Zak Showalter takes a Northwestern defender off the dribble. Jim Oxley photo
Starting Shooting Guard
Zak Showalter: 6-2, 185-pound junior from Germantown, Wisconsin
Career averages: 1.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, .5 assists, .2 turnovers in 7.2 minutes per game.
2014-15 averages: 2.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, .5 assists, .1 turnovers in 7.6 minutes per game.
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To this point in his career, Zak Showalter has been a high-energy bench player, used when Bo Ryan needs a spark off of the bench. Showalter has provided that spark in the form of tip-slam dunks, big steals, and the occasional steal-and-score combo he displayed in a Sweet Sixteen victory over North Carolina last year.
Showalter has played in 57 games in his career, but has just 265 minutes of action under his belt. Despite being the most seasoned guard behind Bronson Koenig, his experience is slim.
Still, in limited time on the court, we’ve seen that Showalter can be an impact player. He made the most of those minutes he got last year, and his player efficiency rating proved it. Showalter trailed only Kaminsky, Dekker and Hayes in PER last year for the Badgers.
The best part of Showalter’s game is that he’s fearless. He’s not afraid to challenge a 7-footer at the rim and he doesn’t back down from a post-up from a bigger guard. You;ll never see Showalter give anything less than 100 percent.
The Badgers will be looking for Showalter to develop into a more consistent player this season, and given starting minutes early in the season, he should fit nicely alongside Koenig as the Badgers starting shooting guard.
Next: Key Backups