Dean Oliver didn't waste any time getting to work.
"I've watched a ton of film already on D'Mitrik Trice," he said Thursday.
After studying the Wisconsin freshman point guard and breaking down his game, taking note of his quickness and ball-handling skills, Oliver had a flashback to a former Big Ten point guard.
"He reminds me," Oliver said, "a lot of myself."
Trice should be flattered since Oliver was one of the conference's most efficient scorers (1,561 points) and distributors (561 assists) during his playing days at the University of Iowa. A starter in 124 of 126 games, he was dangerous off the bounce and a tenacious defender who had 205 career steals.
Physically, there are some noticeable similarities between the 6-foot, 178-pound Trice and the 5-11, 180-pound Oliver who has been named to Greg Gard's coaching staff replacing Lamont Paris, now the head coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga.
"I'm really looking forward to developing his game," Oliver said of Trice, "and working with him because he has so many tools. He seems like a great kid who thinks the game as he's playing and really wants to get better. He's about the same size and build as me and as quick as all get-out."
Photo: Wisconsin Badgers
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