Taylor regaining top form in Big Ten play

MADISON, Wis. If anything inherently different exists about the way in which Wisconsin point guard Jordan Taylor has played lately, Bo Ryan doesn't detect it. Ryan, the Badgers' 11th-year coach, still sees a senior leader trying to involve teammates in the offense. He still sees a feisty individual unafraid to take the big shot in key moments. But Ryan admits the difference this season may be entirely intangible: Taylor's comfort level with a new set of teammates. "Point guard play is affected tremendously, or more so than what people maybe realize, by the other players around them," Ryan said during the Big Ten coaches teleconference on Monday. "In all fairness, Jordan is playing with, especially in the front line, guys who logged less minutes than probably any front line in the Big Ten. You have to give Jordan credit for helping to bring these guys along and to include them in the mix." Taylor, a 6-foot-1 Bloomington, Minn., native, began the 2011-12 campaign as a preseason AP All-American selection based largely on his stellar junior season. While playing alongside Jon Leuer, Keaton Nankivil and Tim Jarmusz each of whom have since graduated Taylor averaged 18.1 points per game and led the nation with a 3.43 assist-to-turnover ratio. Many pundits anticipated an equally dominant senior season from Taylor despite the fact that no other returning player averaged more than six points per game a year ago. This year's starting front line of Ryan Evans and Jared Berggren combined to average 18.5 minutes last season and had started a total of one game in their Wisconsin careers. Not surprisingly, matching the output from last season proved a difficult challenge for Taylor in Wisconsin's swing offense, which lends itself to less one-on-one play and relies on the movement and cuts of teammates. During 13 non-conference games, he averaged 12.2 points, 3.9 assists per game and shot just 38.4 percent from the field. But something clearly has changed within Taylor since Big Ten games began last month. And the most likely answer anyone can surmise is the increased game experience with a group that includes guards Josh Gasser, Rob Wilson and Ben Brust, as well as big men Evans, Berggren, Mike Bruesewitz and Frank Kaminsky. All told, that group averaged 18 points per game last season, and Kaminsky was still in high school. During Big Ten play, Taylor appears more comfortable in the offensive flow and is averaging 17.1 points, 4.6 assists and shooting 41.2 percent (40 for 97) from the field. In two victories last week against Northwestern and then-No. 22 Illinois, Taylor averaged 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists. For his efforts, he was named the Big Ten's Player of the Week. The last Wisconsin player to earn the honor? Jordan Taylor on Feb. 11, 2011 smack in the middle of Big Ten play. "The thing that I think outsiders don't realize is what it is he was going to be in for as a point guard with a relatively new bunch as far as consistent minutes, and different-type players," Ryan said. "We have had to find different ways to get things done. You couldn't ask for a better person to be in that position of a point guard when you're trying to do that and maintain a high competitive level. Jordan is the kind of guy you would want, and he's done a good job of that." Taylor, a Bob Cousy Award finalist for the nation's top point guard, has a knack for playing especially well in Big Ten games anyway. Four times during the non-conference season, he scored in single figures. He hasn't scored fewer than 12 points in eight Big Ten games this season. And in 62 career Big Ten games, Taylor has a total of 63 turnovers. Taylor's improved play has coincided with Wisconsin's four-game Big Ten winning streak. In the process, the Badgers have climbed to 16-5 overall and 5-3 in conference play, just a half game out of first place. It also has boosted the Badgers back into the national top 25 they're ranked 25th in the latest AP poll released Monday and firmly into the NCAA Tournament discussion yet again. "Jordan is always going to try to find a way to make the team successful," Ryan said. "That's the way all players should be. Some are just a little more effective at it than others." Follow Jesse Temple on Twitter