Tag: AJ Storr

How Wisconsin transfer A.J. Storr performed in Kansas’ 2OT loss to Houston

Wisconsin transfer A.J. Storr late free-throw misses key to Kansas’ 2OT loss to Houston

Wisconsin transfer guard A.J. Storr was a big story from No. 12 Kansas’ double-overtime loss to No. 7 Houston on Saturday, and not in a good way.

Storr was scoreless during 18 minutes of action, going 0-of-6 from the field, 0-of-3 from 3-point range and 0-of-4 from the free-throw line. His only contributions to the stat sheet were a rebound and an assist.

Related: Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin basketball after UCLA loss

The performance halted Storr’s recent stretch of strong play dating to a Jan. 18 win over Kansas State. It also played an integral role in the outcome of the tightly-contested game.

The Wisconsin transfer was on the court during the closing moments of double overtime. He went to the free-throw line with Kansas trailing 88-84 with 45 seconds remaining. Two makes were critical to the Jayhawks’ chance at a signature victory.

Storr, a career 77% free-throw shooter, missed both. Houston added several makes at the line to ice the game.

Kansas went 17-of-30 from the free-throw line on the evening, including Storr’s four misses. That performance was is punctuated by a 6-of-14 conversion rate during the two overtime periods. Jayhawks coach Bill Self was asked postgame whether fatigue played a role in the team’s heightened late-game struggles in the area.

“I don’t know, I don’t know,” Self said. “But certainly, you have go to the line and make two, or at least make one. We were 6-of-14 in overtime from the line. So that obviously played a role. We still had our chances to put it away if we just executed better, if I had done a better job.”

Storr wasn’t alone in his struggles at the line. Forward Flory Bidunga missed a pair of key free throws early in the first overtime period. Guard Dajuan Harris Jr.’s two late misses led to a game-deciding sequence. Kansas led 79-73 with 18 seconds remaining in the first overtime. Harris Jr. missed two free throws, and Houston hit a 3-pointer with eight seconds left to make the score 79-76. Kansas turned the ball over on the inbounds pass, and Houston made another late 3 to tie the game at 79.

According to KenPom, Houston had a 0.4% win probability when Kansas had the ball, a six-point lead and free-throw attempts with 18 seconds remaining in the first overtime. It turned that circumstance into one of the most improbable wins of recent memory.

The result dropped Kansas to 15-4 (5-3 Big 12). Houston is 16-3 (8-0 Big 12).

Storr’s scoreless performance dropped his per-game averages to 17.9 minutes, 6.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and one assist on 40% shooting and 26.7% from three. Those totals are all far below what was expected when the former Badger made his high-profile transfer move to the Jayhawks.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

Wisconsin transfer guard sees role increase in Kansas’ road win over TCU

Wisconsin transfer guard sees role increase in Kansas’ road win over TCU

It has been a rocky 2024-25 season for Wisconsin transfer A.J. Storr.

Storr, now at Kansas, was a high-profile transfer last offseason after an excellent 2023-24 season at Wisconsin. Many thought he would be the missing piece for the top-ranked Jayhawks as they look to return to the Final Four.

Related: Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin basketball after UCLA loss

That has not been the case up to this date. Storr operated as a primary reserve option throughout Kansas’ nonconference schedule. He then saw his role decrease dramatically over a five-game stretch in early January. That quiet string of performances dropped his season-long averages to just 17.7 minutes per game, 6.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists on 39.8% shooting and 29.7% from three.

That streak ended with the team’s Jan. 15 loss to No. 2 Iowa State. Over the two games since that point, Storr’s role and production are back to trending in the right direction.

First, Storr tallied seven points on three-of-six shooting in 17 minutes in an 84-74 win over Kansas State.

Next, he notched 12 points, six rebounds, an assist and three steals on six-of-10 shooting in 22 minutes in the team’s road win over TCU on Wednesday.

That second performance was his first game with 20-plus minutes since Dec. 22, and only his second game scoring in double-figures since Dec. 4.

 

The former Badger has yet to fulfill the expectations that followed his high-profile transfer move. His play is beginning to trend in a positive direction, however. By no coincidence, that stretch has also coincided with Kansas stringing together several important conference victories.

Storr’s season-long numbers now sit at 17.9 minutes per game, seven points, 2.1 rebounds and one assist on 42% shooting and 28.6% from three. Those are still all far below his tallies of 28.8 minutes, 16.8 points and 3.9 rebounds with the Badgers last season.

He and the No. 12-ranked Jayhawks are back on the court on Jan. 25 for a big-time home showdown against No. 7 Houston.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, continues its strong play after Storr and Chucky Hepburn’s respective departures. The Badgers are 15-4 on the season, 5-3 in Big Ten play and ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll. Transfer wing John Tonje and rising star John Blackwell have led those impressive results.

It will continue to be worth monitoring how Storr and Hepburn progress at their new programs. Hepburn is amid a career year at Louisville — his numbers, which are up across the board, have him in position to earn a first-team All-ACC nod. Plus, he just recently set the Louisville single-game assists record.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

How Wisconsin transfer A.J. Storr performed in No. 7 Kansas’ loss to No. 2 Iowa State

How Wisconsin transfer A.J. Storr performed in No. 7 Kansas’ loss to No. 2 Iowa State

Wisconsin transfer guard A.J. Storr saw increased playing time in No. 7 Kansas’ 74-57 loss to No. 2 Iowa State on Wednesday.

The former Badger saw 10 minutes of action and totaled five points, two rebounds, two assists and a block on 2-of-6 shooting and 0-of-2 from 3.

Related: Takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s narrow win over Ohio State

The performance is a step forward for Storr, whose role had dwindled significantly over the last several weeks. Coach Bill Self called him out publicly after a Dec. 31 loss to West Virginia, which preceded the star transfer playing just four minutes in the Jayhawks’ 19-point win over Arizona State on Jan. 8.

Those minute totals are back in double digits, first in a Jan. 11 win over Cincinnati and now against the Cyclones. He played well in the 10 minutes of action, even igniting a mini-run that cut Kansas’ deficit from 11 to five late in the second half. In succession, Storr blocked a layup attempt, grabbed the defensive rebound and collected the assist on a layup on the other end. One minute later, he missed a 3-pointer that would have brought Kansas within three points.

Storr stayed on the court for the last seven minutes of the game as Kansas dealt with foul trouble to its big men. In the end, his contributions weren’t enough to keep pace with an Iowa State team that seems poised for a deep run in March.

The former Badger’s performance, while a step in the right direction, did not help his season averages: 17.7 minutes, 6.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists on 39.8% shooting and 29.7% from 3. They are all lower than his production as a freshman at St. John’s, let alone his outputs from a stellar 2023-24 campaign with the Badgers.

Storr and the Jayhawks are back on the court on Jan. 18 against Kansas State. He’ll look to carry momentum from this performance, continuing to battle for a consistent role in Kansas’ deep lineup.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

Former Wisconsin star’s role with new program continues to shrink

Former Wisconsin star’s role continues to shrink with new program

Former Wisconsin star wing A.J. Storr saw just four minutes of playing time during Kansas’ 74-55 win over Arizona State on Wednesday.

Storr checked in near the eight-minute mark of the first half with Kansas leading 23-22. In three-plus minutes of action, he turned the ball over twice, grabbed a defensive rebound, committed a foul, and missed a three-pointer, exiting with the Jayhawks down 33-27. He sat on the bench for the remainder of the contest.

Related: Updated win-loss predictions for Wisconsin basketball schedule after win over Rutgers

Storr’s minutes were part of a first half that saw Kansas trail 42-36 against the visiting Sun Devils. The Jayhawks quickly turned the game around in the second half, outscoring their opponent 38-13 en route to a 19-point victory. According to Kansas Stats & Info, the 13 second-half points were the fewest the Jayhawks have allowed in a half since Feb. 23, 2013 (nine points vs. TCU).

Storr’s quiet performance dropped his season-long averages to career-lows of 18.8 minutes and seven points on 41.3% shooting. He also averages 2.1 rebounds and one assist in that limited action.

Jayhawks head coach Bill Self was recently critical of Storr’s performance after a recent home loss to West Virginia, during which Storr was scoreless in 15 minutes of action.

While Storr bounced back with 11 points and five rebounds on five-of-eight shooting in a 99-48 win over UCF, the larger trends point toward diminishing playing time and production. The high-profile transfer commit is averaging just 14.8 minutes per game, four points and 2.6 rebounds on 34% shooting during Kansas’ last six games — the last three against conference opponents.

The Jayhawks maintain a No. 11 ranking in the latest AP Poll, second-best in the Big 12 behind Iowa State (No. 3). Self cannot afford growing pains with conference play now underway and high-profile games upcoming. As the games pass, Storr appears to fall further from the Jayhawks’ top lineup.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Kansas coach Bill Self saw ‘nothing’ from Badgers transfer A.J. Storr in Jayhawks’ upset loss to West Virginia

Kansas coach Bill Self saw ‘nothing’ from Badgers transfer A.J. Storr in Jayhawks’ upset loss to West Virginia

Former Wisconsin star A.J. Storr had a quiet showing in Kansas’ 62-61 loss to West Virginia on Tuesday.

Storr, who played 15 minutes in the contest, finished with zero points, zero rebounds, zero assists and zero steals on 0-for-2 shooting and 0-for-1 from 3.

Related: Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin basketball entering 2025 Big Ten schedule

Both Storr and K.J. Adams Jr. (two points, one rebound in 28 minutes) struggled to make an impact as the seventh-ranked Jayhawks were upset at home. Coach Bill Self shared a blunt evaluation of what he saw from the two players when meeting with the media postgame:

“Nothing,” Self said. “I didn’t really see much. They both had chances. But timid, not aggressive. I didn’t really see much. Our ball screen coverage to start the game, wow, was so bad. … A lot of those were situations where A.J. probably could have done better. But that’s my fault; I just don’t have him quite ready yet in that situation.”

Self elaborated on Storr’s lack of involvement after early defensive woes.

“They’ve had good practices,” the Kansas coach continued. “Sports are strange. You can feel good and have good intentions, then when somebody punches you in the mouth or staggers you, and there’s a screw-up or something like that, all of the sudden you’re not quite as aggressive and you’re not quite as confident, and therefore you’re not near as effective. That’s kind of what happened today with A.J. starting the game.”

Storr has struggled to translate his top-end production at Wisconsin to his new team. His 2023-24 averages of 16.8 points and 3.9 rebounds on 43% shooting have dropped to 7.3 and 1.9, respectively. He has a combined 13 points and 10 rebounds on five-for-20 shooting and one-for-eight from 3-point range over the past four games. Kansas is 2-2 during that stretch, falling from its previous spot as the No. 1 team in the nation.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, hasn’t had much trouble replicating Storr’s production. Transfer wing John Tonje is averaging 19.2 points, five rebounds and two assists on 45% shooting, leading a Badgers offense that ranks No. 15 in KenPom.

Storr’s play at Kansas will continue to be a significant story as both the Jayhawks and Badgers look for strong starts to the 2025 calendar year.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

Wisconsin transfers A.J. Storr, Chucky Hepburn quiet as Kansas, Louisville face losing skids

Wisconsin transfers A.J. Storr, Chucky Hepburn quiet as Kansas, Louisville face losing skids

The week of Dec. 2 was not kind to the Wisconsin Badgers. The team began the week ranked 11th but dropped two high-profile matchups, one to Big Ten rival Michigan and one to in-state rival No. 5 Marquette.

The team is 8-2 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten play entering the heart of December.

Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Dec. 9): Wisconsin slides, Michigan surges

While the Badgers struggled on the court, so did the program’s former transfers and their respective new programs. Chucky Hepburn and the Louisville Cardinals went 0-2 against No. 23 Ole Miss and No. 9 Duke last week. A.J. Storr and No. 1 Kansas fell to Creighton and Missouri.

Here is how the two former Badgers performed in each of those mentioned losses, plus their updated season averages:

Chucky Hepburn:

  • vs. Ole Miss (86-63 loss): 36 minutes, 19 points, four assists, two rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting, 7-of-9 from the free-throw line
  • vs. Duke (76-65 loss): 37 minutes, eight points, five assists, three rebounds on 2-of-11 shooting, 2-of-7 from 3
  • Season averages: 31.4 minutes, 14.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.2 steals on 48.8% shooting and 33% from 3

AJ Storr:

  • vs. Creighton (76-63 loss): 27 minutes, 12 points, three rebounds on 4-of-13 shooting
  • vs. Missouri (76-67 loss): 18 minutes, two points, three rebounds on 1-of-7 shooting, 0-of-3 from 3
  • Season averages: 21.3 minutes, 8.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists on 41% shooting and 36% from 3

Hepburn and Storr transferred after leading the 2023-24 Badgers in nearly every category. Hepburn did so after starting at point guard for three seasons.

The ebbs and flows of the basketball season affect individuals and teams. Hepburn started hot, including a statement performance in Louisville’s win over West Virginia at the Battle 4 Atlantis. He and the Cardinals have taken a step back of late. They’re still looking to establish position in a tough ACC.

Storr, meanwhile, plays a reserve role for a Kansas team that is set to fall from its previous No. 1 ranking. He’s had strong outings, including 11 key points in the Jayhawks’ Nov. 26 win over Duke. But his numbers are down across the board after operating as Wisconsin’s primary offensive option last season.

The Badgers did well in finding transfer John Tonje this offseason. The former Colorado State and Missouri wing is averaging 21.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists through 10 games. But he, like both Hepburn and Storr, has taken a slight step back during Wisconsin’s recent losing skid.

Wisconsin is back on the court on Tuesday night on the road at No. 19 Illinois. Hepburn and Louisville host UTEP before a big game at No. 4 Kentucky, and Storr and Kansas host NC State and Brown before the holiday break.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

How former Wisconsin transfer fared in No. 1 Kansas’ big win over Duke

How former Wisconsin transfer fared in No. 1 Kansas’ big win over Duke

Former Wisconsin Badgers transfer A.J. Storr played an integral role in No. 1 Kansas’ 75-72 win over No. 11 Duke on Tuesday night.

The former Badger notched 11 points in 28 minutes in his first start with the Jayhawks. Storr also registered a pair of assists and a steal in the three-point win.

Storr’s most memorable moment in the blue-blood bout came within the first five minutes of the opening half. The Rockford, Illinois, native cut backdoor from the right corner, fielded an alley-oop pass from point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. and threw down a thunderous dunk with Duke stars Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg converging at the rim.

Storr scored eight of 11 points in the first half to help Bill Self’s team build a double-digit advantage. The Blue Devils rallied to take the lead in the second half, but Kansas prevailed to remain undefeated.

Individually, Storr is averaging 9.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists to go with 50% shooting and 47% from 3-point range thus far through six games. He has logged at least 23 minutes in three appearances this year and appears to have discovered a clear role for one of the nation’s best teams.

Storr transferred to the Jayhawks this offseason after one year with UW in 2023. As a Badger, he chalked up averages of 28.8 minutes, 16.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.6 steals per game as Wisconsin’s go-to offensive weapon.

While his departure loomed large, Wisconsin found his replacement, star wing John Tonje. The back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Week has accounted for 23 points and over five rebounds per game off 54.3% from the field, 40.6% from deep and 95.2% from the free-throw line.

Wisconsin and Kansas are two of the undefeated teams remaining at the top of the AP Poll.

Wisconsin transfer guard fouls out of Kansas’ win over Michigan State

Wisconsin transfer guard fouls out of Kansas’ win over Michigan State

Wisconsin transfer guard A.J. Storr was mostly a nonfactor in Kansas’ 77-69 win over Michigan State on Tuesday.

The former Badger fouled out in just 12 minutes of action. He finished with six points on 2-of-5 shooting and 1-of-3 from 3-point range. He added two rebounds and a turnover.

Kansas’ statement win was led again by center Hunter Dickinson. The former Michigan Wolverine finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds and three steals on 13-of-21 shooting. His strong defensive play also helped the Jayhawks hold the Spartans to just 34.8% shooting.

Storr and the Jayhawks are 3-0 on the young season and still ranked No. 1. The former Badger has season totals of 24 points, six rebounds and five assists over those three games.

Storr’s decision to transfer to Kansas was one of the more notable moments from a busy Wisconsin offseason. Storr and star guard Chucky Hepburn departed via the portal, leaving the Badgers to replace 26 points, 7.2 game and 4.8 assists-per-game of production. That doesn’t even count Tyler Wahl, who the Badgers lost to graduation.

Despite the turnover, Wisconsin boasts a 3-0 mark to begin the 2024-25 campaign. Missouri transfer guard John Tonje has played a big role in the early wins, averaging 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds on 55% shooting.

Storr’s performance on the No. 1 Jayhawks will continue to be worth monitoring, especially if Tonje continues to excel in a primary role with the Badgers.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

Wisconsin basketball found its AJ Storr replacement

Wisconsin basketball found its AJ Storr replacement

Through three games of the 2024-25 season, the Wisconsin Badgers have found a star in transfer wing John Tonje.

UW’s offense took a blow with the departure of top scorer AJ Storr this offseason. With questions surrounding Wisconsin’s No. 1 offensive option looming ahead of this season, Tonje has appeared to fill the void.

Against Holy Cross, Montana State and Appalachian State, Tonje has accumulated 53 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists. Those totals average to 17.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per appearance.

Tonje’s knack for reaching the free-throw line has also seemed to unlock an essential part of Wisconsin’s offensive attack. At 6-foot-5, the Nebraska native’s frame allows him to create contact against smaller guards and penetrate the paint.

The former Colorado State transfer can score from all three levels of the floor. He’s shooting 50% from beyond the arc, over 94% from the free throw line and over 53% from the field.

A season ago, Storr averaged nearly 17 points and nearly four rebounds in 36 appearances for the Badgers. After electing to withdraw from the 2024 NBA draft, Storr transferred to Kansas for another collegiate opportunity.

The 6-foot-7 playmaker tallied nearly 500 field goal attempts in 2023-24 and was the unquestioned go-to option in Greg Gard’s offensive system. The good news for Badgers fans is that it appears Tonje can pick up a chunk of that slack.

Former Wisconsin transfer helps No. 1 Kansas notch a top-10 win

How AJ Storr performed against North Carolina

Former Wisconsin Badgers transfer A.J. Storr was at the center of No. 1 Kansas’ 92-89 win over No. 9 North Carolina on Friday night.

The former Badger scored 13 points in 27 minutes off the bench, also adding three assists, two rebounds and a steal.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s win over Montana State

He is now up to 18 total points, four rebounds, five assists and one steal on 44% shooting and 40% from three-point range thus far through two games. His role and shot volume increased significantly from Kansas’ first to second game of the season — 15 minutes to 27 and five field-goal attempts to 13.

Storr transferred to the Jayhawks this offseason after one year with the Badgers. He averaged 28.8 minutes, 16.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.6 steals through that campaign, operating as the team’s primary offensive engine from the start of the season to its conclusion.

His above-the-rim highlight plays have translated to his new program, seen clearly in the first half of Friday’s game:

Aside from Storr, Kansas was led by a player Wisconsin fans are likely familiar with: former Michigan center Hunter Dickinson. The longtime Wisconsin rival finished the last-minute victory with 20 points, 10 rebounds and three assists — that tally including the game’s final three points after the score was tied 89-89 with less than 1:30 remaining.

Kansas Jayhawks guard AJ Storr (2) passes to Kansas Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson (1) in the first half of the game against North Carolina Tar Heels inside Allen Fieldhouse Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Storr, Dickinson and the Jayhawks will remain No. 1 in the AP Poll moving forward. Their next contest is Nov. 12 against a strong Michigan State team.

Wisconsin fans should get used to Storr playing a key role on one of the best teams in college basketball in 2024-25.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.