MADISON, Wis. — To understand Sam Dekker's personality from afar, simply take a short scroll through the Wisconsin forward's Twitter account in recent days.
There, Dekker posts video of himself staring at a camera phone, shares a picture of his hair style, comments on NBA playoff games and Milwaukee Brewers games and even argues with others about biblical scripture. He is goofy and thoughtful and honest all at once for his more than 18,000 followers, and he won't apologize for offering his opinion.
"If you do not agree with how I carry myself and what I believe then go ahead, unfollow me," Dekker posted Wednesday. "I'm not gonna change who I am to make you happy."
It is a brief snapshot into the head of a college freshman that often doesn't take himself too seriously and doesn't mind if others aren't interested in listening to what he has to say.
As his Twitter description notes: "I get myself into trouble by being too honest most of the time…"
During his freshman season on Wisconsin's basketball team, Dekker wasn't afraid to be silly and speak his mind to any teammates within earshot. But he also demonstrated a far more serious side when it mattered most, one that cannot be accurately captured on a social media site.
"Off the court, I'm still Sam and my teammates really don't care what I have to say," Dekker said last week before the Badgers' postseason team banquet. "They're going to laugh at me regardless. But on the court, they know I mean business. They know that I'm going to come to play every night."
Dekker, one of the most talented and highly rated freshmen to join Wisconsin's program in years, lived up to such a billing last season. He averaged 9.6 points as the team's sixth man and shot 47.8 percent from the field and 39.1 percent on 3-pointers. He played 22.3 minutes per game and led all Big Ten reserves in scoring during conference play.
His ability, coupled with his personable nature, makes Dekker a natural fit to take on more of a leadership role next season, even if he'll only be a sophomore. And it's a role he's happily embracing.
"I'm looking to be a leader for this team next year, and it starts right now," he said. "We've got to have that mindset."
Dekker, a 6-foot-7, 220-pounder from Sheboygan, Wis., came to college with loads of fanfare. But he also had to learn that even a high school superstar must adapt to Badgers coach Bo Ryan's system, which demands tough defense and the kind of focus that wasn't always necessary as a prep standout.
"As a high schooler, you're at the top," Dekker said. "You're the best player on the court every night. When you come here, you have to work your way through it. You start in the basement. You have to try to get up to the top floor. It takes time. You have to learn everything. You have to be able to handle things that are thrown at you. There's far more into it than you think. There's more detail than you ever had before. …
"You can't come in with a closed mind thinking you have all the answers. You have to have an open mind and be ready to take whatever criticism you hear and try to make yourself better."
Next season, Dekker will be the most experienced player in the frontcourt given how much he played as a freshman (780 minutes). Center Frank Kaminsky, a junior-to-be, has played a total of 600 minutes in two seasons. Forward Zach Bohannon has played 514 minutes in three seasons at Air Force and Wisconsin, but he played just 80 minutes last season with the Badgers. One of the starting frontcourt spots could go to a freshman — 6-8 forward Vitto Brown or 6-7 forward Nigel Hayes.
Dekker sounded prepared to handle any role he may be asked to play — and that likely means showing even more of his serious side on the court.
"This offseason, I'm really working on being as consistent a player on the offensive and the defensive side of the ball as possible," Dekker said. "I want coach to be able to trust me for 30, 40 minutes that he needs me. Or 25, I don't care. If we win, if we can be a consistent team, I'm going to be a happy camper, and that's what we're looking for this year."
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