feet out in front of the Colgate bench, prompting Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan to joke that Brust's range is "probably halfcourt." He nailed his fourth on a pull-up from the top of the key when no Raiders defender met him as he brought the ball up, giving the Badgers a 32-14 lead.
"I just smiled and was like 'Thank you,' " said Brust, who finished 6 of 11 from the floor and made half of his 8 3-point attempts. "I mean, to get that open, I was like, 'Well, I'm going to shoot it.' "
No other player scored in double figures for Wisconsin, which finished the game 10 of 23 from 3-point range. The Badgers hit 15 3s in their season-opening win over Kennesaw State on Saturday.
Taylor was 3 of 4 from long range and Jared Berggren added another trey in the first half for the Badgers, who also outscored the Raiders 16-4 in the paint before the break.
"I don't think there was one 3 in there that wasn't a good 3," Ryan said. "If that's what the defense is giving us, we'll take it."
Unlike Wisconsin's 85-31 victory in its opener, the win Wednesday night was not without warts. The Badgers cooled off in the second half, scoring just two points in the first 8 minutes, but their lead never fell below 18 as Colgate (1-1) shot 34.8 percent from the floor for the game.
"Their defense is good," said first-year Raiders coach Matt Langel, whose team was led by John Brandenburg's 11 points. "Taylor's exceptional; he's a special defensive player. And the other guys, you know, they do their jobs."
Colgate could only muster six points during the Badgers' cold spell, which ended when the Raiders were called for goaltending on Rob Wilson's putback attempt with 11:40 left. Wisconsin shot just 36.7 percent in the second half, and made only two of 10 free throw attempts.
"We were in a position to be able to cover up for mistakes," Ryan said. "You don't always get that opportunity."

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press



Would have been nice to have a clutch shooter like this.
 
I still trust Fran's judgement. I definitely liked what I saw from Brust, but he was a much better fit in Lick's system, which is why I think he'll have quite a bit of success for Ryan up at Wisconsin. But I don't think that would necessarily translate to Fran's system.

I think we'll all look back and see that his moving up north was the best for everyone involved.
 
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Separated at birth
 
Trying to make an argument regarding Fran's competency based on players who decided to sign elsewhere is silly.
 
I still trust Fran's judgement. I definitely liked what I saw from Brust, but he was a much better fit in Lick's system, which is why I think he'll have quite a bit of success for Ryan up at Wisconsin. But I don't think that would necessarily translate to Fran's system.

I think we'll all look back and see that his moving up north was the best for everyone involved.
It wasn't bad judgement by Fran. Coach McCaffery came in and spent a lot of time trying to get Brust to re-commit to Iowa. Somethings happened (won't go into details). It's over, good luck to Ben in Madison.

But it's not like Fran didn't at least try to get him to come to Iowa, he did. In the end, I think Fran probably would have rather spent his energy and time elsewhere besides trying to re-secure Brust, Fuller, and Larson.

Oh well, crap happens.
 
I still trust Fran's judgement. I definitely liked what I saw from Brust, but he was a much better fit in Lick's system, which is why I think he'll have quite a bit of success for Ryan up at Wisconsin. But I don't think that would necessarily translate to Fran's system.

I think we'll all look back and see that his moving up north was the best for everyone involved.

I agree with your assesment. I would just change that I think Brust could be successfull in most systems, but his skills will translate best to Ryan's system.
 
It wasn't bad judgement by Fran. Coach McCaffery came in and spent a lot of time trying to get Brust to re-commit to Iowa. Somethings happened (won't go into details). It's over, good luck to Ben in Madison.

But it's not like Fran didn't at least try to get him to come to Iowa, he did. In the end, I think Fran probably would have rather spent his energy and time elsewhere besides trying to re-secure Brust, Fuller, and Larson.

Oh well, crap happens.

You don't need to go into details, Fran basically did last week.

Something along the lines of Ben acted like a spoiled brat and wanted Fran to come in and lavish him and show him how badly he wanted him by spending a lot of time right after he was fired on Ben.

Fran is very forthcoming in interviews and the gist I get is:

1) You're not that special, especially yet.
2) Don't get on my bad side.
 
You don't need to go into details, Fran basically did last week.

Something along the lines of Ben acted like a spoiled brat and wanted Fran to come in and lavish him and show him how badly he wanted him by spending a lot of time right after he was fired on Ben.

Fran is very forthcoming in interviews and the gist I get is:

1) You're not that special, especially yet.
2) Don't get on my bad side.

There was much more than that in regards to the NCAA, Wisconsin, other schools, Iowa, the family, etc...

Not a big deal, it's over.
 
FRAN McCAFFERY: The hardest thing when you take over a program today, me or anybody else, it's open season -- I've said this before. It's open season on the players that are on your team. Everybody starts recruiting the players that are here and the players that you signed. It's not legal, it's not ethical, but that's what happens. So you end up spinning your wheels. You have to re-recruit the players that are here and then you have to re-recruit the players that somebody else signed. I never saw Cody Larson play, and I find myself having to re-recruit the guy, and he's got to decide if he likes me. Same thing with Ben Brust, same thing with Devyn Marble. It became evident early on that the two guys -- this is no disrespect to the guys that didn't come, but it was obvious that two guys were a better fit here and a better fit for me, no disrespect to those guys at all. But we got the two guys that were going to help us.
 
I know what Fran said, I watched it.

I'm just stating there were a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff going on.

Brust and Iowa parted ways, it's over.
 
FRAN McCAFFERY: The hardest thing when you take over a program today, me or anybody else, it's open season -- I've said this before. It's open season on the players that are on your team. Everybody starts recruiting the players that are here and the players that you signed. It's not legal, it's not ethical, but that's what happens. So you end up spinning your wheels. You have to re-recruit the players that are here and then you have to re-recruit the players that somebody else signed. I never saw Cody Larson play, and I find myself having to re-recruit the guy, and he's got to decide if he likes me. Same thing with Ben Brust, same thing with Devyn Marble. It became evident early on that the two guys -- this is no disrespect to the guys that didn't come, but it was obvious that two guys were a better fit here and a better fit for me, no disrespect to those guys at all. But we got the two guys that were going to help us.
Interesting comments from Fran, considering he pilfered Basabe from Siena.
 
Interesting comments from Fran, considering he pilfered Basabe from Siena.

Basabe was Fran's recruit. It's not like he poached someone else's recruits in wake of a coaching change. It's not like Ryan coming in for Brust.
 
Why does everybody still care about this kid? I know he's local, but I think it's time to let go. I know after Jason Bohannon (sp?) and all, but let's get behind what Fran's got going on now. If Bo Ryan wants to raid our state for talent, then he'll have to compete with Fran from here out, but I think the re-recruitment thing was just something Fran didn't want to do.
("Either you're with us or not. I've had the chance to talk with you and now you know what I bring to the table as a coach and how you'd fit in. I'm not sure how you want me to win you over more. I have a lot of work to do to re-build this program, so if you'll let me be on my way to see other recruits, have a nice day")
I imagine Fran putting it this way.
 
Sort of like the Iowa staff and Michigan State in football... there's not a lot of love lost between Bo Ryan and Fran McCaffery.

Speaking of the Cathartes aura of Madison, he's pictured in the December issue of Referee that arrived yesterday. In a mirthful year-end section of the best and worst of sports officiating, the editors have this text box:

Please Just Shut Up ...
  • Fox Sports baseball commentator Tim McCarver
  • ESPN NBA commentator Jeff Van Gundy
  • Tennis star Serena Williams
  • CBS football commentators Dan Fouts and Gary Danielson
  • NFL Network color analyst Joe Theismann
  • 92 percent of the D-I men's basketball coaches (including Bo Ryan, Wisconsin)

The box includes an image with a slightly different angle of this:

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Nice to see he gets the recognition he so richly deserves.
 
Basabe was Fran's recruit. It's not like he poached someone else's recruits in wake of a coaching change. It's not like Ryan coming in for Brust.
I understand that. My post was really worded poorly. I wasn't equating it to the Brust situation. Fran calling that situation unethical seemed odd to me when he did poach a player that was committed to another team. His words rang hollow to me.
 
Why does everybody still care about this kid? I know he's local, but I think it's time to let go. I know after Jason Bohannon (sp?) and all, but let's get behind what Fran's got going on now. If Bo Ryan wants to raid our state for talent, then he'll have to compete with Fran from here out, but I think the re-recruitment thing was just something Fran didn't want to do.
("Either you're with us or not. I've had the chance to talk with you and now you know what I bring to the table as a coach and how you'd fit in. I'm not sure how you want me to win you over more. I have a lot of work to do to re-build this program, so if you'll let me be on my way to see other recruits, have a nice day")
I imagine Fran putting it this way.

He's not local.
 
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