Badgers' Hayes, Brown know time is running out

MADISON - Nigel Hayes and Vitto Brown have arrived at the same juncture at the same time.

The seniors understand their final game wearing a Wisconsin uniform is approaching rapidly.

Neither player did enough in their previous game, a six-point loss at Michigan that wasn’t a résumé-builder for Hayes or Brown or for the team and cost UW sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.

Both players acknowledge the status quo must change, beginning at noon Sunday when No. 10 UW (21-5, 10-3 Big Ten) hosts No. 24 Maryland (22-4, 10-3) in a battle for first place.

“It is definitely time for me to make that jump forward to become a leader, better player,” said Hayes, who had a blunt discussion on the topic with coach Greg Gard. “I’ve always said I try to let things come (to me). It has come to a time I can no longer do that.

“I need to start being assertive, aggressive, dominating the game like I have the ability to do.”

UW and Maryland enter the day one-half game behind Purdue (22-5, 11-3), an 80-63 winner over Michigan State on Saturday.

Brown acknowledged he needs to stop worrying about missed shots and calls with which he disagrees.

“I fell back into the mental trap of a few things not going my way and whether it was a foul or not, not getting right back on defense and talking to the official,” Brown said. “At the time, my judgment was so clouded that I didn’t realize the negative effect it was having on the rest of the game."

Hayes had just seven field-goal attempts in the loss to Michigan, tied for the third-highest total on the team behind freshman guard D’Mitrik Trice (15) and Ethan Happ (13).

He contributed five rebounds and two blocks but scored just six points. Most telling is that Hayes didn’t get to the free-throw line for the first time in Big Ten play this season, the second time overall this season and only the third time in the last 70 games dating to the 2014-’15 season.

“We’d like to get him in some downhill situations,” UW associate head coach Lamont Paris said. “We need him to be in aggressive, attacking situations.”

Hayes twice failed to convert on drives into the lane — UW’s staff thought fouls could have been called on both plays — but generally appeared more comfortable facilitating for others.

His most aggressive move came with UW clinging to a 38-36 lead in the second half. Hayes posted up on the right block and backed down D.J. Wilson and scored with a spin move to the baseline.

Hayes’ Big Ten numbers are similar to last season. His scoring (13.1 points per game) is down from 16.7, but his shooting percentage (42.4%) is up from 39.5%. He averaged 7.6 free-throw attempts per game last season, better than his mark this season of 5.7.

Brown’s numbers in Big Ten play compare favorably to last season except for shooting percentage.

Brown shot 41.7% from three-point range last season and 47.6% overall. His numbers this season have cratered: 25.0% from three-point range and 33.3% overall. He was 0 of 2 from three-point range and 0 of 5 overall at Michigan. He has made just 5 of 23 three-pointers (21.7%) in the last five games.

Too often Brown has not been ready to catch and shoot, with knees bent, when he receives the ball. That has allowed defenders the time needed to close out and force Brown to put the ball on the floor.

“I will dribble into traffic or throw a bad pass,” he said. “Going back and evaluating last year’s tapes, during the stretch when I was doing good I was always down and ready to shoot. I’ve got to get back to that.”

For UW to win the Big Ten title and a make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, both Hayes and Brown need to contribute more than they have.

“I wouldn’t call it pressure,” Hayes said. “It just comes with the title, the territory, being a senior leader, one of the older guys.

"It is time for me to set the example, the example I had when I was a sophomore and a freshman, playing on some of those teams.

"Not to say that I wasn’t a part of helping that team. But those other guys definitely grabbed the younger guys and the rest of the team and carried us forward.”