Khalil Iverson has grown into the role of Wisconsin's defensive stopper

MADISON - Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft studied Khalil Iverson in the days leading to UW’s home game against then-No. 6 Purdue.

“He was really locked in during film sessions,” Krabbenhoft said. “I could see it in his eyes. He was determined. 

“And that is what you want to see.”

Iverson, a junior in his first season as a starter, transferred what he learned in the classroom onto the court and fashioned his best defensive performance at UW in the 57-53 victory last Thursday.

Iverson followed three days later with another outstanding performance in UW’s 73-63 overtime victory over Minnesota.

“I think it is kind of like what Nigel did defensively for us in the past, where he would take one of their better players," UW center Ethan Happ said, referring to former teammate Nigel Hayes. “You don’t shut down a really good player in the Big Ten but you just limit their touches and how many good looks they get. 

“I think he has really done that for us.”

The next test comes at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., when UW (13-16, 6-10 Big Ten) faces Northwestern (15-14, 6-10).

“He can be that guy who can guard guys, really one through five at times,” Krabbenhoft said. “Especially late in games when teams go smaller and you don’t have a true (center).

“I just think he has adopted that mentality for us to be that guy. Because we need to be able to win games on that end.”

Iverson started out on guard-forward Vincent Edwards, arguably Purdue's best all-around player, in the rematch against the Boilermakers.

Edwards had just four points in the opening half and then scored once on a drive against Iverson in the second half.

Iverson then took guard Carsen Edwards, who had 11 points and two assists in the opening half. Carsen Edwards used a screen to elude Iverson and hit a jumper to push his point total to 13, on 5-for-10 shooting, with 15 minutes 55 seconds left in the game.  

Shadowed by Iverson, Carsen Edwards hit just 3 of 9 shots the rest of the way.

“I just felt like I had to stick with him and not be as much as a help guy, even though that is what we still need to do,” Iverson said. “But in my head, I was thinking that he is so good if I’m not right next to him he can score. So I just tried to stay as close to him as possible and contest all his shots.”

Iverson did that with UW holding a 51-47 lead late in the game. 

Edwards used three screens in an attempt to get free for a three-pointer on the left wing. Iverson trailed Edwards from the far corner to the wing, was in excellent position when Edwards got the ball, blocked the jumper and gained control of the loose ball with 1:40 remaining.

“I just stayed as close as possible to him,” Iverson said. “And then after he caught the ball I gave up a little ground. I’m a little taller so I backed up a little bit because he can drive. He is a complete player, and you’ve got to respect everything and try to keep one hand up at all times. 

“Then when he went to shoot it, I went up, too.”

Iverson’s best defensive sequence in the victory over Minnesota came on the first possession of overtime. 

Minnesota worked the shot clock under 10 seconds and Nate Mason got the ball on the move on the left wing. He rose for a jumper but Iverson was in his face ready to block the shot. Mason dumped the ball off to Michael Hurt in the left corner, but the shot clock expired before Hurt could get the ball out of his hands. 

Iverson is averaging 8.5 points and 5.1 rebounds and shooting 53.8%, although most of his shots come in the lane. 

After scoring at least 13 points five times in a six-game stretch from Jan. 19 through Feb. 1, Iverson has scored in single digits in five consecutive games. He averaged 7.8 rebounds in that stretch, however, and his defense has been outstanding. 

“I think Khalil is starting to evolve into a consistent defensive stopper,” UW coach Greg Gard said. “This year is the most experience he has gotten. He had spot minutes before this year and really didn’t have that type of an assignment.

“I think he has taken pride in that. Obviously, athletically he has all the tools. Now it is a matter of gathering all the wisdom that comes with having experience."