Wisconsin bench guard clinches Badgers win over UT Rio Grande Valley

Wisconsin bench guard clinches Badgers win over UT Rio Grande Valley

Wisconsin basketball guard Kamari McGee has been one of the Badgers’ most valuable players through five games of the 2024-25 season.

On Monday night, the senior guard clinched Wisconsin’s tight 87-84 win over UT Rio Grande Valley on the final play of the evening.

Tasked with defending the Vaqueros’ 6-foot-8 forward Hasan Abdul Hakim at the top of the key, the 6-foot-tall McGee stayed right with Hakim without fouling and forced the versatile playmaker into a tough fadeaway jumper in the lane.

His shot attempt hit the backside of the rim, and sophomore guard John Blackwell scooped in for a strong rebound to secure the victory.

Here’s the full play:

Simply put — the play encapsulates McGee’s impact this season.

Through five games in 2024-25 McGee boasts the the highest +/- of any Badger at +85, per Badger247’s Evan Flood. Only Blackwell, who holds a +84, is within reaching distance of the veteran.

McGee has unquestionably been Gard’s most reliable bench player this season. Sure, he might not bring the height of Carter Gilmore and Xavier Amos, but he is as composed a bench guard as you can find in the nation.

The Racine, Wisconsin, native is responsible for 5.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2 assists in 23 minutes per game off the bench this season.

He and the Badgers will be back in action on Nov. 22 against UCF in the Greenbrier Tip-Off.