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Presser Bullets: Wisconsin “As Good And As Deep” As Chris Holtmann Has Seen It Be, Felix Okpara Feels Added Size Has Helped With Rebounding
Chris Holtmann said this year's Wisconsin team is “as deep and as talented” as he's seen from the Badgers and that Roddy Gayle Jr.'s decision-making and ball skills need to improve.
PRESSER BULLETS: WISCONSIN “AS GOOD AND AS DEEP” AS CHRIS HOLTMANN HAS SEEN IT BE, FELIX OKPARA FEELS ADDED SIZE HAS HELPED WITH REBOUNDING
- A variety of players will guard star Wisconsin small forward AJ Storr, Holtmann said.
- Roddy Gayle Jr. needs to take a step in managing the offense when the ball is in his hands, Holtmann said. "It's decision-making combined with his ball skills growing and getting better. ... He's gotta make some corrections in terms of simplifying his attack, reading situations better."
- More on Gayle: "He needs to be more consistent. ... We need that from Roddy, we need to that to experience the kind of growth that he wants to experience."
- On Felix Okpara and whether his effort stood out where Ohio State's defense might have fallen short as a whole against Indiana: "He's got real gifts and we're different defensively when he's on the floor. ... It's gotta be a team effort, and I think we were good at times but not good enough. But at the end of the day, it was really turnovers that got us in that game."
- Gayle's also had difficulties now that teams have more film on him, Holtmann said. "His minutes weren't as consistent until the end of the year (last year). ... Now that's changed. Now there's more film on you, there's more tendencies. That's changed, so he needs to adjust."
- On Wisconsin: "I think it's probably as deep and as talented of a Wisconsin team as we've seen. ... They have a number of guys. The addition of a couple of freshmen has helped them."
- On Badger forward Tyler Wahl: "Really tough, tremendous motor and really smart."
- Wisconsin can be a threat from the perimeter, though Holtmann sees their attack as balanced overall. "We just need to have great awareness, they have a number of guys that can make shots."
- With Gayle and star point guard Bruce Thornton combining to shoot 7-of-34 against Indiana, Holtmann wanted to see other players step up. "We really needed to be a little better collectively across the board when two of your top players aren't shooting well and one is struggling."
- Devin Royal has missed time with an illness, but Holtmann said that he's recovering well and that it "thankfully" hasn't spread to other players yet.
