Former Wisconsin transfer quiet in Louisville’s blowout loss to No. 12 Tennessee

Former Wisconsin star Chucky Hepburn was mostly quiet during Louisville’s 77-55 loss to No. 12 Tennessee on Saturday.

The longtime Badger finished the contest with eight points on 2-of-7 shooting, in addition to four assists, four rebounds, six steals and four turnovers. Those numbers led a starting lineup that somehow finished the game with a combined 16 points on 5-of-23 shooting.

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Hepburn was candid after the blowout loss, saying: “That’s not who I am. … This is my last game turning the ball over that much.”

For contest, those four turnovers are his most in a game since Wisconsin’s loss to North Texas in the NIT semifinal to close the 2022-23 season.

The former Badger has 16 combined points on 3-of-10 shooting, plus five rebounds, eight assists, six steals and five turnovers through his first two games with Louisville. The Cardinals are 1-1, highlighted by Saturday’s sizable loss to Tennessee.

Hepburn transferred to Louisville this offseason after three decorated years as Wisconsin’s starting point guard. He played in 103 games in his time with the Badgers, and averaged 32.1 minutes, 9.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.6 steals on 42% shooting and 36% from 3.

While Wisconsin never achieved much postseason success during Hepburn’s tenure, he was arguably the face of the program during that time. His career was highlighted by guiding the 2021-22 team to a Big Ten regular season title as a freshman.

The performances of both Hepburn and AJ Storr (Kansas) are worth watching as the 2024-25 college basketball season unfolds. Wisconsin transfer addition John Tonje has made a strong first impression through two games. His continued emergence could lessen the impact of the Badgers losing those two stars after last season.

Hepburn and the Cardinals are back on the court on Nov. 19 against Bellarmine.