Sitting at a 9-3 record, the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team finds itself heading into the new year cautiously optimistic.
Winning eight of their last nine, Wisconsin seems to have turned the page on a disappointing 2022-23 season. With impressive wins against teams like Marquette, Virginia and Michigan State, the Badgers rank 23rd in the AP Poll and 16th in Ken Pom.
However, Wisconsin also began on a high note last season, starting 10-2 before leaping as high as No. 14 in the AP Poll. If there’s anything to remember from last season, it’s that the Badgers weren’t able to keep pace with their fast start and finished 20-15 without a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
So, while Wisconsin passed the majority of its early-season test, the Badgers must continue improving as they head into the meat of their schedule.
With Big Ten play ramping up next week in games against Iowa and Nebraska, here are some midseason superlatives.
Most valuable player: Steven Crowl, C
Crowl, the 7-foot junior, has been a cornerstone of the program for years. His consistency has been highlighted this season, averaging 12.8 points per game along with 7.3 rebounds and 2 assists.
A key contributor during Wisconsin’s 2021-22 Big Ten regular season championship and a leader on last year’s team that missed the tournament, Crowl has seen his share of ups and downs. But this year, he seems to have come into his own.
Crowl has continually improved his averages in points, rebounds and assists, but his three-point shots have separated him this season. Shooting 63% (9-of-14) from three, Crowl has added some versatility to his offensive skillset. Pair that with his defensive presence, and Wisconsin has a player they can depend on the rest of the season.
Most surprising player: John Blackwell, G
Blackwell has been nothing short of impressive. Averaging 9.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in his first year with the program, Blackwell has provided a needed boost from the freshman class.
In the midst of a breakout season, the 6-foot-4 guard has already accumulated two Big Ten Freshman of the Week Awards. With a 48% three-point percentage, Blackwell has emerged as a legitimate threat from beyond the arc and a valuable defender for the Badgers.
Best newcomer: AJ Storr, G
After transferring to Wisconsin from St John’s, Storr has started all 12 games and has been a major spark for the Badgers. The 6-foot-6 sophomore guard has certainly made his presence known, leading the Badgers in scoring with 15 points per game.
His impressive athleticism has been on full display at Wisconsin. And, if his defense continues to improve, he will keep growing into a vital player. Storr is coming off a career-high 29-point game against Chicago State and will look to use that performance to propel him into Big Ten competition.
Most disappointing: Connor Essegian, G
As a freshman for the Badgers last season, Essegian burst onto the scene. He averaged 11.3 points and 27.3 minutes per game on his way to earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team. But this season, Essegian has averaged a mere 2.5 points in 7.3 minutes per game.
Essegian defensive struggles are a major reason for his dropoff in production and playing time. A deeper team this year allows for more offensive options, and head coach Greg Gard hasn’t been forced to sacrifice defense for playmaking as he did with Essegian last year.
Essegian shot the three-ball at a 36% rate last season for 69 threes, a program record for a freshman. He has proven to be a reliable scorer, but with an 11-man rotation this season, his poor defense has kept him off the court.
If Essegian’s defense improves, Wisconsin will have a fuller and more versatile squad.
Biggest question mark: Chucky Hepburn, PG
Averaging 9 points per game, 3.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, Hepburn has been a model of stability for the Badgers.
He was on his way to yet another productive season as Wisconsin’s point guard when he went down with an apparent leg injury early in the second half of the Badgers’ victory over Chicago State. Hepburn missed the rest of the game with what Gard called a groin injury.
While the injury doesn’t seem to be as serious as it seemed in the immediate moment, it’s possible Hepburn misses some time as Big Ten games loom. Without their all-reliable point guard, the Badgers may need to lean on their bench, which may cause trouble against stiffer competition.
If Hepburn’s injury persists and nags him throughout the rest of the season, it has the potential to derail Wisconsin’s season the way Tyler Wahl’s ankle injury did last season.
