Post by dylanrocks on Feb 13, 2007 22:46:23 GMT -6
Former walk-on proves his worth
Hansen among seniors to be honored by UWM
By BOBBI ROQUEMORE
broquemore@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Feb. 13, 2007
10:46 p.m.
UW-Milwaukee forward Nick Hansen doesn't shy away from hard work. If anything, he embraces it.
Take, for instance, how Hansen spent the summer before his senior season.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Hansen moved furniture for anywhere from five to 10 hours per day at the Appleton location of Schroeder Moving Systems, which is managed by his father, Russ Hansen.
After doing that, Nick Hansen would head to a high school gym for a few more hours to upgrade his basketball skills, and to keep alive his dream of earning a scholarship for the final year of school.
"I told my wife, 'I just don't believe what he's putting his body through,'" Russ Hansen said.
Hansen got everything he wanted and more from the experience. He became a scholarship player this season after three years as a walk-on, and his enhanced skills and physique have allowed him to become an important contributor to UWM this season.
"He's a warrior," junior guard Avery Smith said. "He goes hard every day in practice, he hustles all day, every day, 24-7. We need that kind of guy on the team.
"He's been helping us. In key runs in the game he's been getting the key three-pointer. He's strong, he can rebound and there's so many things he can do."
Being a scholarship player this season is an honor, Hansen said, but in no way does it change what he contributes and his dedication to getting it done.
"I just try to go out there and do the same things I've been doing: working hard and doing the little things for the team," Hansen said.
His statistics, at a glance, are modest at an average of 1.3 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.0 minutes per game.
Yet his impact, for those who follow the Panthers, is obvious.
Moving that heavy furniture last summer built up his physical strength, so he doesn't get bulldozed in the post on defense. Yet opponents have to respect his outside shot and, if not, he'll make them pay.
"At a '4,' foot speed-wise, he's better able to handle '4s' because he's strong enough, and he causes mismatch problems on the offensive end because he can shoot," Panthers coach Rob Jeter said, referring to the power forward position. "We try to catch teams in that in-between where they're not sure if they should guard Nick, and he can get some open shots."
He was invited to be a walk-on in 2003 by former Panthers coach Bruce Pearl, although he knew his chances of earning a scholarship later were a long shot at best. A majority of UWM's scholarships were tied up until 2006-'07, but Hansen kept pursuing his goal, his father said.
"Nick's one of those kind of guys that if you tell him it can't be done, he'll prove you wrong," Russ Hansen said. "When he puts his mind to something, he'll go after it and keep going after it until he gets it."
Now considered an elder statesman, Hansen has wielded his influence wisely in hopes of teaching others the benefit of hard work.
"We have a lot of young guys, so I've tried to keep up with them and teach them the way that the juniors and seniors like James Wright and Kalombo Kadima taught me when I was a freshman," Hansen said. "I've tried to pattern what they did for me, especially for the younger guys, academically and on the court as well."
Hansen and UWM's other senior, forward Kevin Massiah, will be honored tonight as the Panthers play host to Loyola (17-9, 8-5) at 7 tonight at the U.S. Cellular Arena. Hansen and Massiah will be playing their final regular-season home games in Panthers uniforms.
Hansen among seniors to be honored by UWM
By BOBBI ROQUEMORE
broquemore@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Feb. 13, 2007
10:46 p.m.
UW-Milwaukee forward Nick Hansen doesn't shy away from hard work. If anything, he embraces it.
Take, for instance, how Hansen spent the summer before his senior season.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Hansen moved furniture for anywhere from five to 10 hours per day at the Appleton location of Schroeder Moving Systems, which is managed by his father, Russ Hansen.
After doing that, Nick Hansen would head to a high school gym for a few more hours to upgrade his basketball skills, and to keep alive his dream of earning a scholarship for the final year of school.
"I told my wife, 'I just don't believe what he's putting his body through,'" Russ Hansen said.
Hansen got everything he wanted and more from the experience. He became a scholarship player this season after three years as a walk-on, and his enhanced skills and physique have allowed him to become an important contributor to UWM this season.
"He's a warrior," junior guard Avery Smith said. "He goes hard every day in practice, he hustles all day, every day, 24-7. We need that kind of guy on the team.
"He's been helping us. In key runs in the game he's been getting the key three-pointer. He's strong, he can rebound and there's so many things he can do."
Being a scholarship player this season is an honor, Hansen said, but in no way does it change what he contributes and his dedication to getting it done.
"I just try to go out there and do the same things I've been doing: working hard and doing the little things for the team," Hansen said.
His statistics, at a glance, are modest at an average of 1.3 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.0 minutes per game.
Yet his impact, for those who follow the Panthers, is obvious.
Moving that heavy furniture last summer built up his physical strength, so he doesn't get bulldozed in the post on defense. Yet opponents have to respect his outside shot and, if not, he'll make them pay.
"At a '4,' foot speed-wise, he's better able to handle '4s' because he's strong enough, and he causes mismatch problems on the offensive end because he can shoot," Panthers coach Rob Jeter said, referring to the power forward position. "We try to catch teams in that in-between where they're not sure if they should guard Nick, and he can get some open shots."
He was invited to be a walk-on in 2003 by former Panthers coach Bruce Pearl, although he knew his chances of earning a scholarship later were a long shot at best. A majority of UWM's scholarships were tied up until 2006-'07, but Hansen kept pursuing his goal, his father said.
"Nick's one of those kind of guys that if you tell him it can't be done, he'll prove you wrong," Russ Hansen said. "When he puts his mind to something, he'll go after it and keep going after it until he gets it."
Now considered an elder statesman, Hansen has wielded his influence wisely in hopes of teaching others the benefit of hard work.
"We have a lot of young guys, so I've tried to keep up with them and teach them the way that the juniors and seniors like James Wright and Kalombo Kadima taught me when I was a freshman," Hansen said. "I've tried to pattern what they did for me, especially for the younger guys, academically and on the court as well."
Hansen and UWM's other senior, forward Kevin Massiah, will be honored tonight as the Panthers play host to Loyola (17-9, 8-5) at 7 tonight at the U.S. Cellular Arena. Hansen and Massiah will be playing their final regular-season home games in Panthers uniforms.
