The spotlight this week is on the Super Hero of UW Madison. He may not fly around the streets wearing a cape and fighting off villains, but he is Captain America on the basketball court and we love him dearly. Next year, UW Madison will not only lose a star athlete who is willing to sacrifice everything for the good of the team, but also an outstanding man. I was lucky enough to interview Josh Gasser so all of you can get to know this wonderful human a little bit better.
Let’s start off with something simple what is your favorite kind of ice cream?
*Laughs* Mint Chocolate Chip
What is your favorite spot on campus?
I love the Kohl center in the winter and the terrace in the spring and summer.
How did being a college athlete shape who you are?
It definitely makes you understand time management and work ethic better. You have to grow up really fast with the transition from high school to college sports because it’s a big change. You learn a lot along the way and you take what you learn with you when you’re done with college.
What was the strangest fan experience you’ve ever had?
There’s been so many. I guess I would say this one night when we got back from a road trip during the NCAA tournament at three in the morning and there were people waiting outside the Kohl center for our autographs. That was pretty crazy. Also that night was freezing.
I was actually at the Minnesota game when you made 1000 Career points how did that feel? Was that milestone really hard to reach?
It was definitely a great accomplishment because I don’t think many people think of me as a scorer. It was also cool because there have only been so many people in Wisconsin history who have been able to achieve that and it’s an honor to be one of those people.
What is the scariest thing Bo Ryan has ever said to you and did you cry?
*Laughs again* One of the first things I remember from my freshman year was one night after a freshman practice Coach Ryan said that we had “the worst practice he’s ever seen in his life.” So that wasn’t great to hear, but I didn’t cry, no. He says stuff like that all the time, but it’s only to make us better.
Do you ever feel because you’re an athlete and are in the limelight a lot, you ever have to change who you are or be really careful about the things you say or do?
You definitely have to be careful to make sure that you don’t do anything stupid obviously. I’ve tried not to change who I am. It can be really easy to become stuck up from being in the limelight and I think that I’ve always tried to be myself and I think I’ve done a good job of that.
Did being a student athlete take away from some of the college experience, even though being a baller is way cooler than being a frat star?
*kindly at least pity laughs at my attempt to be funny* It did a little bit because couldn’t go out as much as a lot of the other students could and obviously I had to miss classes throughout the year, and miss out on the overall game day experience, but I wouldn’t change my experience for anything.
What does the future look like for you basketball wise? Did you enter the draft? Are you going to try and play summer league with an NBA team? If that doesn’t work out would you consider going over seas like fellow teammate Ben Brust?
I’m about to sign with an agent in the next week or so and I’m going to try and get some NBA workouts with summer. We will kind of see what happens from there. I would be willing to go over seas as well because that’s what a lot of my teammates have done so, that’s definitely an option too.
What does the future look like for you life wise?
I want to play basketball as long as I can but at some point I won’t be able too. I’m graduating with a business degree, but I also wouldn’t mind doing something in sports. Maybe coaching down the line, we’ll see what happens.
What’s your relationship status and what are your favorite qualities in a woman?(The question you’ve all been waiting for…)
I do have a girlfriend. *the entire female population of UW-Madison collectively sighs deeply* I would say that I like someone whose cool and down to earth. I like a girl who likes to have fun and go out and have a few drinks, but also likes to hang out with friends and do normal stuff like that. I like someone who isn’t stuck up.
If you were to give advice to your freshman self what would you say?
Enjoy everything because it flies by fast. Enjoy the whole college experience: classes, social life, basketball. Because Madison is a really special place and you shouldn’t take it for granted.
How do you think being from a small Midwestern town like Port Washington has shaped who you are? What is your favorite thing to do in Port Washington?
I think it definitely taught me a lot about work ethic and toughness. Not a lot of people from Port have ever gone on to play college basketball so I had to fight my way to get here. I love going down to the lake back home with friends and just hanging out. We always have a lot of fun.
Northwestern, Maryland, and Arizona State had strong interest in you coming out of high school. What made you choose Wisconsin?
Definitely being from the state and having the opportunity to play for your home state, I was a Badger fan growing up so this is where I’ve always wanted to play. It has great academics, social atmosphere, and athletics so it really is the total package.
If you had to sum up your college experience in one sentence what would it be?
I was able to achieve a lot and have unforgettable memories that will last forever.
A quick goodbye?
It’s been great playing for Wisconsin in front of very loyal fans and a great community. Everyone has made it really fun for me so I really appreciate it.
Well there you have it folks, Captain America has been unmasked. We all wish him luck as he crosses that stage and steps into adulthood in just a few short days. These last few basketball seasons would not have been the same without him and he will be greatly missed. I can’t wait to see what the future looks like for Josh Gasser and hope we all have the opportunity to watch him kill it on the court again soon.