Wisconsin basketball was well represented at the 2024 Big Ten Basketball media days on Thursday, Oct. 3.
Head coach Greg Gard, sophomore guard John Blackwell, senior center Steven Crowl and senior guard Max Klesmit made the trek to Chicago, Illinois to represent the Badgers this week.
The group participated in several hits for Big Ten Network, spanning from short social media videos to entertain badger faithful and panel discussions about the team this coming season.
While Blackwell, Gard and Klesmit were present at the Big Ten Network studio set, Blackwell fielded a question about Klesmit being the top trash talker on the 2024 team.
Here’s what he and Gard had to say:
Max Klesmit đ¤ No. 1 trash talker on @BadgerMBB đ#B1GMediaDays x #B1GMBBall pic.twitter.com/2wxmZoLUh9
— Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) October 3, 2024
UW’s representatives also participated in individual interviews and photo ops during their time in Chicago.
Lights, camera, action. #B1GMediaDays pic.twitter.com/H0VgFgJUjQ
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) October 3, 2024
Aura pic.twitter.com/Zi7ibrZIoL
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) October 3, 2024
Before the media day appearance, Wisconsin was ranked No. 12 alongside  Nebraska by the Big Ten media on Wednesday. Given the departures of guard Chucky Hepburn, wing AJ Storr and veteran Tyler Wahl, Wisconsin finds itself in its typical preseason position: underrated.
The Badgers will kick-start its loaded 2024-25 schedule with an exhibition game against UW-River Falls on Oct. 30 and look to build off its 22-14 output and first-round loss in the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament a season ago.