[lawrence-newsletter]It is well-known that the Wisconsin brand on both the hardwood and the gridiron has never been about recruiting blue-chip prospects. The Badgers tend to win with less, if you are going by recruiting rankings. Just recently, Wisconsin was named one of the best places for a three-star football recruit to be if they want to play at the next level. Now, CBS has named Wisconsin basketball one of the top programs that “thrives without five-star talent.”
The Badgers were one of seven programs listed in the article, along with Butler, Houston, Seton Hall, Gonzaga, Baylor, Cincinnati.
Here is what CBS had to say about Wisconsin’s success:
“Early on in the 2019-20 season, it looked as if the Greg Gard era was going awry. The Badgers were stumbling out of the gate after a first-round NCAA Tournament exit in 2019 and a 15-18 campaign in 2017-18. But Wisconsin saved its place on this list by winning eight straight games to end the 2019-20 season as Big Ten co-champions.
The Badgers have not signed a five-star prospect since Sam Dekker in the Class of 2012, but they proved with a strong close to last season that their annual collection of unheralded prospects can still compete in an increasingly competitive Big Ten.”
Once again, Wisconsin will look to create success without five-star talent as we look to the future. In 2020, the Badgers will not have a single five-star player on the roster, and currently they do not have a five-star commit in 2021. Despite that fact, preseason hopes are high for a Wisconsin team that returns fi