3 takeaways from Wisconsin Herd’s victory over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants
By Jacob Maier
The Wisconsin Herd, the Milwaukee Bucks G-League affiliate, remained perfect on the season following a 114-102 victory over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants last night.
With three typical Bucks players earning a start in the game, the Herd received a massive boost. They certainly needed it after falling behind to the Mad Ants early, but the Herd ultimately rallied back to seal the deal in the end. While there was plenty of things to enjoy from this win, here are the three biggest takeaways from the Wisconsin Herd’s impressive victory Sunday night.
Sandro Mamukelashvili provides a spark; showcases his offensive potential for the Wisconsin Herd
Sandro Mamukelashvili, a two-way player for the Bucks, was sent to the Herd on an assignment early Sunday morning. In his time on the court today, he showed plenty of potential as the rookie provided a spark on both ends of the court. He led the team with 22 points on an impressive 64.3 percent shooting. Despite 3-point shooting woes from most of the team, Mamukelashvili shot 33 percent from beyond the arc. Mamu, the second-round draft pick, has drawn plenty of attention due to his impressive career at Seton Hall. With his strong offensive performance against Fort Wayne, he certainly turned some heads.
His impact was also felt in other facets of the game. The rookie grabbed 10 rebounds, providing plenty of second opportunities for the Herd. Those second chances were desperately needed, and Mamu was a player who sparked multiple runs for Wisconsin. Moreover, Mamukelashvili made his presence felt on the defensive end as he finished with two blocks on the game. While Fort Wayne excelled from beyond the arc, they took plenty of chances at the rim. However, Mamu was able to help lock down the interior for Wisconsin. In many ways, Mamukelashvili provided a spark to lift the Herd to their fifth straight victory.
The center provided a glimpse into his offensive potential on Sunday night. If these performances continue, he could see some more time at the NBA level.