PENNEY ENJOYS PARADISE; THE JUNIOR LOVES HAWAII AND IS
GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH THE NEW OFFENSE.
Wisconsin State Journal
Nov 23, 2001
Kirk Penney wanted to know if the listener could hear the waterfall in the background.
About 5,000 miles separated the University of Wisconsin junior forward from his
school-year home in Madison, but the sounds of the sparkling water were as
clear as if they were falling at the Kohl Center.
"This is a luxury of life that few of us get to experience,"
Penney said this week by phone from the island of Hawaii, where the Badgers are
preparing for today's start of the Big Island Tournament in Hilo. "This is
unbelievable, mate."
The surroundings may be unbelievable but the purpose is very believable. The
Badgers, coming off a season-opening loss at Nevada- Las Vegas, face three
games in three days starting with tonight's opening-round matchup against the
host school, Division II Hawaii- Hilo (2-0).
Penney, a native of New Zealand, is soaking in this land of enchantment.
There was a snorkeling expedition on Wednesday. Then there is the scenery on an
island that features everything from live volcanoes to sandy beaches to
tropical rainforests.
"There is something about this place," Penney said. "You're
surrounded by palm trees. You have waterfalls. There are dolphins right next
door. It doesn't get much better than this."
So is there any time to concentrate on basketball?
"We'll be focused when that time comes around," he said.
Penney, UW's top returning scorer, is focused. As a top point producer with
two years of playing experience, Penney expects to carry the load on an
inexperienced team.
But this season is different. The motion offense UW used last season was
geared to Penney. But new coach Bo Ryan has installed the swing offense, a more
structured attack compared with the freelancing style of the motion offense.
Penney scored 15 points in the opener against UNLV, but he is still adjusting
to his offensive responsibilities.
"With the swing we are running now, there is a little more
structure," he explained. "There are different reads to be made.
There are more spots that you are going to. The previous offense was reading
screens, setting screens, getting rolls off those screens."
Penney admits that there are times that the UW offense looks stiff. He
believes that in time he and his teammates will loosen up and add some
creativity to the offensive mix.
"Once we learn what reads to make, I don't think it will be as
structured as it is now," Penney said. "Right now, it's learning the
ropes. It may look like the creativity isn't there, but it will be. We just
need to be more familiar with what we're exactly doing with the offense."
One area Penney has to become more familiar with is the low block, a
position he often finds himself in when the Badgers split the court in two with
three players on one side. Penney never did spend much time there in the motion
offense, which utilized his mid- to long- range jump shooting abilities.
"It's a far different feeling," he said of the low post. "I'm
trying to get a little comfort level there. It's a good place to be, though.
It's better than 25 feet out."
That's coming from a player who at times viewed a 25-footer as a layup.
"It doesn't bother me," he said. "A higher percentage chance is
always a little kinder."
The Badgers are expected to beat Hawaii-Hilo, something that is likely to be
an uncustomary position for the Badgers this season. Penney is ready for the
challenge.
"We'll go out there and play hard," Penney said. "That's
where it all starts. Anything beyond that, it will come."
