Welcome to “Large Ten offseason at a look,” a team-by-team have a look at the convention in the beginning of the summer season. We’ll study roster motion for every Large Ten roster and provides an early outlook for every Large Ten program for the 2024-25 season.
Beforehand: Penn State, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Oregon, Washington, Maryland, Nebraska
At present: Wisconsin (22-14 general in 2023-24, 11-9 in Large Ten play)
Wisconsin received 22 video games and reached the 2024 Large Ten event finals earlier than falling to James Madison 72-61 within the first spherical of the 2024 NCAA event. Greg Gard is getting into his tenth season at Wisconsin and hasn’t reached the Candy Sixteen since 2017.
Wisconsin roster motion
Gamers returning with eligibility remaining: Kamari McGee, Max Klesmit, John Blackwell, Nolan Winter, Steven Crowl, Carter Gilmore, Markus Ilver
Gamers departing because of exhausted eligibility: Tyler Wahl
Gamers who departed through the switch portal: Chucky Hepburn (to Louisville), Isaac Lindsey (to South Dakota State), AJ Storr (to Kansas), Connor Essegian (to Nebraska), Gus Yalden (to Seton Corridor)
Gamers arriving through the switch portal: Camren Hunter (from Central Arkansas), Xavier Amos (from Northern Illinois), John Tonje (from Missouri)
Gamers arriving through highschool: Daniel Freitag, Jack Robison
The Badgers had been decimated by the switch portal as Hepburn and Storr took main offers to go to Louisville and Kansas, respectively. Wisconsin added three gamers from the portal, two highschool recruits and has one scholarship that’s at present open for subsequent season.
What to love about Wisconsin
Wisconsin returns Klesmit and Crowl, two starters, and Blackwell, a brilliant sub. Blackwell was one of many prime freshmen within the convention final season. Storr’s departure ought to transfer Blackwell into the beginning lineup.
That also leaves holes to fill at level, Hepburn’s former place and the 4, Wahl’s outdated spot. Gard seems to have discovered a succesful alternative at level guard in Hunter, who averaged 16.9 factors, 5 rebounds and three.9 assists two seasons in the past at Central Arkansas and sat out final season because of harm. Freitag, a freshman, must also earn loads of alternatives within the backcourt.
Up entrance, search for Armos, a Northern Illinois switch, to begin on the 4 alongside Crowl. Amos actually appears the a part of an impression participant after averaging 13.8 factors, 5.8 rebounds and capturing 38.5 % on 3s final season for the Huskies. And Tonje arrives at Wisconsin after struggling at Missouri final season after a profitable run at Colorado State. Throughout the 2022-23 season, he averaged 14.6 factors for the Rams.
What to query with Wisconsin
No workforce was harm extra by the portal than Wisconsin with Storr and Hepburn leaving Madison. Storr is a fringe NBA participant however was simply probably the most proficient offensive participant on Wisconsin’s roster now. He’ll now swimsuit up for Invoice Self in Lawrence.
The lack of Hepburn was extra stunning, provided that he was a three-year starter with the Badgers and would have been the chief as a senior. However the attract of a significant NIL bundle lured him away, leaving Wisconsin with out a confirmed level guard on the Large Ten degree.
There’s expertise on this roster, however the margin for error is slim. The Badgers want Hunter to make a huge effect within the backcourt and for Blackwell to take a significant leap ahead on the wing.
Nebraska’s outlook for the 2024-25 season
Right here’s Wisconsin’s Large Ten schedule for subsequent season:
Dwelling: Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, WashingtonAway: Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USCHome/Away: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota
Wisconsin is ranked No. 37 within the newest Bart Torvik projections for subsequent season and the primary workforce out in Joe Lunardi’s early bracketology projections for the 2024 NCAA event.
If issues go properly with newcomers like Hunter, Tonje, Freitag and Amos, the Badgers must be within the combine to complete within the prime half of the expanded Large Ten. If not, the questions on Gard’s job safety could intensify.
Filed to: 2024-25 Large Ten preview, Wisconsin Badgers
