Badgers’ Tyler Wahl Embraces Leadership Role

By: Melo Williams 

Tyler Wahl returned to Wisconsin using his fifth year of eligibility, capitalizing on the extra year of eligibility the NCAA granted players due to the pandemic.

In April 2023, Wahl announced he would be returning to Wisconsin via his social media…”I have always wanted to leave the Wisconsin jersey better than I found it, and our team has accomplished a lot over the last few years … but we’re not finished.”
“I can’t wait to create new memories with this group of guys and this program,” Wahl said in his announcement.

Wahl’s experience and knowledge will be needed if the Badgers want to make a run at another conference title and in the March Madness tournament playing for a National Championship.

Tyler Wahl comes into the season as Wisconsin’s most experienced player (126 games, 85 starts), and has developed into one of the most versatile players in college basketball.

Wahl on his role as the oldest player on the team… “If they’ve got questions in practice, I honestly feel like I’ve stepped into a bigger role where I can say what I see,’’ Wahl said. “I know what’s going on in our practices. I know how we do things. I feel I can give the freshmen and new guys a different communication to hear the knowledge we have.’’

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard said he convinced his top forward to return for a final year on the idea of being the first player in Badgers history to win three Big Ten Championships.

“I gave him space, I think, back in April,” Gard said.

“And I think the one common thing that came with Tyler is that I talked to him about there’s been no player in Wisconsin basketball history that’s won three Big Ten championships, and he has a chance to be the only player in school history to do that.”

Tyler Wahl is also 32 points away from becoming just the 8th player in Badgers men’s basketball history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 200 assists.

• Brad Davison
• Michael Finley
• Josh Gasser
• Ethan Happ
• Nigel Hayes
• Alando Tucker
• Mike Wilkinson

“I think when he really let the dust settle and just the emotion of the season, of his injury and everything that he had gone through and he was able to kind of clear his mind, he came to the realization that this is really good here and I want to make a run in a third title,” Gard said.

Andy Katz has Tyler Wahl ranked as the No. 5 best small forward in college basketball this season.

Katz analysis on Wahl…”A healthy Wahl means the Badgers are a legit NCAA tournament team. He’s an all-around, proficient scorer who can hurt teams in a variety of ways.”

Tyler Wahl was also named to the Julius Erving Preseason Award Watchlist for the second time in his career. The award highlights the top small forwards in Division 1 men’s college basketball by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Wisconsin has had two other players that were candidates for the award, Nigel Hayes (2016) and Sam Dekker (2015).

Wahl spent the offseason working on his shot expanding his range. Wahl shoots 24% from the three in his career. Wahl focused on improving his shooting efficiency around the rim in general.

Wahl is the jack of all trades doing a little bit of everything for the Badgers. Last season Wahl ranked second in rebounding (6.3 rpg), third in assists (2.3 apg), third in steals (1.2 spg), and fourth in scoring (11.3 ppg).

Tyler Wahl ended the 2022-23 season with momentum on a high note though the season didn’t end how Greg Gard and his Badgers wanted it to end losing to North Texas in the semifinal game of the NIT.

Over the final 10 games, Wahl averaged 10.9 points (48.2% FG), 7.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

One of Tyler Wahl’s best games in 2022-23 came against No. 3 Kansas at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, Wahl finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

Wahl was on pace for a Big Ten All-Conference season until he suffered a right ankle injury on January 3. He missed three consecutive games (all UW losses) and struggled to get his timing and rhythm back after returning to the lineup.

In 2021-2022, Wahl’s junior year he collected 11.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and has made 32 starts each of the last two seasons and also started the majority of games for Wisconsin in 2020-21.

In high school at Lakeville North High School, Wahl was a three-star recruit according to 247 Sports and Rivals. He earned back-to-back AP second-team All-State honors as a junior and senior at Lakeville North High School. He set the school record for career rebounds (905) and finished third in Panther boys basketball history with 1,397 points. Tyler Wahl was a Minnesota Mr. Basketball finalist in 2019, while earning Minneapolis Star-Tribune All-Metro Team honors as a senior, averaging 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game.

Wahl helped lead the Panthers to a 27-5 record in his senior season, guiding the Panthers to its first-ever conference title and an appearance in the Minnesota Class AAAA state championship game.

Wisconsin is returning five starters Tyler Wahl, Chucky Hepburn, Max Klesmit, Connor Essegian, and Steven Crowl.

Add in the additions of transfer wing A.J. Storr, and freshmen John Blackwell, Nolan Winter, and Gus Yalden to make Wisconsin a solid team.

With the leadership, presence, and play from a healthy Tyler Wahl, it will certainly help the Badgers in hopes of a bounce-back season winning another Big Ten conference championship and playing for a National Championship.

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