NFL
By: Melo Williams
The Wisconsin men’s basketball team opened up its 2023-2024 season with an exhibition game against UW-Stevens Point beating the Pointers 87-44 at the Kohl Center Wednesday night as a tune-up game in preparation for the season opener.
Sophomore St. John’s transfer AJ Storr led Wisconsin in scoring with a team-high 14 points shooting 5-for-7 from the floor while going 2-for-3 from 3-point range.
Wisconsin got a balanced game from its core returning starters. Sophomore guard Connor Essegian scored 11 points, junior forward Steven Crowl scored 10 points, senior Tyler Wahl was impactful on both ends with 9 points and 5 rebounds, and junior point guard Chucky Hepburn had 7 points with 6 assists and 0 turnovers.
Freshman Nolan Winter had another strong game like he did in the Red-White scrimmage scoring 9 points and pulling down 9 rebounds and John Blackwell finished with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists.
It’s not that Wisconsin men’s basketball hasn’t had a bouncy wing player since former Wisconsin Badgers great Michael Finley, however, AJ above the rim style of play, his ability to run the floor in transition, and three-level scoring abilities will be dynamic with this Greg Gard team which I believe is one of his best especially being young.
Wisconsin will be without freshman Gus Yalden who is taking a temporary leave of absence due to a personal reason head coach Greg Gard announced before the exhibition game against UW-Stevens Point.
“We are in full support of Gus and will always be here for him and his family,” Gard said. Gard emphasized the team’s full support for Yalden and his family during this challenging time, though no return date has been specified.
Wisconsin projected starting lineup:
PG: Chucky Hepburn 12.2 PPG, 2.8 APG
SG: Connor Essegian 11.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG
SF: A.J. Storr 8.8 PPG, 1.9 RPG
PF: Tyler Wahl 11.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG
C: Steven Crowl 12.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG
Key reserves for Wisconsin will be guards Max Klesmit and Kamari McGee and forwards Carter Gilmore, Nolan Winter, and John Blackwell.
With the growth of Chucky Hepburn as a player and in his development as a point guard, it will do wonders running this team on the offensive end.
Hepburn is a solid pick and roll and pick pop point guard and playing that with Tyler Wahl or Steven Crowl with Storr and shooter Connor Essegian on the wings will make defenses stay home and play honest defense preventing a lot of help.
Wisconsin opens its regular season on Nov. 6 against Arkansas State at 7 p.m. CT at the Kohl Center and I believe we’ll see another aggressive defensive Badgers team with a slight tweak in the offense and I’m excited about it.
This Badgers men’s basketball team I believe will be different. I think the Badgers play with a more controlled tempo and pace on offense, getting out on the fastbreak and scoring in transition.
With Wahl, Storr, and Essegian being able to run the floor with Hepburn pushing the ball, Wisconsin can get buckets in transition at the rim or spotting up for three with the big fella Steven Crowl trailing spotting up.
Gard understands this Badgers team can be special, and so does Tyler Wahl which is why he opted to return.
Wisconsin has coaching, leadership, length, shooting, athleticism, defense, and depth. All things needed to compete in the Big Ten Conference, especially with Purdue and Michigan State.
Prediction:
I’m predicting Wisconsin men’s basketball to finish with a 23-7 regular-season record earning a berth to the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
