Tag: daniel freitag

Surprising candidate in contention for Wisconsin basketball starting point guard job

Surprising candidate emerging as Wisconsin basketball starting point guard

This story was updated to add new information

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard met with the media on Tuesday after the Badgers’ open practice.

One surprising note from his comments came regarding the team’s ongoing battle for the starting point guard role. Gard said Kamari McGee has “consistently separated himself” at practice and has “played the best [of the point guards] over the two and a half weeks so far.”

Related: Big Ten basketball power rankings entering 2024-25 season based on KenPom rating

Gard was asked to specify if the job is McGee’s to lose at this stage of the preseason. His response: “We’re still a ways away from Nov. 4. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

The comments point toward McGee possibly leading a point guard group that includes top 2024 recruit Daniel Freitag and Central Arkansas transfer Camren Hunter.

Freitag joined the program this offseason as 247Sports’ No. 127 player, No. 11 point guard and No. 2 recruit in Minnesota in the class of 2024. Hunter  missed all of the 2023-24 season with an injury. He previously averaged 16.9 points in 34 minutes per game as a sophomore in 2022-23. The two projected to be the team’s primary options at the position.

McGee, on the other hand, played in 25 games for the Badgers in 2023-24. He finished with per-game averages of 8.2 minutes, 2.1 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.5 steals on 54% shooting. His six-week absence in January and February directly coincided with the Badgers’ losing skid. While McGee’s numbers don’t jump off the page, Wisconsin seemed to consistently win with him in the lineup and lose with him out of it.

This is the biggest story surrounding the Wisconsin program with less than three weeks remaining before the opener against Holy Cross.

Freitag figures to play a big role immediately as a true freshman. But his role, and Wisconsin’s entire lineup, is somewhat up in the air. The team does not lack talent or experience — but it is set to look extremely different from last year’s group after the offseason departures of Chucky Hepburn, A.J. Storr and Tyler Wahl.

Gard and his team continue their preseason preparation before opening the 2024-25 season at the Kohl Center on Nov. 4 against Holy Cross. All eyes should be focused on who is announced as the team’s starting point guard during the pregame introductions.

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

Greg Gard: Badgers freshman PG Daniel Freitag ‘has some things physically that you can’t teach’

Greg Gard has high praise for freshman PG Daniel Freitag

Wisconsin basketball head coach Gard Gard had high praise for true freshman point guard Daniel Freitag earlier this week.

His comments come as the Badgers prepare to start their 2024-25 season in less than four weeks. Freitag, who joined the program this offseason as a four-star point guard recruit in the class of 2024, has been one of the early camp standouts.

Related: Big Ten basketball power rankings entering 2024-25 season: A first look at the expanded conference

“Probably there’s nobody that had a better week of practice than [Freitag],” Gard told reporters in a video shared by 247Sports. “I think the game is, I don’t want to say slowed down, but mentally he’s slowed down a little bit. He’s still playing as aggressive and I think his decision-making. He has some things physically that you can’t teach — does some things physically with his burst. He brings an electricity to us on both ends of the floor.”

Freitag figures to compete for the starting point guard job after Chucky Hepburn’s surprising departure after the 2023-24 season. He, transfer Camren Hunter and veteran Kamari McGee are the primary contenders for the spot.

But regardless of whether he starts each game on the floor, Freitag guarantees to play a significant role immediately.

“Whatever role I get, I’m happy with,” Freitag said. “Although I’m striving to have the biggest role possible. Every team I’ve been on, I haven’t wanted to be the fourth, fifth option. Or even second option. I’ve always wanted to be the guy. And not even the guy that scores the most or gets the most attention. But the guy that people can lean on in big moments…So I want that No. 1 [point guard] spot, kind of like how Anthony Edwards wanted on Team USA. He was probably cool with what he got, but I want to be the guy.”

The Minneapolis, Minnesota native was 247Sports’ No. 127 player in the class of 2024, No. 11 point guard and No. 2 recruit from his home state. He appears on track to surpass what his initial recruiting ranking projected.

Freitag hopes to lead a Wisconsin basketball program in need of a resurgent stretch. The program has not reached the Sweet 16 since 2017, and only has two NCAA Tournament wins in that span. It is fresh off a first-round exit in 2024 at the hands of 12-seed James Madison.

With Hepburn, A.J. Storr and Tyler Wahl all gone from the 2023-24 team, Freitag’s arrival hopes to mark the start of a new era of Badger basketball. That era will begin at the Kohl Center on Nov. 4 against Holy Cross.

It will be worth monitoring whether Freitag is introduced as the Badgers’ starting point guard on that date.

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

WATCH: Wisconsin basketball true freshman point guard flashes athleticism

WATCH: Wisconsin basketball true freshman point guard flashes bounce

Wisconsin basketball true freshman point guard Daniel Freitag showcased his athleticism in a short clip on Wednesday.

Despite being listed at 6’2”, Freitag got well above the rim to throw down a left-handed windmill after receiving a pass off the backboard. Not bad for someone who began his first day of classes at UW just a week ago.

Freitag was unquestionably Wisconsin’s most prolific recruit of the class of 2024. As one of five finalists for 2024 Minnesota Mr. Basketball, the newcomer captained Breck High School to a 31-1 record and a Class 2A state championship while averaging 26 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 2.5 steals per appearance as a senior.

The output also earned him state tournament first team, Elite 8 Player of the Year and all-metro first-team nods. Before his stint at Breck, Freitag became Jefferson High School’s all-time leading scorer in just three seasons. To put it simply, he can hoop.

247Sports considered Freitag the No. 117 overall recruit, No. 12 point guard and No. 3 recruit from Minnesota in the class of 2024. He will join guards Camren Hunter, Kamari McGee, John Tonje, Max Klesmit and John Blackwell as rotational members of the backcourt this season.

Wisconsin opens its 2024 campaign with an exhibition against UW-River Falls on Oct. 30 before its first regular season game against Holy Cross on Nov. 4 at the Kohl Center.

Wisconsin men’s basketball releases 2024 non-conference schedule

Wisconsin men’s basketball releases 2024 non-conference schedule

The Wisconsin Badgers’ men’s basketball program released its 2024 non-conference schedule on Thursday.

Greg Gard’s group will open the season against Holy Cross on Nov. 4 at the Kohl Center. The Badgers will follow their first regular season match with four consecutive non-conference home contests in Madison.

Montana State (Nov. 7), Appalachian State (Nov. 10), Arizona (Nov. 15) and UT-Rio Grande Valley (Nov. 18) will each venture to Wisconsin in the opening month of the 2024 season.

The first-ever Greenbrier Tip-Off follows the local action shortly thereafter. Wisconsin will face UCF and either LSU or Pittsburgh on Nov. 22 and Nov. 24, respectively.

A quick Kohl Center tune-up vs. Chicago State on Nov. 30 follows before UW makes its way to Milwaukee for its annual I-94 rivalry game against Marquette on Dec. 7.

The final roadblock arrives during the recently announced Dec. 14 match against Butler at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, home of the Indiana Pacers. The Detroit Mercy Titans will also play Wisconsin at home on Dec. 22.

On top of the non-conference campaign, which figures to be one of the more challenging slates across the college basketball landscape, Wisconsin will also face a bevy on conference opponents in Madison and across the country.

UW will host 10 Big Ten opponents this season and travel to Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Rutgers and USC for road conference games.

Prior to the chaos, Wisconsin will play host to UW-River Falls in an exhibition on Oct. 30 at home.

LOOK: Wisconsin basketball releases jersey numbers for 2024-25 season

LOOK: Wisconsin basketball releases jersey numbers for 2024-25 season

The Wisconsin men’s basketball program officially released each player’s jersey number ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Wisconsin welcomes six new faces to campus this fall after an offseason featuring a monumental shift in personnel.

Greg Gard and company added three top transfers: Central Arkansas guard Camren Hunter, Missouri guard John Tonje and Northern Illinois forward Xavier Amos.

The three will fill the voids left by star forward AJ Storr, fan-favorite point guard Chucky Hepburn and shooter Connor Essegian after the trio transferred to Kansas, Louisville and Nebraska, respectively.

Hunter, good for 16.9 points, 5 rebounds and 3.9 assists on 42% shooting and 31% from 3 as a sophomore in 2022-23, will wear No. 3 next season — Essegian’s former number with UW.

Amos, a stretch-forward who accounted for 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.3 blocks on 57% shooting and 38% from 3 in 2023-24 will wear No. 13 for Wisconsin this winter.

The Badgers’ final transfer, John Tonje, a reserve guard for Missouri in 2023-24 with 14.6-point, 4.7-rebounds and 1.3-assist averages at Colorado State under his belt in 2022-23, will wear No. 9.

 

Freshman Daniel Freitag, the No. 103 in class of 2024, No. 11 point guard, No. 3 from state of Minnesota will sport No. 5, the same number Tyler Wahl wore for five seasons.

Fellow newcomer Jack Robison, 247Sports’ No. 145 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, the No. 34 SF in the country and the No. 3 player in Minnesota, will suit up as No. 2. Superstar forward AJ Storr wore the jersey number last season for Wisconsin.

Serbian signee Andrija Vukovic will wear No. 19 this fall as well. His addition was Gard’s latest ahead of UW’s home opener in November.

Report: Wisconsin basketball to play Holy Cross in 2024-25 season opener

Report: Wisconsin basketball to play Holy Cross in 2024-25 season opener

The Wisconsin Badgers will reportedly host the Holy Cross Crusaders for their 2024-25 season opener on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at the Kohl Center, according to college basketball analyst Rocco Miller.

UW’s compiled a 22-14 overall mark in 2023-24 after being ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation in February. Wisconsin would ultimately earn a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling to No. 12 James Madison in the first round.

Since that point, Greg Gard’s program experienced a seismic shift in personnel.

Wisconsin reworked its roster this offseason with the addition of three top transfers: Central Arkansas guard Camren Hunter, Missouri guard John Tonje and Northern Illinois forward Xavier Amos. Those three players will fill the voids left by the departures of star point guard Chucky Hepburn (transfer), A.J. Storr (transfer) and Tyler Wahl (graduation).

Serbian signee Andrija Vukovic, point guard Daniel Freitag and guard Jack Robison will also don the scarlet and red as freshmen during the 2024-25 season. Freitag, a top-ranked class of 2024 prospect, will look to ignite UW’s backcourt in a now-loaded 18-team conference.

The Badgers will also host 10 Big Ten opponents this season, including new conference foes Washington and Oregon. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State also will venture to Madison, Wisconsin for contests in the Kohl Center.

Most notably, Greg Gard and company will travel to Los Angeles for bouts against UCLA and USC, the other two Big Ten additions for the 2024-2025 campaign. Wisconsin also will visit Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue and Rutgers.

The Badgers will also participate in the 2024-25 Greenbrier Tip-Off event featuring LSU, Pittsburgh and UCF, and will face Butler in a neutral site contest this season.

Wisconsin basketball class of 2024 signees Daniel Freitag and Jack Robison arrive in Madison

Wisconsin basketball class of 2024 signees Daniel Freitag and Jack Robison arrive in Madison

Following a hectic spring transfer window and overall offseason, Wisconsin’s men’s basketball team is poised for a reboot this fall.

The program experienced its fair share of movement since the end of the 2023-24 season.

Star forward AJ Storr, fan-favorite point guard Chucky Hepburn and streaky shooter Connor Essegian transferred elsewhere while veteran forward Tyler Wahl graduated after five seasons representing UW.

While the departures appear notable, Greg Gard and company will welcome six new faces to the Kohl Center for Wisconsin’s 2024-25 campaign.

Power forward Xavier Amos, point guard Camren Hunter and guard John Tonje rounded out the Badgers’ transfer portal acquisitions while Serbian signee Andrija Vukovic, point guard Daniel Freitag and guard Jack Robison, will don the scarlet and red as freshmen during the 2024-25 season.

Two of the three first-year contributors, Freitag and Robison, arrived in Madison to begin their collegiate journeys this week.

Freitag, a 247Sports’ No. 104 player in class of 2024, No. 11 point guard and No. 3 recruit from his home state of Minnesota, will likely fill the void left by Hepburn following his transfer to Louisville.

As one of 2024’s most coveted prospects, Freitag can make an immediate impact for Gard’s platoon this season and beyond.

Robison, another Minnesota native, was 247Sports’ No. 145 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, the No. 34 SF in the country, and the No. 3 player in Minnesota when he committed to UW.

The 6-foot-6, 175-pound wing is a left-handed three-level scorer who is especially dangerous from the perimeter. He figures to contribute to UW’s bench unit as a freshman with potential to become a mainstay on the outside.

Although both Freitag and Robison have established strong links to Wisconsin’s staff after the signing process, the two officially begin their tenure as Badgers this summer.

Wisconsin basketball appears in Joe Lunardi’s 2025 bracketology

Wisconsin basketball appears in Joe Lunardi’s 2025 Bracketology

Wisconsin men’s basketball program appeared in Joe Lunardi’s latest 2025 March Madness men’s field prediction on Thursday. 

Fresh off their round of 64 loss to No. 5 James Madison, Lunardi projected Wisconsin as one of the last four teams to make the tournament.

Wisconsin, alongside Saint Mary’s, Illinois and NC State, is forecast as an “on the bubble team” in the way-too-early estimates for 2025.

Over the past few weeks, UW’s program has experienced a complete shift in personnel. Thus far, the Badgers have landed Missouri transfer guard John Tonje, Central Arkansas guard Camren Hunter and Northern Illinois power forward Xavier Amos via the transfer portal.

With the departures of former Badgers Chucky Hepburn (portal), AJ Storr (portal) and Tyler Wahl (graduation), Greg Gard’s starting lineup will look much different in the fall. 

Wisconsin boasts four Final Four appearances, six Elite Eight bids and 10 Sweet 16 seasons in its storied history. The crew finished 22-14 a season ago, but will welcome three newcomers and freshman Daniel Freitag into the rotation next season.

An updated look at Wisconsin basketball’s 2024-25 roster after Chucky Hepburn’s departure

What must Greg Gard and Wisconsin do with the roster before the 2024-25 season?

Wisconsin basketball got bad news on Thursday when star guard and three-year starter Chucky Hepburn entered the transfer portal.

The news came on the heels of star guard A.J. Storr committing to Kansas, making it clear how much the program was losing after a solid 2023-24 campaign.

Related: Wisconsin basketball’s potential replacements for transfer guard Chucky Hepburn

Those departures now include Hepburn, Storr, senior forward Tyler Wahl and several depth pieces. It’s a new age of college basketball, one where four-year players are becomingly increasingly rare.

Greg Gard has work to do in the transfer portal to make up for the lost production. He’ll likely need a starting point guard, starting wing and experienced forward — all of that while keeping whats left of the roster together.

There are reasons for optimism, mainly the entrance of top 2024 point guard Daniel Freitag. But Badgers fans were despondent at the news of Hepburn leaving and how it signaled the current age of the sport.

As Gard and his staff continue to search for productive replacements, here is an updated look at Wisconsin basketball’s roster entering 2024-25:

Note: this list does not include walk-ons or Wisconsin’s future transfer portal activity.

2023-24 averages: 8.2 minutes, 2.0 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 54.5% shooting, 30% from 3.

McGee was one of 2023-24’s biggest surprises. He emerged as the team’s primary backup point guard — and his value became clear when the team struggled during his extended absence.

2023-24 averages: 1.9 minutes, 0.1 points, 0.5 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.3 blocks

Hodges struggled to see the floor in 2023-24 despite Wisconsin’s overall lack of depth at forward. That is trending to be the case again in 2024-25, though plenty of time remains until the season begins.

2023-24 averages: 28.9 minutes, 11.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.4 blocks, 57.8% shooting, 45% from 3.

Crowl’s play was yet again pivotal to Wisconsin’s success in 2023-24, especially his shooting from deep. The veteran center has one year of eligibility remaining and will look to take a substantial leap entering 2024-25.

2023-24 averages: 6.1 minutes, 1.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.2 steals, 31% shooting, 25% from 3.

Ilver was barely a part of Wisconsin’s rotation in 2023-24. It’s hard seeing those numbers dramatically increase in 2024-25, but who knows what the forward rotation will look like.

2023-24 averages: 28.6 minutes, 9.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, 44% shooting, 39% from 3.

Klesmit was an under-the-radar transfer addition entering the 2022-23 season and has blossomed into one of Wisconsin’s key starters. He’ll be back to play big role next season.

2023-24 averages: 9.4 minutes, 1.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 49% shooting

Gilmore has been a solid member of Wisconsin’s forward rotation for several years now. That should continue in 2024-25 regardless of what the Badgers do in the transfer portal.

2023-24 averages: 18.3 minutes, 8.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 45% shooting, 47% from three

Blackwell was one of several new additions entering 2023-24 who emerged as a big-time player. Not many on Wisconsin’s roster have more potential than Blackwell who already has a dynamic offensive game.

2023-24 averages: 9.6 minutes, 2.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.2 steals, 42% shooting

Winter was thrust into important action as a true freshman and should continue to improve entering 2024-25. He is Crowl’s eventual replacement but will play a big bench role until that happens.

247Sports ranking: No. 103 in class of 2024, No. 11 point guard, No. 3 from state of Minnesota

Freitag should become an immediate contributor for the Badgers after a storied high school career. He appears to be the Badgers replacement for the big loss of Chucky Hepburn.

247Sports ranking: No. 105 in class of 2024, No. 22 shooting guard, No. 4 from state of Minnesota

Add sharpshooter Jack Robinson to Wisconsin’s growing depth in the backcourt. He may not play right away, but Greg Gard has the future looking bright at the position.

Wisconsin has massive holes to fill in the transfer portal, and already is after several of its top guards and forwards.

There will be transfer additions. The question is how many.

2023-24 averages: 33.2 minutes, 9.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.1 steals, 52% shooting, 31% from 3.

Hepburn surprisingly entered the transfer portal on April 18, leaving behind a massive void of leadership and production.

2023-24 averages: 7.3 minutes, 3.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 38.5% shooting, 30% from 3.

Essegian entered the transfer portal on March 24 after seeing his minutes dip in his sophomore season. He has taken visits to several Big Ten schools and should find a solid second home.

2023-24 averages: 28.9 minutes, 16.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 43.6% shooting, 32% from 3.

Storr entered the portal after the season and recently committed to Kansas. That makes seven schools in seven years for the talented guard.

2023-24 averages: Did not play

Yalden entered the transfer portal on March 28 after not seeing the court during his freshman season. The former four-star recruit had off-the-court issues with the Badgers that led to him not traveling with the team to road games.

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

Wisconsin top 2024 point guard Daniel Freitag reaffirms commitment to Badgers

Wisconsin top 2024 signee Daniel Freitag is ready to fill the void left by Chucky Hepburn

Wisconsin basketball fans are reeling after starting point guard and team leader Chucky Hepburn entered the transfer portal on Thursday.

The news came directly on the heels of Badgers star guard A.J. Storr officially committing to Kansas. It was a 20-minute span that reinforced the severity of Wisconsin’s roster turnover, and showed the work head coach Greg Gard must do this offseason to improve the team.

Related: Wisconsin basketball’s potential replacements for transfer guard Chucky Hepburn

One potential long-term replacement for Hepburn is top 2024 point guard Daniel Freitag — a Wisconsin signee. He is 247Sports’ No. 104 player in class of 2024, No. 11 point guard and No. 3 recruit from his home state of Minnesota. By all accounts, he could be one of the more talented Badger point guards in some time.

Wisconsin fans were predictably angered by the current state of college basketball after Hepburn’s departure. If there was any fright Freitag could follow the veteran out the door, that was put to rest later Thursday afternoon:

 

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

[lawrence-related id=75155,75133,75108,75099,75088]