To suggest that this edition of the Milwaukee Bucks is a playoff contender - at least at this point - is ill advised.

Talent-laden these Bucks are not. But what Scott Skiles' team lacks in All-Stars and name-recognition, it makes up for with what the second-year head coach thinks is an impressive work ethic thus far.

If the Bucks are going to take another step out of the National Basketball Association wilderness, they will need their young point guard to help lead the way. And though he hasn't exactly been dominant through five exhibition games, Brandon Jennings has shown flashes of the point guard Skiles, Hammond and, most importantly, Bucks fans think he can someday be.

Diminutive and quick, Jennings has struggled with finding his shot; not uncommon for a 19-year old that spent a year in Europe after high school and is still trying to adjust to the NBA.

In Saturday's, 101-87 exhibition victory over Minnesota, Jennings made his first start of the preseason and came out strong. In his first seven minutes, he went 4-for-4 from the floor with four assists and a rebound and finished with 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting.

"We want anybody who starts to earn it," Skiles said. "He (was) coming off his best game, and yesterday he was the best player on the floor."

When his shot wasn't falling, Jennings was able to find the open man - finishing with seven assists - and showed ability to both create shots for teammates and put the ball on the floor and draw contact.

Skiles, a tough-minded defensive coach, is happy but has higher expectations for the rookie. The Bucks coach knows what he's talking about; Skiles was a highly regarded point guard during his playing career.

Jennings has already earned respect of his teammates. Michael Redd stands to benefit greatly from Jennings' ability to distribute the ball and likes what he's seen thus far.

"He really kind of controlled the game (Saturday)," Redd said. "That's what we're going to ask him to do this year."

So far, Jennings has shown he's willing to be taught. His numbers are respectable - 11.2 points and six rebounds per game - though his shooting percentage (32 percent) leaves much to be desired.

Skiles has said that the shots will eventually fall for Jennings but in the meantime, he'll have to work on the other parts of his game, especially on the defensive end.

"He played well offensively," Skiles said. "He's got a ways to go on the other end of the floor, but played very well offensively.

"He's not accustomed to being into every defensive possession like we would like him to be. Having said that, he's not lazy. It's just a situation where to start a game, when we're trying to establish a defensive tone, we need to keep people from penetrating on us."

The Bucks are far from being contenders again in the Eastern Conference, but with Jennings, they have they potential playmaker at the point that they've lacked for years.