June 17, 2015

Josh Gasser

Gasser was the token gritty glue gumption guy for Wisconsin for four years, whereby his intangibles and hustle and effort and face and whatnot embodied the Wisconsin way and totally justified the fact that he had almost no production. That statement is simultaneously facetious yet indisputable; Gasser never seemed to do anything, but things rarely went as well when he wasn't in.

Gasser averaged as-near-as-is 6.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 33 minutes per game as a senior. In 4,774 career minutes for the Badgers, he totalled 1,025 points, 575 rebounds and 284 assists. As is evident, he didn't receive 4,774 minutes because he was productive. Rather, a large part of the reason was what he didn't do. With a better than a 2:1 career assist/turnover ratio, Gasser never did anything he couldn't do, shooting efficiently from downtown (40.2%) on low attempts, being judicious with every shot and dribble. He moved the ball on, fed the post and endlessly if completely unincisively swung the ball around the perimeter, which is exactly what he meant to do. Similarly, Gasser's main virtues came defensively where, despite being not fast, big or athletic, Gasser played tough as old boots and made himself a very good on-ball perimeter defender. A high IQ system player on both ends with great effort and anticipation, Gasser is leaving the place that was absolutely perfect for him.

The only players to have made the NBA with a comparable resume were Chris Kramer and Mario West, and while West stuck around for a few years in a ridiculously specialist role, Kramer never got out of camp. Gasser might not even get that far, as it will be tough if not impossible to look beyond the fact he really did only average 6/3 in 33 minutes. Kramer at least had athleticism. Nevertheless, Gasser can make some money in Europe, and having the NBA on your resume is quite the boost for that.

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March 17, 2011

[...] The Badgers turned it over only 7 times a game, a deliberate and welcome by-product of spending 30 seconds on every possession not dribbling the ball. The team's turnover leader is also its leading scorer and rebounder, 6'10 forward Jon Leuer, who puts up 18.9 points and 7.2 boards per game on 48% shooting, but only alongside a ghastly, hideous 1.5 turnovers per game. Despite that travesty, Leuer is a competent inside/outside offensive player; without much explosion or ever looking truly fluid, Leuer can drive the ball, makes jumpshots despite his ugly old release, can create on the low box, and is a constant mismatch as a 6'10 face-up scorer. Alongside him, 6'8 Keaton Nankivil does only two things - protect the rim and shoot three pointers - vitally important roles not readily replicated by the rest of the lineup. Behind him, little-used 6'10 project sophomore centre big Jared Berggren can put up a surprising number of points in limited minutes, although Bo Ryan just doesn't trust him defensively. Freshman Josh Gasser and sophomore Mike Bruesewitz are basically the same player; rugged, decently athletic, tough defenders, who rarely create and aren't particularly good shooters, designed to move the ball and capitalise on wide open opportunities to drive or shoot. The only difference are age, Bruesewitz's three inch height advantage, and hair cuts. (See above. You probably noticed it already, but see above anyway.) And Ryan Evans is similar to them, too; slightly more athletic, but less of a perimeter, Evans's role is to float around the mid-range area, defend the opposing wing, and rock a fabulous high top fade.

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