Redshirt senior forward Ryan Evans led the Red squad with 18 points in a 78-61 win over the White squad during Wisconsin’s inter-team scrimmage Sunday at the Kohl Center.
The most intriguing matchup was the point-guard battle between redshirt freshman George Marshall (Red) and sophomore Traevon Jackson (White). The two are the favorites to start in place of junior guard Josh Gasser, who is out for the season with a torn ACL.
Marshall scored 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting, including 4-for-5 from three-point range. He also had two assists and two turnovers, the second of which came on an attempted alley-oop pass to freshman forward Sam Dekker.
“I was just getting a feel back for the game playing with the lights on,” Marshall said. “I’ve always been a player who loves the pressure, loves the competition, loves playing under the lights.”
Jackson turned in Wisconsin’s best shooting performance, missing just once on eight attempts en route to 16 points. He tallied three assists and zero turnovers.
Redshirt junior forward Zach Bohannon was perhaps the breakout player Sunday, if there can be such a thing at a preseason scrimmage. The Marion, Iowa, native sat out last season for Wisconsin after transferring from Air Force, so Sunday was his first game action since last season’s scrimmage. Bohannon scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds, including four offensive. He also had three steals.
“He’s a digger,” head coach Bo Ryan said. “If you get lazy with a rebound, it’s gone around him.”
Bohannon said his performance Sunday is the type of game he hopes to contribute this season, acknowledging his offensive role will be limited.
“[Scrappiness] is the one thing that I hope I can bring with coach Ryan when he gives me the opportunity to play,” Bohannon said. “If I want to get some points I gotta make sure I get on the offensive glass.”
Sophomore forward Frank Kaminsky scored a game-high 20 points for the White squad. He also grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots.
Junior guard Ben Brust (White) added 13 points, using more of a penetration and mid-range approach than might have been expected from the three-point specialist. Ten of Brust’s 14 shot attempts came inside the arc.
Dekker missed his first three shots but bounced back, finishing with 10 points on 4-for-11 shooting.
The Red squad comprised sophomore guard Jordan Smith, Marshall, redshirt senior forward Ryan Evans, Dekker and freshman guard Showalter, Bohannon and redshirt senior center Jared Berggren.
Brust, senior guard Dan Fahey, Jackson, junior forward Dukan, senior guard J.D. Wise, redshirt sophomore center Evan Anderson and Kaminsky made up the White squad.
