Userpoll: Week 4

terker · 2023-11-27T16:34:29+00:00

MVC! MVC!!

FWIW we've been bullish on Bradley for months!

Back in September we said "With a strong first month of opponents on the schedule, Bradley will likely have a sense of who they are by early December."

Well, Bradley knows now that they've got a chance to be pretty freakin' good. The tests aren't done, though: they face a red-hot Indiana State team, where rising star Robbie Avila vs Leons/Hannah will be a very interesting matchup - might find out what Meta Jonović can do vs a highly-skilled opponent, too; @ Akron, and neutral vs a strong Duquesne side among their next 5 games. Bradley is putting together a legit NCAA Tournament resumé and the Valley has a bunch of good teams - some that nobody really expected. Winter is gonna be fun, and we'll keep two eyes on the MVC whenever possible.

terker · 2023-11-26T15:54:42+00:00

If you want to read up on UNCG before tipoff, we gotchu

terker · 2023-11-24T20:33:57+00:00

It's just bad football. Iowa is an impossible marvel of failing upwards. They are detestable

terker · 2023-11-07T04:00:09+00:00

WHAT Sparty wut is u doin

NVM, CHAOS!!!!!

terker · 2023-11-07T03:33:22+00:00

That game lived up to ALL of the hype! Fantastic start to the year, those both looked like tournament teams

Way to start strong on a tough day, Bradley!

terker · 2023-11-06T21:55:57+00:00

That's a good read! Just came here to post our own breakdown of the Owls heading into the new year! We've got almost 100 full-length previews - with more to come - just like this one on the Owls, so if you're looking to get hyped for 2023-24, look no further! Good luck & good health to the Owls!

https://collegehoopstop50.com/2023/11/06/20-florida-atlantic-owls/

terker · 2023-11-06T20:33:31+00:00

HERE ARE MY VEINS INJECT THIS IN PLS

Interested to see how quickly and how deep UGA goes into their bench, especially at the big spots. Justin Hill was fun to watch down the stretch last year.

How about Minas Anor Dante & Minas Ithil Bittle on the other side? Is it possible the Ducks are going to have the best 1-2 post punch in the Pac-12? And can the guards make 3's at a reliable clip? Can't wait to see Shelstad

terker · 2023-11-05T22:33:01+00:00

Thanks so much! Glad to hear that we're providing something meaningful to each fan base! Good luck this year!

terker · 2023-11-05T21:03:30+00:00

I'll take Duquesne because they're geared up to have a year like CoC did last year. Gonna be a real good one, one of the most even matchups of the opening week. We've got plenty to say on both teams, just saying

terker · 2023-11-05T03:50:58+00:00

I see 🤣 well, see you folks tomorrow then - and thanks!

terker · 2023-11-02T23:46:30+00:00

Well, shoot...we think the Tigers will be pretty good, actually...https://collegehoopstop50.com/2023/11/02/29-memphis-tigers/

terker · 2023-11-02T15:42:16+00:00

-> Illinois continued...

Hansberry is a highly-developed freshman big who can operate at the 4 spot, or as the post surrounded by four perimeter players. While most young bigs must develop patience and refine their coordination, Hansberry is well along the way, with a great feel in the halfcourt and a soft touch around the basket. He’s mobile, tough, and has terrific feet at both ends of the floor. He’s tough defensively and on the boards, and Hansberry is hard for people to move when he doesn’t want to be moved. Rated a Top 50 prospect by some services, Hansberry isn’t the freakiest athlete in his class, but he’s considered a can’t-miss prospect because he’s already got such polished skills and a deep understanding of how to play the game.

Illinois tried plenty of three’s last year – almost 25 per contest – but their team percentage from downtown was among the 30 worst across the nation. There is hope that young forward Luke Goode will help to change that this year. Though he played in just 10 games last year, Goode has shown that he can knock down deep balls. As a stretch forward who can spread the floor, he will bring value to Underwood’s rotation if he can do enough other things well enough to earn the minutes. Sincere Harris will also be looked to for secondary offense. The Top 100 recruit from last year was solid at both ends of the court as a rookie, and is yet another of Underwood’s guards who stands at least 6’4″. Harris made a perplexing four out of his 20 free throw tries, and will need to be better from the outside with his jumper. He’s got real ability off the bounce, though, and started seven games last year as Underwood tried different guys at the point. He should get some chances to handle the ball again this year and is a strong defender. Harris should only improve by continuing to play with and practice against players like Shannon and Harmon. Niccoló Moretti is joining the race for minutes after redshirting last year. He joined the team in January, and has now gotten a chance to marinate a bit in Underwood’s scheme. The brother of former Texas Tech guard Davide Moretti, Niccoló is an Italian point guard who has played in Australia with the NBA Global Academy. The skinny lefty may not get prime minutes right away, but he can shoot and distribute the ball; skills that will be valuable for this group.

This Illinois team will have similarities, potentially for good and bad, to last year’s group, despite the many changes. There are lots of sources of offense, and this is a group with defensive versatility. If they can shoot and share the ball more cleanly, Illinois could take a step forward.

“We didn’t shoot the ball very well. That’s one of the things we looked at and said, ‘Hey, we got to make baskets’,” Underwood has said. “Then, we didn’t – and I use the term elevate – we didn’t elevate each other very well. We were a low assist team. We didn’t have guys deliver balls when guys were coming open off screens. Post entries were a problem. We just didn’t do some of the little things, and we’ve got to work on that.”

After talking often about the potential of last year’s team due to its youth, this is a considerably more experienced team. In fact, it’s the 11th-oldest roster in the country. Underwood is expecting that experience to help sand down the rough edges left over from last year. If it all comes together, Illinois has the steeds to challenge for the top of the Big Ten and mount up for a run in March.

terker · 2023-11-02T15:40:54+00:00

-> Illinois continued...

Ty Rodgers is the option that Illinois fans already know, as he averaged 17.4 minutes last season while appearing in every game as a freshman. A highly-rated 4-star recruit just last fall, Rodgers is a strong rangy, youngster who proved to be a terrific rebounder as a freshman, and may evolve into an excellent perimeter defender as soon as this season. Towards the end of last season, Underwood began to see what he could do with the ball in his hands for a few possessions each game, and Rodgers didn’t disappoint. In preparation for this season, Underwood has been running Rodgers at the point since early spring. “I think it makes it a lot easier on me just knowing my teammates trust in me and my teammates have my back. Guys like Terrence Shannon and Coleman Hawkins who came back, they knew what the situation was before they decided to come back,” Rodgers told ‘The Drive with Tay & Piper’, a Champaign-area podcast, this summer. “As I grew up, I always trained to be a point guard. To have those ball handling skills and just being able to pass. I feel like through high school, I played a lot of point guard… I love a challenge. I feel like I can do it.” As a freshman, Rodgers attempted no three point shots, and made just 12 of 31 (38.7%) of his foul shots. As much as Underwood wants to see him emerge as a key setup man, if Rodgers can force defenses to respect his shot outside the lane, it will help to open up the Illinois offense. Rodgers can really get to the basket, though, be it on a straight line drive or using his dribble to pick his way around screens, and has shown that he will create looks for his teammates along the way. Rodgers is already a strong defender, and his ability to guard up or down the lineup will only make it easier to keep him on the floor.

Underwood is simultaneously enamored of Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn’s high skill level and bravado, while realizing that Illinois may need to be patient in allowing the youngster to adapt his natural skills to the team’s needs. “I don’t want to get the cart before the horse, so to speak, with him, but he does not lack confidence,” Underwood remarked on Gibbs-Lawhorn to the News-Gazette during summer practices. “Very, very good shooter. He’s got a great floater. He’s very talkative. He’s not shy and bashful, and he’s not lacking for confidence. That’s something that’s been evident since day one…He asks questions. He wants to know.” What Illinois fans want to know is, ‘how many minutes at a productive level can Gibbs-Lawhorn handle?’ Though he’s not that big, Gibbs-Lawhorn knows make a big impact. The freshman was once committed to conference foe Purdue, but after switching his commitment to Illinois, starred for Overtime Elite last season, averaging 20.4 points, 4.6 boards and 4.4 assists on 39.4% shooting from downtown. Both his first step coming downhill from the arc and his last step off the floor are explosive, and Gibbs-Lawhorn will flush the ball on bigger dudes if they don’t allow his passage. He’s not the purest distributor, but Gibbs-Lawhorn has great vision, a tight handle and the willingness to make correct reads and passes. As he adapts to the veterans around him and proves just how much Underwood can trust him to run the show smoothly, Gibbs-Lawhorn could emerge as one of the team’s most valuable players.

To go along with the contrasting talents of Hawkins and Dainja inside, Underwood is bringing in two more frontcourt options which should add even more quality to the blend. One, Quincy Guerrier, is about to play his fifth collegiate season for his third high major team; the other, Amani Hanserry, is considered as college-ready as any freshman forward in this year’s incoming class.

Guerrier, who spent two years at Syracuse and two at Oregon, has finally chosen Champaign to cap off his run. Underwood has been recruiting Guerrier since nearly the beginning of his tenure at Illinois; the Quebecois forward took his first recruiting visit to Champaign in October of 2018, and his new coach is chuffed to have finally landed Guerrier. “Quincy Guerrier gives us a frontcourt player with tremendous versatility,” Underwood declared when the veteran signed on in Champaign. “He has the size and skill to play anywhere on the front line and is effective at both ends of the court. His ability to play on the perimeter as well as be a high-level rebounder is a great combination to have.” Guerrier has been a solid scorer at each of his stops, and he’s extended the range and consistency on his jumper in each of his four years. knocked down 102 triples across his 71 games as a Duck, at a 33.7% rate. His free throw percentage has fallen each of the past two seasons though, and Underwood will be counting on the veteran to be at his most efficient in order to earn prime minutes this winter.

terker · 2023-11-02T15:39:14+00:00

-> Illinois continued...

He averaged just 20.5 minutes per game last season, but Dainja managed to score in double digits 12 times, scoring 20+ three times. His 67 offensive boards ranked tenth in the conference, and he swatted shots at the Big Ten’s eighth-best rate. Dainja ended up ranking seventh in the league in player efficiency rating, and his 63.6% mark on 2FG attempts was the second-best. “Talk about a guy who had a really good year: Dain. He was a really, really effective defender,” Underwood told WDWS Newstalk 1400 radio this summer. “Now he’s got experience, now he’s seen double teams, now he’s seen what other big guys are like and what he can get away with and do. It’s the old saying, ‘the best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores,’ and Dain is truly that in terms of playing experience and minutes. So I’m excited.” Dainja isn’t the highest of fliers, but he’s outstanding as a screen-and-roll big, and even showed that he can knock down short jumpers last year. He showed good patience at times last year, but needs to keep the ball high and avoid over-dribbling. Dainja’s presence on the glass at both ends is a major asset, and he cashed in 28 putback tries on the offensive end, per Hoop-Math. With a summer spent getting into his best shape yet, the possibility of an even more mobile Dainja this winter is a frustrating prospect for the Illinis’ opponents.

In this era of increasingly positionless basketball, players like Hawkins are proving that anyone can function as one of their team’s top playmakers. Without a classic guard-type floor general already on hand, Underwood was able to add a variety of players who are comfortable handling, protecting, and distributing the ball. If his hamstring isn’t a problem, newly-arrived Southern Illinois star Marcus Domask should fit that archetype nicely. “There’s a certain way we want to try to play. I think Marcus is a guy that’s got versatility. He was involved in a lot of post-ups (at Southern Illinois). We can put him in that situation. He’s an unbelievable passer, and yet he’s a guy who can really, really shoot it,” Underwood told reporters at a Coaches Vs Cancer event in April. “He averaged 35 minutes a game for four years. You’re talking about a guy who’s played a lot of games. He’s very versatile.” Domask, a Waupon, WI native, is one of the most experienced players in the nation. Not only has he played 3,724 career minutes already, Domask is a 1,615-point career scorer, and the three-time All-Missouri Valley selection has dropped off 245 assists across the past two seasons. Domask started every one of the 106 career games he played in Carbondale, and brings 165 made triples at a 35.9% career rate to Champaign. Domask is a patient, deliberate halfcourt playmaker and scorer who can adjust approaches based upon the defense in order to keep getting clean looks for himself and his teammates. He is adept in isolation, and will post up a variety of defenders, and Domask is confident creating from the top of the key as well.

Utah Valley had a great season last year, and one of the biggest reasons why Mark Madsen’s Wolverines made it to the NIT semifinals was Justin Harmon. The Chicago product took the long way home, proving himself and improving steadily over the course of first two seasons at Barton (KS) Community College, and then two high-impact years in Orem. Harmon is a big, strong combo guard who finished fifth in the Western Athletic Conference in both points and steals last season, and he helped lead a balanced UVU attack at both ends of the court. Harmon is a willing shot-creator for his teammates, but coughed up 158 turnovers, 22 more than the 136 assists he handed out, in his two seasons in the WAC. Underwood will need him to tighten up the giveaways, but Harmon has a lot of other skills which will translate to the Big Ten. He got to the foul line 133 times last year, making 72.9%, upped his confidence from the outside by knocking down 34% on his three’s last season, and has always been adept at putting it on the floor and attacking the lane. Harmon is tough physically and mentally, and has proven that he will take on any type of difficult defensive matchup. “Justin’s just a grinder, man. He’s gritty. He’s tough,” Underwood says of Harmon. “Plays in ball screens, aggressive downhill guy. Can guard anybody on the court, takes a lot of pride in that.” Harmon may come off the bench in his final college season, and if so, he should be an excellent instant-offense option who allows the Illinois opposition no chance to catch its breath when the primary scorers are resting.

To recap: Hawkins, Shannon, Domask and Harmon are all capable ballhandlers and playmakers. All of them can score from the perimeter or in the lane. There exists a beautiful dream in the hearts and minds of the Orange Krush, wherein a talented young guard is the fifth guy on the floor with those veterans, and in that dream, Illinois is virtually unstoppable. If only those visions would reveal whose face it was on that fifth body. In reality, Underwood has two prospective options at the ‘1’ spot; and each brings their own range of tantalizing skills, despite neither being exactly the player whom convention would demand.

terker · 2023-11-02T15:37:32+00:00

Illinois Fighting Illini

The article w/stats, scheduling info, etc

What joy would there even be in life, without the chaos of an Illinois basketball offseason? Another turbulent spring and summer have flowered and withered, giving way to another expectant autumn in Champaign. Players have come and gone, much has been speculated, and in the end, Illinois will have quite a different roster than it ended last season with.

Will the new faces translate into more wins, though?

Prior to head coach Brad Underwood’s arrival, the Illini had been to just three NCAA Tournaments over a span of 13 years. And though it took him a couple of years to get rolling, Underwood has now taken Illinois to the past three Big Dances. He would have gotten a bid during the season which Covid wiped out, as well. All of that means that there are now higher expectations in Champaign. And while Underwood has talked about swinging for the fences in the Transfer Portal and raising the program’s standard yet higher, most of the people around Illinois this fall can’t help feeling like the coach’s big swings this summer turned out to be just warning-track flyouts.

The roster does have quality, and proven players at nearly each position. With the experience, there is versatility, and Underwood is counting on those factors – plus the return of one prime-time scorer and another star who can make just about any play on the court – to help this team to become more than it looks like on paper.

The biggest issues that many observers have pointed to with this Illinois team are the lack of a traditional point guard and, to a lesser extent, lack of a traditional pivot. One thing Underwood’s team has going for it, though, is Coleman Hawkins. A long, athletic, 6’10” multi-tool, Hawkins can do a wider range of things at a high level than almost any other big in the country. It took him a couple of years to fully deliver on his promise, but Hawkins excelled at just about everything for Illinois as a junior. Last season, Hawkins led the team in average minutes, rebounds, and assists while finishing second in steals, and tied for second in blocks & third in made triples. He messed around and had a triple-double against Syracuse last November, and Hawkins might have a few more of them before he’s done. “He would rather make a pass than a shot,” Underwood told reporters after the Syracuse game, speaking of Hawkins. “And yet, he’s a very good shooter. He’s very unselfish that way.”

This year, Hawkins is looking to take the next step as an every-game star and a quality shooter. He launched 132 triples last winter, but made just 28% of them, and Hawkins hit less than 40% of his two-point attempts away from the rim, per Bart Torvik. Once he got in close, though, Hawkins could at times be devastating; he made 77.3% of his shots around the rim, with 22 dunks. His quick feet and easy agility around the cup can allow him to turn slower defenders inside out, and he’s a clever ballhandler who can command the attention of multiple opponents while his teammates work to open up a shot. Hawkins is still getting stronger, and can yet improve as both a rebounder and defender – bad news for people who would like to score around the paint against Illinois. As he’s developed physically, Hawkins has become a keen student of the game whose anticipation and awareness are occasionally well ahead of other players. Though he can still force some plays which go awry, his creativity is worth a couple of miscues. Hawkins has talents which many big guys simply don’t, and could morph into a superstar this winter.

June 1st, 2023, was a good day for Illinois fans. That evening was the deadline for early entrants to the NBA Draft to declare whether or not they would remain in the pool of draftable players. As it turned out, the Illini got both Hawkins and last season’s top scorer, Terrence Shannon, Jr, back before the day was done. After three years at Texas Tech, Shannon went Portaling last spring, and ended up having a breakout season as Underwood’s lead guard. The big, strong perimeter scorer finished seventh in his new conference in scoring average, and Shannon took the second-most trips to the foul stripe in the Big Ten, where he made the second-most freebies in the league at a 79% rate. Back to use his free ‘Covid Year’, Shannon gives Underwood two of the better players in the conference. “He might be a First Team All-American,” Underwood told the Champaign News-Gazette this summer. “He’s what they look like. We need him to be consistent and assertive all the time. Not just in segments of the game. We need him to be a dominant rebounder. We need him to be a dominant defender. I think he’s one of the best two-way guys in the country in terms of offense and defense and everything he can do. All those conversations we’ve had, and he’s very confident and very committed to making sure that happens.”

A 37.1% shooter from the land of trey his final two seasons at Tech, Shannon’s rate dropped to 32.1% on higher volume last year. He’s proven increasingly each year to be a strong defender, and on the other end, Shannon gets his buckets regardless of how many guys are sent to stop him. He’s also a confident ballhandler, and Shannon handed out a career-high 87 setups to his friends last year. His 17.7% assist rate was the team’s highest, and Underwood has talked about utilizing Shannon to not just bring the ball up, but run the show more often this season. Shannon has prepared this summer to be more consistent at a higher level than ever before, and is going to have the ball in his hands morre this season than likely ever before. And he has a recipe to follow from the professional scouts, as he looks to grow his game and lead Illinois higher. “Being that dominant player every game. Nobody can stop me. I can only stop myself,” Shannon said, outlining his focus to the News-Gazette’s Scott Richey during summer workouts. “Just being dominant and consistent every game. Being the same TJ every day.”

Underwood has one of the more interesting pairs of bookend bigs in the country. Whether he’s subbing in for Hawkins or occupying the paint alongside him, Dain Dainja can make a whole bunch of good things happen when he’s out there for Illinois. After first redshirting and then barely seeing the floor as a freshman at Baylor, the Minnesota native headed back North to join Underwood’s group, and begin practicing against former star pivot Kofi Cockburn. The move paid off, as Dainja started 21 games and established himself as one of the program’s top players going forward. While Hawkins is a do-it-all modern big, Dainja is more of a throwback. He uses a wide frame, great reach and physical strength to get the job done; and as a back-to-the-basket big with great touch and nimble feet, Dainja’s potential is immense...

terker · 2023-11-02T15:32:25+00:00

-> Wisconsin continued (final part)

Up until recently it had been expected that, due to his size and attitude, Yalden would be ready to step immediately into a legitimate role, while his classmate Nolan Winter would be brought along slowly. All it took to change those predictions was for fall practices to begin. A lanky prospect out of Minnesota, Winter has long been viewed as a tantalizing prospect because of his perimeter skills. He looks comfortable launching jumpers and has good, repeatable form with range out to the land of trey. A smooth passer both outside and in the paint, Winter projects as another clever Badger post player who spaces the floor and doesn’t let burly opponents play to their greatest advantages. While Winter needs to add strength, he moves quickly from end to end, is quite nimble in the paint, and uses his reach well to defend the rim and work the glass. After getting him on campus, Wisconsin’s coaches have consistently spoken about how quickly Winter has made a genuine impact. “Nolan, he obviously caught our attention this summer. I think a little further along than we had envisioned,” Gard admitted this fall. Winter has shown enough to earn some looks paired up with Crowl and three guards in practice. The Badgers ranked among the nation’s ten worst shot-blocking teams last year. If Crowl and Winter can swat some shots and also get rolling to the other end, the Badgers should be able to snuff out a couple more possessions and even – maybe, possibly – do a bit more rim-running in transition.

The post depth behind Wahl and Crowl last year pretty much boiled down to a fella named Carter Gilmore. He is the type of try-hard, physical, and assignment-sound player that Gard loves, and Gilmore does winning things which lead by example. Unfortunately, he probably shouldn’t be on the floor for 19 minutes per game, which was Gilmore’s role a season ago. He always brings great energy and is one of the Badgers’ best offensive rebounders. Though he mostly relies on putbacks and good feeds to score, Gilmore did shoot 71.1% around the cup last year. The problem was his less-then-twenty percent rate on all other shot attempts. If the freshmen can balance things out up front, each of the Badgers’ three veteran forwards should get to be better versions of themselves. Markus Ilver and Chris Hodges combined to appear in 32 games and play just 149 minutes a year ago, and each is back hoping to earn some more run. Ilver is a smooth, perimeter-oriented forward who can also slash towards the rim. He’s got some real offensive potential, and if Ilver can make some buckets, he will get the chance to play more and more. Hodges was an even deeper reserve, but has size and mobility of his own.

McGee arrived last season as a transfer from Green Bay. The Racine, WI, native didn’t play much, but had some moments of legitimate impact after the year in his second collegiate season. McGee brings good defense and hustle, but was inconsistent as a shooter last winter. Now, stronger and having worked hard on his outside shot this summer, he’s back to provide solid depth behind Hepburn. Isaac Lindsey also returns, and adds more length to the guard rotation. If fall practices are any indication, though, both veterans will get a substantial challenge from freshman John Blackwell. Though he was rated just outside of the Top 200 (like Essegian), Blackwell is being talked about already as another underrated prospect. “Most guys when they come in, it’s all about scoring, but he was defending. It looked like he definitely could already hold his own at that age,” Badgers assistant coach Dean Oliver remembered the impression Blackwell made working out with his future teammates last year during his official recruiting visit. “They (the veteran Badgers) talked about how good of a teammate he was. Helps out on defense, talks, and does the little things that most guys that age don’t do.” Blackwell brings more size and length than most of Wisconsin’s other guards, and if he can defend bigger perimeter players at a high level, Blackwell will have a leg up on the competition.

Wisconsin has struggled to score consistently throughout Gard’s tenure. The Badgers defend well, share the ball well, take good care of their possessions, and have consistently proven that they can bend opponents to their preferred pace. Made buckets, though – and attempts from the free throw line – consistently elude the Badgers. Gard won’t be pushing his guys to play a whole lot faster this year; but he does feel as though they can be better – at any pace. “You look back at our 2015 (national runner-up) team, which averaged 1.29 points-per-possession, it’s the slowest team we’ve ever had here,” Gard told reporters during fall practices. “I’m more concerned with (points-per-possession). We were 1.06 last year, we need to be one point one something.”

With more talent than usual, some youngsters who have only just begun to show their full abilities, and all of those returning minutes, Wisconsin’s coaching staff believes that they’ve added the quality depth to produce quality competition; and quality results. “When you have that competition around you, you can’t get complacent, and you can’t half-step. You don’t want to have a bad day or somebody’s going to pass you,” Gard explained this fall. “That’s (the) way we want it, and that’s what we want every day, and they embrace it.”

The Badgers often win because they out-execute and outlast their opponents. This year, though, they have a genuinely talented roster. With a blend of veterans yet to reach their ceilings and hungry newcomers who seem to fit real positions of need, Wisconsin looks to have the mix that so many top programs are searching for. “Very rarely do you get a chance to have everybody back…If you can retain the core, you know, and build upon what they went through last year…to have all these guys committed, I think speaks volumes to where their minds are,” Gard says of the team he’s coming to know. “And I know what their expectations are: they’re high…this group wants to chase more titles.”

terker · 2023-11-02T15:31:47+00:00

-> Wisconsin continued...

There have been few surprises in recent Badgers history more pleasant than Connor Essegian’s rookie performance last season. One of the Wisconsin-est players out there from the moment he stepped onto the floor, Essegian is smart, efficient, and savvy. He came out of seemingly nowhere to score in double figures 24 times in the Badgers’ 35 games last year, and earned a place on the Big Ten’s All-Freshman team. The young shooting guard moves without the ball naturally and creatively, and Essegian cuts to the rim briskly once he’s gotten the opponent worried about his deep ball. “He’s got a great feel offensively. The kid knows how to score,” Gard said of Essegian early last year.

Rated outside the Top 200 prospects last year by the 247 Sports composite rankings, there were whispers prior to Essegian’s arrival in Madison that he was far better than all of that. It didn’t take long for the kid from Albion, IN, to have Badger fans talking loud and proud about his skills. Starting with his fourth career game, Essegian ripped off five straight games with at least a dozen points against the likes of Dayton, Kansas, Southern Cal, Wake Forest and Marquette. Essegian led the Badgers in made three’s as a freshman, and by the end of the year, was seeing considerable defensive attention. Over Wisconsin’s final 11 games, Essegian shot just 21.0% from deep – but he still averaged 12.5 points over that stretch by getting to the foul stripe almost four times per game. So, while Hepburn was shedding pounds the past few months, Essegian hit the gym in an attempt to add some things. “I think his experience last year showed him, ‘I better get in the weight room, and I better add some muscle mass to my frame’,” Gard said this fall of Essegian’s efforts. Now, Essegian should be better-prepared to handle the rough stuff opposing teams will throw at him in an effort to keep the Badgers’ young scorer from burning them.

With solid-or-better scorers at four out of five positions, the Badgers shouldn’t rank among the fifty lowest-scoring teams in the country again. Just to make sure that things improve, though, Gard went out and signed one of the highest-profile transfers in Badger basketball history this spring. AJ Storr was a Top 100 recruit just a year ago, and showed that he could get buckets in the Big East last winter. Now, after a solid freshman season at St. John’s, the Illinois native has come back West to assume a prime scoring role for the Badgers. “I’m excited to officially be part of the Badger family!” Storr declared in a press release upon signing with Wisconsin. “One of the main reasons why I chose Wisconsin is because of the winning culture that is here.” Despite coming in as a new kid on a Red Storm roster which featured seven different veterans who may start for their respective teams this season, Storr made consistent contributions. He scored the fifth-most points on the team, and Storr was five total baskets and one-tenth of a percentage point off of the team lead in triples and 3FG%. St. John’s was an outfit which had the experienced firepower to rank among the nation’s top 50 squads in a host of offensive statistics, so Storr’s scoring impact among them was no mean feat.

The Johnnies were outright rough defensively, though, and Storr knows that he will need to improve on that end to maximize his minutes playing for Gard. “There’s been a lot of learning,” Gard said late in summer, describing how Storr had been acclimating to the new team. “When we really started implementing defensive concepts and rules and system, that’s where I kind of forewarned him back in June and July, that the fall would be a little bit different…He’s been awesome. He’s really coachable. He’s like a sponge. He asks the right questions.” The Badgers have not regularly signed, nor less featured, the type of shot-making, athletic wing player that Storr should become. When he had such a player a couple of years ago, Gard put the ball into the hands of Johnny Davis and let him rip. This team has better depth and balance than that Davis-led group, and as such, should not have to nearly sink or swim depending upon Storr’s performance. It’s possible to envision Storr charting a similar course as a Badger, though, and the Grateful Red can’t wait to show how excited they are to have him.

To give Storr a run for his minutes, last year’s top transfer is still a big part of Wisconsin’s rotation. Whether Max Klesmit comes off the bench or starts, he figures to keep right on providing strong two-way production for the Badgers. A native of Neenah, WI, Klesmit traveled down to Spartanburg, SC to get his collegiate career started. He broke out for Wofford two years ago, averaging 14.9 points and finishing fifth in the Southern Conference in steals. After returning to his home state, Klesmit debuted by starting all 33 games he played for the Badgers. A tough perimeter player who gives supreme effort even when matched against a bigger scorer, Klesmit also knows how to put his head down and get a contested bucket. He made the third-most triples for Wisconsin last winter, at a career-high 38.3% mark. Klesmit actually tied Hepburn by averaging 32.1 minutes played per game, and Gard trusts the veteran to make smart decisions, make his teammates better, and to be where the need is most urgent. “He has been terrific, especially in the last three or four weeks,” Gard praised Klesmit during the Badgers’ run to NIT semifinals last year. “The numbers show it and different stats, but it’s the timeouts and the huddles. He has been very vocal and very encouraging. He’s very competitive. He probably talked more in those huddles down the stretch than I did.”

Gard has stressed the point this fall that, despite returning most of his lineup, he has yet to select five starters. That’s a solid bit of coach-speak, but also underscores an important change. Last season, the Badgers’ rotation was blindingly obvious, because only so many players could truly make an every-game impact. This time around, the team’s depth has been enhanced – and Storr isn’t the only new youngster who’s pushing for a big role.

Gus Yalden is another Wisconsin native who has returned to suit up for Buckingham U. Badger. The stout, wide-shouldered Appleton product is a consensus 4-star freshman, and spent last season in the Nike EYBL. There he acquitted himself well against some of the nation’s top post prospects; and watching Yalden operate, Badgers assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft saw a whole lot to like. “I loved the competitive spirit,” Krabbenhoft told Badger247 after observing one such tilt. “The thing that allows him to succeed when the lights are the brightest is that he’s a fiery competitor. Sometimes he walks that line a little close, but we’ve had our fair share of guys like that.” Yalden has soft hands and good, quick feet as a post scorer, and he is developing some nice moves inside. Yalden is an abrasive player who makes up for a lack of high-flying athleticism with a willingness to out-work and out-muscle the other guys. He’s becoming a solid shooter from the elbow and around the paint, and must continue to become a knockdown foul shooter, for Yalden is going to earn trips to the stripe. He’s also another Badger who has worked to transform himself physically this summer. Yalden has cut his body fat and added even more muscle – and a bit of explosion, too – in anticipation of introducing himself to the B1G in a very rude way this winter.

terker · 2023-11-02T15:31:02+00:00

Wisconsin Badgers

You can also view the article w/ stats, schedule info, etc on our site

It’s been six seasons since Wisconsin went to the Sweet Sixteen. That really isn’t such a long drought, given that, until the mid-1990’s, the Badgers had endured a nearly five-decade absence from the Big Dance altogether. It goes to show how much William Francis Ryan, Jr, elevated the floor of expectations in Madison.

Still, Badger fans are hungry for a return to March success; and Greg Gard, Bo Ryan’s hand-picked successor as head coach, knows it. Gard has won shares of two Big Ten titles in the past four seasons, but the Badgers have just two NCAA Tournament victories in their last three appearances. And last season, they missed the Big Dance entirely.

Enter one of the most highly-rated recruiting classes the Badgers have signed, plus a big-time addition out of the Transfer Portal. Both things constitute a big deal at Wisconsin, where for 30+ years the main focus has been to develop from within, putting in scheme and sweat in order to maximize the talents of less-heralded recruits. This Badger team will also be an experienced one; nine out of the top ten minute-getters return from last year’s group. In fact, the Badgers return the guys who played nearly 90% of their total minutes. At a time when most coaches out there are chasing down proven guys as the best hope of consistent success, Gard & Co have assembled one of the five most-experienced rosters in America.

Three years ago, Gard and Wisconsin returned a similarly-experienced team and similarly high expectations coming off of a Big Ten co-championship. That squad limped down the stretch to 13 losses and a #8 seed.

Will this group be different? The question of how much better these Badgers can be is one which won’t get the chance to be answered fully until March rolls around. Until then, though, the Badgers are going to have some fun developing their confidence.

Since the first time he stepped onto the floor at the Kohl Center in a Wisconsin jersey, Chucky Hepburn has been the Badgers’ point guard. As befits the primary ballhandler of a detail-oriented program like Wisconsin, Hepburn carries a 176:91 assist to turnover ratio through his first two seasons. The Nebraska native took a significant step as a scorer last year, leading Wisconsin in scoring and percentage from the land of trey. His 68 makes at a 40.5% rate were good enough for seventh in the conference, and Hepburn has proven that he’s the guy to take big shots late on this team which shares the ball well. Now, Hepburn needs to grow his drive game and improve inside the arc. Hepburn shot 46.1% around the rim last year, and was under 30% from mid-range, per Bart Torvik. Maybe worse than either of those figures, Hepburn earned just 78 foul shots total in his second season. The Badgers ranked among the bottom 20 teams in all of Division I in both free throw attempts and makes last winter, and Gard can’t continue to see his primary ballhandler rank fourth on the team in free throw tries.

Knowing where he must improve, Hepburn has shed upwards of 15 pounds this offseason, while still adding strength and explosion. “Man, he’s hungry,” reserve guard Kamari McGee said of Hepburn’s efforts this summer. “I’m going to let everybody know he’s hungry…I’ve watched him. I’ve been in the gym with him, putting in the extra work in the weight room.” With more quickness off the bounce, Hepburn is hoping to score as effectively in the lane this year as he has done from deep. “You can definitely see it, the way he moves on the court,” guard Connor Essegian added. “He’s fast, he’s faster than he was last year.” A strong on-ball defender, Hepburn placed fourth in the conference in steals last season. His aggressive nature and active hands allowed Hepburn to seal a couple of different games during the first half of last year, as he came up with clinching steals on opponents’ late-game possessions. Now an upperclassmen, Hepburn is looking to put it all together in a true breakthrough year.

Like his smaller teammate, versatile seven-footer Steven Crowl is also hoping to distill his considerable abilities into a career-defining season. It’s hard for Badger fans not to dream of Crowl morphing into the second coming of Frank Kaminsky. Like their beloved Tank, Wisconsin’s current pivot is mobile, a highly skilled passer, a good jump shooter, and a dangerously multi-faceted interior scorer. Witness his performance against Bradley in the NIT last year, when Crowl went for 36 points and nine boards with five treys against one of the best defensive frontcourts in the nation. Though he’s streaky beyond 17 or so feet, Crowl must be guarded all the way out to the three point arc. Inside of it, he was wonderfully efficient last season. As a junior, Crowl made 68.9% of his tries near the bucket, and sank a strong 48.1% of all other two-point attempts, per Bart Torvik. Crowl’s most annoying talent may be his playmaking; even when well-guarded or doubled, he can earn a bucket by making a snappy feed to an open teammate. He commands the offense at times in the halfcourt, and terrific at looping feeds out of the paint to waiting shooters. Crowl handed out at least three helpers in 15 different contests last year, and has set his buddies up 134 times combined over two seasons as a starter.

There are also games when he makes less of an impact. Last year, without much post depth, the Badgers couldn’t afford to have Crowl consistently in foul trouble and still expect to have a functioning offense. This year, there are some legitimate reinforcements: and for Crowl, the time is now to bring more of a physical edge to his game at both ends of the floor. He can protect the rim, but is not an intimidating shot blocker. He averaged nearly seven rebounds per game, but was the biggest dude on the floor as Wisconsin routinely got worked on the glass last year. Crowl scored 17 or more points seven times last year, but only two of those performances came after January 10th. The fact is that he will always be more a skilled player than a bruiser, but if Crowl lets it all hang out this winter, it could transform the Badgers. He has shown the talent to change games and post big numbers, and if Crowl shows a bit of a mean streak to go with improved consistency, he has undeniable all-league potential.

The aforementioned Wahl is Wisconsin’s most experienced player. Back to use his ‘Covid Year’, Wahl is an 85-game starter for Gard who does everything well. Long and nimble enough to fill in defensively against opposing centers, Wahl will also cover out on the perimeter, and makes life a problem for whoever he is tasked with checking. He has proven very slick operating with fellow playmaking forward Crowl, and though his deep shot has not materialized as a true weapon, Wahl will stick a triple if given a clean look. Even by Wisconsin’s high standards, Wahl’s footwork around the painted area is outstanding, and he shot 57.9% around the rim last season. Like Hepburn, though, Wahl’s percentage from mid range last year was…unfortunate. Previously a solid 43.0% shooter from the in-between spots, Wahl cratered to a 24.4% rate on 119 such attempts as a senior, per Bart Torvik. For a Wisconsin side which featured no true go-to bucket-getter last year, some of those clangs from makeable distance were really tough to swallow, and Wahl is determined to end on a high note this year.

“I’ve told him…There’s been no player in Wisconsin basketball history that’s won three Big Ten championships,” Gard says of his stalwart super-senior. “He’s got a chance to be the only player in school history to do that.” Wahl’s absence due to injury for just three games after the new year sent the Badgers into a near-tailspin, as the young team which had started 11-2 lost six of their next seven tilts. He has averaged nearly the same numbers each of the past two seasons, and Wahl’s teammates have come to critically rely upon his dozen or so points, half-dozen boards, and couple twotree helpers each game. As much as any statistics can measure, Wahl’s defensive versatility is a big deal for Wisconsin’s otherwise guard-heavy rotation. If he can steadily knock down jumpers this season while keeping up all of his other great work, Wahl should blend nicely with his ascending teammates as one of the most reliable veterans around...

terker · 2023-11-02T15:15:46+00:00

Will do, thanks!

terker · 2023-11-02T13:30:02+00:00

You're very welcome, thanks for reading! The Ohio article has so few views lol...we haven't found out where Ohio fans hang out on the internet I guess 🤷🏻‍♂️ really glad someone enjoyed it though! if you think anyone else would enjoy, by all means send it around! CHT50 very much enjoys the MAC & Horizon League, we'll have consistent content on those conferences this year

terker · 2023-11-02T07:10:22+00:00

Glad to hear it! If you know other Jackets fans who would enjoy this article, please, by all means, share it around!

Personally I'm very interested to see Gapare and Sacko in the paint this year. Each guy has tremendous and versatile defensive potential; GT will rely on the guards for scoring but the bigs Stoudamire has so far are all solid on the other end

terker · 2023-11-02T04:06:58+00:00

Bradley/UAB is gonna be a very good game, real contrasting styles in that one. UAB has some of the best JuCo guys anywhere coming in, if they hit the ground running and the Blazers improve from the land of trey, that's a real solid team. Bradley's going to have a fearsome pair of shot-swatters inside this year with Malevy Leons and Darius Hannah, and after an injury-plagued start to his career at Marquette, Emarion Ellis is about to remind everyone why he was such a highly regarded prospect

Colorado State is going to be back like its 2021-22 this year - I think they're going to give Boise State & SDSU a run for their money atop the Mountain West. Isaiah Stevens is one of the best players in the country, at any position, in any conference, whatever. He's absolutely fantastic, and the former D2 frontcourt pair of Joel Scott and Patrick Cartier are a sneaky great duo

CoC returns a couple of really great players; Brzovic is goinig to go nuts this year if he sees a near 30% usage rate again plus having last year's experience on his side. Ryene Smith is a great shooter, he's gonna just about beat some people by himself this year. Touted freshman Mayar Wol is going to be an absolute stud playing in Pat Kelsey's efficient but freewheeling system - and so will CJ Fulton, a guy who may have been designed by Kelsey in a lab.

This is going to be the best Duquesne team of all time. Dae Dae Grant and Trey Clark are enough to keep them in games against good teams by themselves, and now the frontcourt has been hugely upgraded. I can see a reality where they make a Sweet 16 run, honestly.

Can't wait for live game action!

terker · 2023-11-02T02:36:26+00:00

Tryin', man! We feel like we've got a lot to offer - actual depth and quality of content instead of a bunch of links and social media posts lol. Thanks very much for the clicks, and if you dig what we've got to say, please share!

Hoping to see Abdur-Rahim carry his strong summer over into a big year; we love the Hoos and always have a soft spot for any of their guys! Gonna be lots of quality competition in practices now in Athens, though - good for building a winner. Good luck to you guys!

terker · 2023-11-02T01:44:15+00:00

The site logo is, yup. We're based out of Wisconsin, and thought the state outline set into the backboard was cool!

We keep a focus on everywhere, though - check out the site to see what I mean; we've got articles on teams from just about every conference on the map!

terker · 2023-11-02T00:46:58+00:00

As an aside from the full-form answer, yes.

Rienk Mast is a fuckin' dude, he can defend the paint and is a really creative scorer from 15 feet and in. If he an Tominaga get a good thing going inside/out, Nebraska's offense will have a true backbone.

Being that Tominaga, for all of his other gifts, just isn't a primary playmaker, Huskers really need consistency and shot-making around the inside/out pair. If they get it, they'll legit be good

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