Tag: Carter Gilmore

Greg Gard defends Wisconsin senior forward after strong play vs. Montana State

Greg Gard defends Wisconsin senior forward after strong play vs. Montana State

This story was updated to add new information.

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard came to the defense of Badgers senior forward Carter Gilmore after the team’s 79-67 win over Montana State on Thursday.

Gilmore, who played 19 minutes off the bench in the Badgers’ victory, again played a big role on both sides of the court. He finished with four points on 2-of-3 shooting, two assists, two rebounds and one highlight block.

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

Gard highlighted his performance, especially on the defensive side, when speaking postgame.

“[Gilmore] just gives us such a steadying [presence],” Gard began. “And I know he’s taken a lot of s*** over his career here. And it’s, quite frankly, unwarranted. Because if you have you have any idea what you’re looking at, you can see that he really anchors us defensively, he covers up a lot of stuff, he’s really good in the ball screens…He’s just a ballplayer.”

The senior forward has nine total points on 4-of-5 shooting through two games, in addition to four rebounds, two assists and a block. Those totals are all on an early pace to surpass his 2022-23 totals when he averaged 18.8 minutes per game off the bench.

Gard highlighted Gilmore’s versatility in the lineup, pointing to more minutes and more opportunities down the road.

“We can play him at various positions, played him at the three a lot during the preseason,” Gard continued. “He’s covers up mistakes defensively of other guys, Tyler Wahl did that. They’re different. But he has such a good feel for the game and talks the game the right way. The things he’s talking about and asking about — he’s seeing it and talking like a coach…He’s been able to play within his strengths and not get outside of his strengths. He’s very valuable. He’s smart, he’s tough, he covers up mistakes, he knows what we’re doing. He really is a good leader…He’s an unsung important piece to this group.”

Gilmore currently slots into the lineup as a primary backup forward behind starters Nolan Winter and Steven Crowl. He should continue to be a key force off the bench as the team continues to grow throughout the season.

Gard, Gilmore and the Badgers are back on the court on Nov. 10 at home against Appalachian State.

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Three Wisconsin basketball veterans to use COVID year, return in 2024-25

Good news for the Badgers entering this year and next:

Wisconsin basketball officially got its 2023-24 season underway last week with the running of Bascom Hill. The team will first take the court on November 6 for a home matchup with Arkansas State.

The Badgers have high expectations entering the season after returning Chucky Hepburn, Tyler Wahl, Steven Crowl and others, and also adding guard A.J. Storr in the transfer portal. They are a veteran group that figures to yet again compete for a Big Ten title.

Before we get into the season, there was a positive piece of news coming out of the program yesterday: Wisconsin officials said that Steven Crowl, Max Klesmit and Carter Gilmore all plan to use their COVID year of eligibility and return in 2024-25.

The Badgers will return their veterans as an influx of high school talent joins the program. Wisconsin’s class of 2024 ranks No. 27 nationally with top point guard Daniel Freitag leading the group.

This lines up to be a successful few years at the Kohl Center.

WATCH: Carter Gilmore highlights from 2022-2023

The Wisconsin men’s basketball team dropped the highlight reel for third-year forward Carter Gilmore on Monday.

The Wisconsin men’s basketball team dropped the highlight reel for third-year forward Carter Gilmore on Monday. Although he may not be the flashiest player, he operates in that “glue guy” role for the Badgers.

During his junior year with Greg Gard’s squad, Gilmore averaged 2.6 points and 2.5 rebounds but he appeared in 35 games while shooting 40.7 percent from the field, which was 15 percent higher than his sophomore campaign.

With Wisconsin returning their entire core group of players in 2023-2024, Gilmore will continue to serve his role as a dynamic player that can provide top-notch effort on both ends of the court. Additionally, he’ll help mentor incoming big men Gus Yalden and Nolan Winter.

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PHOTOS: Wisconsin basketball beats South Dakota 85-59 in season opener

Photos from Wisconsin basketball’s 85-59 victory in its non-conference season opener against South Dakota:

The Wisconsin Badgers dominated the South Dakota Coyotes in an 85-59 victory in their non-conference season opener at the Kohl Center.

Related: Wisconsin Basketball: UW’s lack of frontcourt depth could be Achilles’ heel

Senior forward Tyler Wahl led the Badgers in their win with a double-double, finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Wisconsin point guard Chucky Hepburn also played well going 5-10 from the field for 14 points, including making 3-5 shots from three-point range.

The Badgers will play against the Stanford Cardinals on Friday in a doubleheader matchup with Wisconsin women’s basketball at American Family Field in Milwaukee.

Below are photos from Wisconsin basketball’s 85-59 victory in its non-conference season opener against South Dakota:

Wisconsin Basketball: UW’s lack of frontcourt depth could be Achilles’ heel

Will the Wisconsin Badgers lack of frontcourt depth be the team’s Achilles heel in 2022-23?

Madison, Wis. – Wisconsin Badgers head coach Gard returns frontcourt stalwarts Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl from last year’s team, creating a solid foundation in the low-post to build around.

However, graduate transfer Chris Vogt is gone, as is Ben Carlson, who provided minutes off the bench—leaving some serious question marks regarding the depth of UW’s frontcourt.

Last season, UW finished 3rd in the Big Ten in defensive rebounding percentage, according to KenPom, the highest finish of the Greg Gard era, thanks in large part to Johnny Davis being a freak of nature on the boards.

It is, however, worth noting that the Badgers lost three of their top four leaders in defensive rebounding percentage from last season’s team (Davis, Vogt, and Carlson). Say what you want about Wisconsin’s bench production in 2021-22, but Vogt and Carlson provided energy/helped immensely on the boards and will definitely be missed in that regard.

Plus, UW swung and missed in the transfer portal, searching for frontcourt reinforcements, leaving Wahl and inexperienced returning players like Carter Gilmore, Chris Hodges, and Markus Ilver to fill in the gaps behind Big Steve.

Will the Badgers get manhandled on the boards?

The issue with that is obvious, lack of size. Of the bench players mentioned, none exceed 6-foot-8. UW plans to combat its lack of a true big man off the bench by utilizing its defensive versatility and playing smaller lineups.

“I’ve talked about positionless basketball, and obviously, it started offensively, and then there’s been a defensive counter to it,” coach Gard explained. “It’s a chess match back and forth. Looking back at the guys we’ve had, the best of them haven’t always been the biggest,” Gard continued. “The ultimate piece is you have to stick your face in there and battle. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog. We want guys who can compete and be consistent and wear people out.”

Coach Gard’s defensive rotations will change based on matchups, but there’s no arguing that a true center would have helped this team immensely. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more post-dominant conference than the Big Ten. So, it’s fair to question whether or not UW can hold its own on the boards and provide enough rim protection to challenge for a conference title.

According to KenPom, over Wisconsin’s last five games, Wahl accounted for 77% of the minutes played at the “4”, and Crowl played 59% of the minutes at the “5”. I envision Big Steve seeing an uptick in minutes, meaning UW needs someone to provide just enough quality minutes and not be a liability while they’re getting a breather.

Depth is important, but on an average night, there won’t be of ton of minutes available in the low post.

I try not to overreact to anything that comes from an exhibition game. Still, the Badgers were out-rebounded by division three UW-Eau Claire this past weekend – potentially foreshadowing the struggles to come. Johnny Davis will be missed for many reasons, but his rebounding prowess might top the list.

How does Wisconsin handle rotations? Can UW tread water long enough when players like Wahl and Crowl are in foul trouble? Will the Badgers get manhandled on the boards? Only time will tell – but a tough non-conference slate consisting of Stanford, Dayton, Wake Forest, and Marquette should provide answers in short order.

I fear Wisconsin’s failure to acquire a seven-footer during the offseason will be their Achilles heel in 2022-23.

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Carter Gilmore Expecting a Bigger Role for UW in 2022-23

A more prominent role for #Badgers forward Carter Gilmore could soon be on the horizon:

Badgers junior forward Carter Gilmore initially committed to Wisconsin as a walk-on despite having scholarship offers from Appalachian State, Brown, DePaul, Illinois-Chicago, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, and UW-Milwaukee.

Gilmore, a standout at Arrowhead High School (Wisc.), was a first-team All-State selection during his senior season, averaging 26.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.

Since joining the UW program, the 6-foot-7, 200-pound forward quickly earned the trust of Greg Gard and his coaching staff, receiving a scholarship after spending just one season as a walk-on.

Last season, Gilmore appeared in 22 games, averaging 0.9 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 7.8 minutes per game. He had a consistent role off the bench early in the season for coach Gard. However, the sophomore forward was phased out in favor of a tighter rotation down the stretch.

Forwards Ben Carlson and Matthew Mors transferred in the offseason, so it would appear that a more prominent role for Gilmore could soon be on the horizon.

“This spring, Carter was dedicated to working on his strength, flexibility, speed, and agility. Of course, he also worked on basketball, but his focus was on getting his body ready for the season,” his mother, Stephanie Gilmore, told BadgersWire.

The junior forward’s most significant assets on the court are his fundamentals and defensive versatility. He’s counted on to do many different things for UW without making mistakes – which is why coach Gard worked to find him minutes.

Gilmore’s role last season was clear; be a low-usage player focused on taking care of the ball (led the team with a 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio), play sound defense, make good decisions, and get the starters a breather.

There’s this misconception that if rotational players don’t score, they’re of little value, which isn’t true. It’s the little things that earn you playing time at Wisconsin, and those are the things Gilmore puts a premium on doing well.

In the clip below, UW runs a chin series where Lindsey feeds Gilmore the ball on the free-throw line extended after he sets a backscreen on Davis. Instead of engaging in a DHO with Bowman, Gilmore sees his defender cheating, turns the corner, takes two dribbles, and spins away from his man for an easy left-handed finish.

“I’m most proud of the great teammate he’s become. Carter is unselfish and will do whatever it takes to help his team be successful, and he’s equally or even more happy for his teammates’ successes than his own,” Gilmore’s parents explained.

His counting stats might not jump off the page, but he’s a reliable option off the bench that can provide minutes at either forward spot – which UW will need to fill behind Tyler Wahl this season.

“If he [Gilmore] is asked to score this year, I’m confident he can. He is also a good passer; he can find ways to get the ball into people’s hands, so they can score, which is equally important.”

The Hartland (Wisc.) native garnered his first taste of legitimate Big Ten minutes last season, which should help the game slow down for him in 2022-23.

Leaning on this experience could help mitigate some of his current athletic deficiencies. Gilmore’s confidence and familiarity with the system should allow him to process things quicker and make the right reads.

Coach Gard has also mentioned that Gilmore has thrived on the scout team while playing the opposing team’s leading scorer. So, it’s certainly possible he has more to offer on the offensive end than we saw last season, specifically from beyond the arc.

He’s a better shooter than his 1-for-13 (7.7%) shooting split from three would lead you to believe, although that’s not exactly going out on a limb.

“Carter was a bit of a late bloomer, so he arrived in Madison with a lot of room for growth. Knowing the Badgers system, he has honed all of his fundamental skills, his body has changed a lot, and with that additional strength, I suspect he can do some things that maybe he didn’t have the strength to do his first year or two. Going against Tyler Wahl and Johnny Davis in practice for two years has been a great means for Carter to improve his game and prepare to battle in the Big Ten.”

Gilmore prides himself on his unselfish style of play, but don’t be surprised if we see an expanded role from the former walk-on off the bench during his last two seasons in Madison.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

Former walk-on Carter Gilmore has become a contributor in year two

Wisconsin native Carter Gilmore bet on himself and accepted a walk-on spot at UW last season. Now, he’s become a contributor in year two.

Former walk-on Carter Gilmore is among the most underappreciated players by the fan-base, which is a shame. Gilmore has appeared in all 10 games he’s been available for, missing one game due to illness. And while Gilmore isn’t playing one of the more prominent roles on the team, he’s undeniably given Greg Gard some really solid minutes off the bench this season.

Carter Gilmore is averaging 1.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists thus far while playing 9.8 minutes per game off the bench. The numbers don’t exactly jump off the page at you, but he’s proven to be a reliable option that can provide minutes at a number of spots.

Gilmore is a versatile and willing defender, who’s focused on making the right play when he’s on the floor. Because of this, Gilmore has been trusted to provide spot minutes out on the wing.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 22: Carter Gilmore #14 of the Wisconsin Badgers looks to pass against Manny Obaseki #35 of the Texas A&M Aggies during the 2021 Maui Invitational basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on November 22, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wisconsin won 69-58. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Greg Gard has gone out of way to mention that Gilmore has thrived while playing the role of the opposing team’s leading scorer on the scout team. So, it’s certainly possible that he has more to offer on the offensive end than we’ve seen to this point.

It’s also important to note that not all rotational players need to score to be of value. It’s the little things that earn you playing time at Wisconsin. On a team that features multiple high-volume scorers (Jonathan Davis, Brad Davison), it’s helpful to have a low usage player like Gilmore that focuses on taking care of the ball (2nd on the team is assist to turnover ratio), playing sound defense, and making good decisions.

Carter Gilmore knows how he can help this team, and understands his role. That’s why Coach Gard trusts him and has continued to find him opportunities. Gilmore is someone I’d expect to remain in the rotation throughout most of the season.

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Scouting Report: 2020 preferred walk-on Carter Gilmore

Wisconsin basketball landed a solid preferred walk-on. Here’s what he brings to Madison

As we continue our BadgersWire scouting report series, we turn to a preferred walk-on who feels like anything but an ordinary walk-on. Class of 2020 forward Carter Gilmore is a player who turned down multiple division one offers, including those from the likes of Depaul and Brown, to play for his home school in Madison.

Calling him a forward really does not tell the whole story. Gilmore looks and feels like a modern point-forward, at least at the high-school level. During his senior campaign, the 6-7 future Badger lead his Arrowhead squad to a 23-1 record. According to wissports.net, Gilmore averaged 26.8 points per game in 25 games while shooting nearly 54% from the field in the process.

Carter Gilmore in one word: “Positionless” — Sure, maybe this is just another way of saying versatile. On tape, the Hartland, WI native looks like he was playing point-center for his Arrowhead squad in high school. He was the anchor of the defense down low and came up with a series of highlight blocks. Gilmore also grabbed rebounds and brought the ball up himself. The best way to utilize Gilmore is an exciting mystery for Wisconsin Head Coach Greg Gard to solve.

Offense: Offensively, Gilmore does a little bit of everything. He’s comfortable taking the basketball up and making plays for others off the dribble. The point-forward stepped into a lot of pull-up threes at the high school level, and according to wissports.net shot 33% from beyond the arc as a senior. As a catch-and-shoot threat, Gilmore still has room to grow at the next level.

The best thing about Gilmore at this stage is his combination of pace and basketball IQ. By pace, I do not mean that he is particularly fast with the rock, but rather that he plays at his own tempo. He’s never hurried on the floor, and always seems to be under control with the basketball in his hands. His handles are sneaky good, especially for a player at his size. You can also expect a few highlight jams from Gilmore; an above-average athlete who has solid leaping ability. His turnovers were high this year at around four per game, but that is to be expected from a player who has the basketball in his hands as much as Gilmore did this season with the Warhawks.

Defense: As a rebounder, Gilmore was tenacious in high school. According to wissports.net, this past season the Arrowhead star pulled down nearly eleven rebounds per contest.

Gilmore’s role defensively at the next level is an interesting one to ponder. He probably lacks the speed to stay in front of most smaller college guards, while also not quite having the size to hang with bigs inside. Answering the question of where he fits best on this end of the floor will lead to Gilmore being a rotation player down the road.

2020-21 projection: On one of the deepest rosters in the country, Gilmore will be a player that can push others in practice to be better versions of themselves. A couple years down the road, do not be surprised if this preferred walk-on, who had multiple division one offers, turns into a hidden gem for the Badgers.