With the beginning of school basketball season in early November, we’ll study the convention as a complete and Indiana’s roster over the approaching weeks.
Immediately, our group previews proceed with Wisconsin.
Beforehand: Penn State, Washington, Minnesota, USC, Northwestern, Nebraska, Iowa, Oregon, Maryland
Wisconsin received 22 video games and earned a No. 5 seed within the 2024 NCAA event. Nevertheless, after an upset loss to James Madison in March Insanity, the Badgers needed to retool their roster this offseason.
Greg Gard had deliberate to return 4 starters as he deliberate for his tenth season in Madison however it didn’t work out that manner.
The group’s main scorer, AJ Storr, left for Kansas. Its level guard, Chucky Hepburn, is now at Louisville. Slightly than simply needing to switch one starter in Tyler Wahl, the Badgers have been tasked with changing three.
The 2 starters who’re again – Steven Crowl and Max Klesmit – don’t have any scarcity of expertise. Each gamers are coming into their fifth seasons.
Crowl, a 7-foot, 245-pound heart, averaged 11.2 factors, 7.3 rebounds and a couple of.1 assists final season in 29 minutes per recreation. He additionally shot near 45 p.c on 3s and 74.2 p.c from the free-throw line. With the entire roster turnover, Crowl ought to see his utilization develop in his last season.
Klesmit, a 6-foot-4 guard, shot 39.8 p.c on 3s and averaged 9.9 factors, 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 28.6 minutes per recreation. The Neenah, Wisconsin native shall be one of many league’s prime perimeter shooters.
Whereas the lack of Storr leaves a big void, Wisconsin is hopeful sophomore John Blackwell can take a serious leap ahead after a stellar freshman season. Blackwell earned All-Freshman group honors within the Massive Ten whereas averaging eight factors and three.2 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per recreation off the bench. He shot 45.5 p.c on 3s and 82.1 p.c from the free-throw line. The 6-foot-4 guard shall be a focus of the Badger offense and may also grow to be a disruptive defender.
The Badgers additionally dipped into the portal and landed Missouri switch John Tonje, who performed simply 78 complete minutes final season on account of a foot damage. The 6-foot-5 wing was a significant component again within the 2022-23 season at Colorado State. Tonje averaged 14.6 factors and 4.7 rebounds at Colorado State and shot 38.9 p.c on 3s. Wisconsin is hopeful his damage is behind him and he can return to that type.
Hepburn’s departure means Wisconsin can have a contest for start line guard minutes between Central Arkansas switch Camren Hunter and freshman Daniel Freitag.
The 6-foot-3 Hunter sat out all of final season on account of a foot damage however was an All-ASUN choice within the 2022-23 season. The lefty guard averaged 16.9 factors, 5 rebounds and three.9 assists in 34 minutes in that season and Wisconsin is hopeful his recreation will switch to the Massive Ten.
Freitag was a four-star prospect within the last 247Composite rankings for the 2024 class from Minneapolis. Recognized for his pace and athleticism, Freitag may push Hunter for level guard minutes. Wisconsin additionally returns 6-foot senior Kamari McGee, who averaged 2.1 factors in 8.2 minutes final season. He’ll present extra level guard depth.
The commencement of Wahl opens minutes on the 4 and the Badgers recruited Xavier Amos from Northern Illinois, who will compete with a number of returnees for taking part in time.
The 6-foot-8 Amos additionally handled accidents throughout his two seasons at Northern Illinois. He appeared in a complete of simply 32 video games over two seasons however was extremely productive when he was on the ground final season. In 25 video games for the Huskies, Amos averaged 13.8 factors, 5.8 rebounds and shot 38.5 p.c in 30.9 minutes per recreation.
Frontcourt depth shouldn’t be a difficulty as Wisconsin additionally returns 6-foot-11 sophomore Nolan Winter, 6-foot-7 senior Carter Gilmore, 6-foot-9 senior Markus Ilver and 6-foot-9 redshirt junior Chris Hodges.
Winter is the probably successor to Crowl and was a prime 100 recruit within the 2023 class out of Minnesota. If he can proceed gaining weight and power, he needs to be the following productive Wisconsin huge man.
Gilmore, Ilver and Hodges are unlikely to play main minutes until Amos has an damage setback.
The Badgers additionally welcome two different freshmen in 6-foot-6 wing Jack Robison and 6-foot-10 huge man Riccardo Greppi, an Italy native. Robison was a three-star prospect within the last 247Composite rankings and performed at Lakeville North, which additionally produced Wahl and Winter. Greppi was a late summer season addition and provides the Badgers one other huge physique for post-depth.
Bart Torvik’s 2024-25 season projections have Wisconsin at No. 41 nationally. The Blue Ribbon faculty basketball yearbook picked the Badgers to complete eleventh within the Massive Ten and twelfth within the league by Lindy’s Sports activities faculty basketball preview journal.
Backside line: Gard is unlikely to take this system to the heights it achieved underneath Bo Ryan, however Wisconsin has a comparatively excessive flooring underneath his management. The Badgers have received 20 video games in seven of his 9 seasons on the helm and are sometimes within the combine for an NCAA event bid. This group seems to be like a fringe event group on paper and can depend on a number of switch portal additions coming off accidents to succeed.
Quotable: “We now have group again. We’re not getting talked about rather a lot, which is okay. I like what I see right here. And we’ve bought a gaggle that’s ego-less and dedicated to profitable. That’s actually, on the finish of the day, what issues. We don’t hold any banners in July, you understand? So I don’t care about who wins the switch portal nationwide championship. It’s about getting the correct individuals with the correct mindset who need to be right here and who need to chase championships. After which we work to place all the things collectively.” – Gard to the Blue Ribbon faculty basketball yearbook.
Filed to: 2024-25 Massive Ten preview, Wisconsin Badgers
