After a disappointing first-round loss to James Madison in March, the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team will look to return to March Madness for the 22nd time in the last 24 years.
But Wisconsin will look different this year after their underwhelming finish last season.
The Badgers are without three of their top five scorers from last season after losing AJ Storr and Chucky Hepburn to the transfer portal alongside Tyler Wahl graduating. The incoming Badgers will have vital roles this season in Wisconsin’s quest to play meaningful basketball in March.
However, Wisconsin retained key veterans in Steven Crowl, Max Klesmit and John Blackwell. Wisconsin also has high hopes for its transfers and freshman point guard Daniel Freitag.
Fortunately, the Badgers landed some experienced veterans in the transfer portal. They acquired two double-digit scorers in junior Xavier Amos and junior Camren Hunter.
The Badgers are undervalued out of the gate, as the Big Ten Media Poll ranked Wisconsin No. 12 in the Big Ten. In an expanded 18-team Big Ten conference, it will definitely be a bigger challenge for Wisconsin to make its way to the top.
The Badgers will need a player to emerge like AJ Storr did a season ago, and signs have pointed towards John Blackwell. Blackwell, averaging just eight points last season as a freshman, has the most potential to break out and become the star Wisconsin so desperately needs.
Sophomore Nolan Winter, who averaged just two points last season as a freshman, should see a bigger role this season and could possibly start at power forward for Wisconsin.
Wisconsin has an interesting schedule to get over this season. Their non-conference schedule features two top-20 opponents No. 10 Arizona Wildcats and the No. 18 Marquette Golden Eagles. An upset in one of these games would be a huge boost for the Badgers’ tournament resume when March arrives.
With the expanded Big Ten, there are now more opportunities for the Badgers to bolster their tournament resume for March. Wisconsin will be in Los Angeles to take on USC and UCLA in late January and will host Washington and Oregon in late February.
The Badgers will not have a true road test until Dec. 7 when they head to Milwaukee to take on the Golden Eagles. Including the neutral site for the Greenbrier Tip-Off, where the Badgers are set to take on UCF followed by LSU or Pitt, Wisconsin will see at least eight straight non-road games in a row. It’s a perfect chance for the Badgers to start the season hot with a lot of home cooking.
A key this year for the Badgers — which they struggled with a season ago — is winning conference road games. Wisconsin only won three road conference games last season, finishing as the No. 5 seed in the Big Ten. With a couple more conference road wins, the bracket may have looked a lot different.
The Badgers are ready and focused on completing yet another triumphant season. Last season did not end how they wanted it to, but they have a chance to rewrite the script this time around. Another magical March Madness run is possible for Wisconsin, and it will start Nov. 4 against the Holy Cross Crusaders.
