[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]Recently freshman walk-on Kevin Gullikson has been seeing increased playing time on the court and many are taking notice to his upstart career. With Gullikson being a freshman, it wouldn't be unfair to think that it would take time before he would feel comfortable out on the court. But his playing time has shown the opposite, as he has become a great asset for the team on the court.

"I've learned so much from all the guys and coaches," Gulikson said. "I've been pretty comfortable coming in and being able to [play]"

Basketball players often have a hard time transitioning from the high school level to the intense college style. However, Gullikson feels he's adjusted just fine.

"Things that would maybe go unnoticed here [college] are just normal in the Big Ten, where they'd be called fouls in high school," he explained. "All of the banging that's done in the post … It gets you a lot more tired, and you have to be a lot tougher."

Though he has adjusted, Gullikson still has room for improvement.

"The big thing I'm going to work on is getting stronger," Gulikson said. "Also my outside shot and maybe my quickness and footwork. So maybe I can bring a little more to the table both on the perimeter and in the low post."

Like most underclassmen, Gullikson looks up to players, such as junior captain Alando Tucker, who can fire up a team and also has great work ethic. Gullikson himself would like to mimic that someday.

"Guys who just go in there and just work their tales off and try to bring some of energy, that's kind of what I try and do, guys who work hard like that," he said.

Though Gullikson has room to grow, one thing he has mastered is hard work.

"For a guy who probably didn't expect to be playing a lot this year, he comes into practice and he works his butt off, and you know everything is paying off," junior Kammron Taylor said. "I'm really impressed with what he's doing right now. He doesn't have the height, but he has the drive and determination to stop the other big men. I think he's been doing a good job; he's been that spark off the bench."

"You look at Kevin Gulikson out there working, and what he is doing defensively; he has been so impressive with his energy," UW head coach Bo Ryan said of Gullikson, following the Iowa game.

Not only does Gullikson work hard on the court, he also excels in the classroom. Gullikson was recruited by a plethora of Ivy League schools and could have easily gone anywhere he wanted to. But, Gulikson passed on the chance, as he wanted to go to Wisconsin to be challenged not only as a walk-on, but also academically.

"Education has always been important, but I wanted to play at the highest level for basketball and I wanted the biggest challenge I could get," he said.

"I like the atmosphere of a college town where athletics are so important to all of the people." Gulikson added. "It's fun being a part of it and having such support at all of the games."