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Wisconsin Basketball: Ethan Happ’s Case for Big Ten Freshman of the Year

By Jim Oxley

Mar 2, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Wisconsin forward Ethan Happ (22) battles with Minnesota center Bakary Konat (21) for position as he dribbles the ball in the second half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Wisconsin forward Ethan Happ (22) battles with Minnesota center Bakary Konat (21) for position as he dribbles the ball in the second half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ethan Happ’s performance for the Wisconsin basketball team this season warrants Big Ten Freshman of the Year consideration

For a strong performance during his first season on the basketball court, Wisconsin Badgers redshirt freshman Ethan Happ deserves consideration for the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year Award. Here’s a look at what the young player did this year for the Wisconsin basketball team.

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Badgers fans have heard the story over and over this season about how Happ received advice from Frank Kaminsky to redshirt last year, and then spent the entire season playing against him and honing his skills. 

As much as we may be tired of repeatedly hearing that storyline on every single broadcast of a Wisconsin basketball game, there’s no doubt Happ’s exposure to Kaminsky paid major dividends.

Happ came into the season with major expectations, and for the most part has lived up to and exceeded them.

The redshirt freshman has started every game for the Badges this season, and averages the third-most minutes played on the team with 27.7 per game behind only Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig.

He’s the Badgers third-leading scorer, again behind Hayes and Koenig, at 11.9 points per game, and leads the team with 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He also leads the team with a 53.2 percent field goal percentage.

Happ has nine double-doubles on the season, and hit or broke the 20-point mark three times this season.

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On defense, Happ has a steal in all but four of the Badgers games this season, and has recorded at least one steal in every game since the Badgers loss to Oklahoma at the end of November 2015. Happ has 17 games with multiple steals and recorded a pair of four-steal outings and one six-steal game.

Happ has, of course, had his down games. He’s failed to record double-digit scoring in nine games this season. His worst game this season was a two-point, three-rebound, one-block, two-steal performance in the Badgers first game against Purdue this season, a game Wisconsin lost 61-55 at home. Happ gets another crack at the Boilermakers this weekend.

Around the conference, several freshmen stand out who are in contention for the award along with Happ.

Diamond Stone of Maryland averages 12.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game and shoots 56.1 percent from the field. Thomas Bryant of Indiana scores 11.7 points per game, adding 5.7 rebounds and shooting 70.1 percent from the field. Michigan State’s Deyonta Davis averages 7.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, shoots 60.1 percent from the field and is a defensive stud.

Caleb Swanigan of Purdue scores 9.9 points per game and averages 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 44.9 percent from the field. Rutgers’ Corey Sanders averages 16.2 points per game, adding 4.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 4.0 percent from the field. Minnesota’s Jordan Murphy scores at a pace of 11.9 points per game, adding 8.0 rebounds and shooting 50.0 percent from the field.

Plenty of freshman deserve consideration for the award this season.

What stands Happ apart from the rest is how important he has been for a Wisconsin team that completely turned around a disastrous season. Yes, Hayes has been the Badgers workhorse and the bench play has stepped up.

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But during this Wisconsin run of 11 wins in 12 games, teams have made plugging up the paint a priority, and have been doubling Happ immediately when he gets the ball in the paint. His ability to score and create on offense, force turnovers on defense and even give his best point guard impersonation gives him a unique skill set in the Big Ten.

Happ deserves to be the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year in 2016.

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