Tag: James Madison

Report: Wisconsin pursuing former James Madison star forward

Report: Wisconsin pursuing former James Madison star forward

Wisconsin is among the schools that have reached out to former James Madison star forward Terrence Edwards Jr., according to a report from 247Sports’ Luke Chaney.

Edwards averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 2023-24 for the Dukes, doing so on 46% shooting and 34% from three. He put up 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in James Madison’s 72-61 NCAA Tournament win over the Badgers.

Related: If Wisconsin decides to move on from Greg Gard, who could it target as its next head coach?

The 6’6″ forward would fill the possible void left by A.J. Storr, who recently declared for the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility.

Wisconsin is included among the schools that have reportedly reached out to Edwards along with TCU, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Xavier and Oregon.

Greg Gard has work to do in the transfer portal as he works to reload entering a 2024-25 season that is pivotal to his tenure as head coach. Wisconsin has not made the Sweet Sixteen since 2017, and desperately needs a team good enough to make a deep postseason run.

For more on Wisconsin’s roster and transfer portal activity, check out Badgers Wire’s ongoing 2024 transfer portal tracker.

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.

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Potential Thunder draft prospect Kyle Filipowski helps Duke in win over James Madison

Potential Thunder draft prospect Kyle Filipowski helps Duke in win over James Madison.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to come to OKC than the latter.

As the NCAA Tournament progresses, the top prospects are in the spotlight as they draw national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Duke center Kyle Filipowski. He finished with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in 21 minutes of Duke’s 93-55 win over No. 12 James Madison in the round of 32 on Sunday.

Filipowski has been the offensive hub for Duke this season. The 7-foot center can stretch the floor and pass when needed. He has an NBA-ready frame at 248 pounds, which means he should immediately contribute and not be physically overwhelmed.

In his second year at Duke, he’s averaged 17.1 points on 51% shooting, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 blocks. He’s shot 35% from 3 on 3.2 attempts. The 20-year-old led Duke to a 24-8 record and the No. 4 seed in the South Region.

The Thunder could hope Filipowski would add serious size at their center spot. He could start alongside Holmgren for jumbo lineups. He’s also versatile enough to fit with OKC.

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March Madness: Duke obliterates James Madison, advances to Sweet 16

Duke exposed James Madison on Sunday afternoon:

The Duke Blue Devils dominated James Madison 93-55 Sunday afternoon to advance to the Sweet 16.

Duke is the member of the Brooklyn, New York cluster that advances to the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend. That was obviously Wisconsin’s group, but the Badgers frustratingly fell to James Madison in the first round.

Related: If Wisconsin decides to move on from Greg Gard, who could it target as its next head coach?

Duke avenged Wisconsin’s loss, in a way, and clearly showed what the Badgers couldn’t do against the Dukes. Notably, James Madison’s pressure suddenly didn’t overwhelm the opponent. Duke operated all afternoon without a hint of resistance.

The margin of victory is a point of frustration for Badgers fans as James Madison suddenly didn’t look like the juggernaut that it did on Friday night. That’s one side of it. The other side: Duke is operating at a high level at the moment and would’ve been a tough matchup for the Badgers to overcome.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, turns focus to how to improve in 2024-25 and avoid another disappointing postseason. The first decision is whether to retain head coach Greg Gard, a decision the fanbase seems to be set on.

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.

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Report: Wisconsin G A.J. Storr doesn’t commit to second season with Badgers

Report: Wisconsin G A.J. Storr doesn’t commit to second season with Badgers

Wisconsin basketball’s 2023-24 season came to an end with a demoralizing 72-61 NCAA Tournament loss to James Madison Friday night.

The story was the Badgers’ struggles from the opening tip. James Madison showed up ready to play, Wisconsin did not.

One big piece of that was the struggles of  A.J. Storr. The dynamic guard finished with just 13 points on 5 of 14 from the field and 0 of 3 from 3-point range. His night embodied Wisconsin’s performance: inconsistent and lacking rhythm.

Related: Wisconsin basketball social media debates Greg Gard’s future as Badgers head coach

Storr’s future is now one of the team’s big questions entering 2024-25. Greg Gard is set to return the entire team aside from departing senior Tyler Wahl. But there is some thought out there that Storr could look to play elsewhere next season.

The Badgers guard was non-committal when speaking to reporters after the game, instead focusing on the team’s loss and the departure of Wahl.

Badger247’s Evan Flood writes that Storr said “I don’t really know right now” when asked about his options of returning to Wisconsin, entering the NBA draft or entering the transfer portal.

Related: An early look at the Wisconsin basketball roster entering 2024-25

The former St. John’s transfer averaged 16.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists for the Badgers this season. His presence was badly needed after the team lacked a dynamic wing scorer during the 2022-23 season.

Gard is set to return Chucky Hepburn, John Blackwell and Max Klesmit while welcoming in top point guard Daniel Freitag this offseason. Storr would be welcomed back to compliment that rotation, but it sounds as if he may have a decision to make regarding his future.

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.

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Wisconsin PG Chucky Hepburn: James Madison ‘shocked us to start the game’

Thoughts on James Madison’s effort vs Wisconsin?

Wisconsin basketball was stunned with a 72-61 NCAA Tournament opening-round loss to James Madison Friday night.

The loss marks yet another disappointing end for a Wisconsin season. The program is now on a seven-year Sweet 16 drought, with only two tournament wins in that span.

Related: Wisconsin basketball social media debates Greg Gard’s future as Badgers head coach

The Badgers’ poor performance was largely a surprise after a successful weekend at the Big Ten Tournament. It started from the opening tip, as James Madison brought a level of intensity and physicality that Wisconsin could not match.

Greg Gard’s team turned the ball over on four of its first six possessions, and continued that sloppiness through the entire contest.

Badgers point guard Chucky Hepburn said something postgame that every fan would agree with — James Madison shocked the Badgers when the game tipped off:

Hepburn finished with only eight points on 3/8 shooting along with three rebounds, four assists and three turnovers. He was one of the several Badger stars who struggled with the Dukes’ pressure, and part of the reason the team was out of rhythm all 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.

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Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl emotional after final collegiate game

Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl emotional after final collegiate game

Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl’s college career came to an end with the team’s 72-61 NCAA Tournament round of 64 loss to James Madison Friday night.

Wahl finished with just five points on 1/5 from the floor and 3/6 from the free throw line. It was an unfortunate ending to a decorated collegiate career, and a performance that fell far short of his standard as a player.

Related: Wisconsin basketball social media debates Greg Gard’s future as Badgers head coach

Wisconsin does return almost every key contributor for 2024-25, plus adds a 2024 class headlined by top point guard Daniel Freitag. But Wahl’s departure should be felt in the team’s rotation next season.

The five-year college veteran was understandably emotional after Friday’s loss to James Madison. Some of the on-site beat writers shared a glimpse at that postgame scene:

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.

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NEW: Duke awaits the winner of Wisconsin vs. James Madison

NEW: Duke awaits the winner of Wisconsin vs. James Madison

The No. 4-seed Duke Blue Devils will play the winner of No. 5-seed Wisconsin vs. No. 12-seed James Madison.

The Blue Devils just closed out a 64-47 win over No. 13-seed Vermont. The game was tight throughout, but Jon Scheyer’s team went on a big run late to shut the door on Vermont’s upset bid.

Related: Pewaukee, Wisconsin’s Jack Gohlke becomes viral sensation with NCAA Tournament performance vs. Kentucky

Wisconsin obviously has big-time NCAA Tournament history against Duke — the Blue Devils narrowly defeated the Badgers in the 2015 national championship game.

Greg Gard’s team would welcome a rematch of that contest with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.

Zooming out a bit, the South Region opened up a bit with big upsets in the round of 64. Top-ranked Houston and Duke still remain on Wisconsin’s side of the bracket, but Marquette’s Elite 8 path is wide open with No. 10-seed Colorado, No. 11-seed NC State and No. 14-seed Oakland the only competition.

Related: Wisconsin Badgers vs. James Madison Dukes: Preview and prediction for NCAA Tournament round of 64

None of this discussion is important if Wisconsin can’t handle business against James Madison in its round of 64 contest. The Badgers enter having played their best basketball of the season last week at the Big Ten Tournament, but needing a strong performance to beat a 31-3 James Madison team.

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.

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WATCH: Wisconsin basketball recreates San Francisco 49ers’ boombox walk-in

WATCH: Wisconsin basketball recreates San Francisco 49ers’ boom box walk-in

Wisconsin basketball arrived to its NCAA Tournament round of 64 matchup with No. 12 seed James Madison in style earlier tonight.

The team somewhat recreated the San Francisco 49ers’ famous walk-in with a boombox blaring music. Assistant equipment manager Robert Lloyd carries the boombox for the 49ers as they enter the field. For Wisconsin, it’s sophomore guard Connor Essegian.

Related: Social media relitigates Zach Edey’s whistle from Wisconsin’s upset win over Purdue

The Badgers and James Madison Dukes are set for a 9:40 p.m. Eastern tipoff at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Wisconsin will need to start fast to avoid the fates of Kentucky, Auburn, BYU and other top seeds that were upset. Badgers fans likely hope the entrance can have something to do about that:

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.

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Wisconsin basketball takes playful shot at a famous James Madison alumnus

Wisconsin basketball takes playful shot at a famous James Madison alumnus

Wisconsin basketball’s social media is ready for the team’s NCAA Tournament quest to begin.

First up for the Badgers is a Friday night battle with No. 12-seed James Madison at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Wisconsin enters as a sizable favorite, though James Madison quickly became a popular upset pick by analysts and fans once the bracket was revealed.

Related: Social media relitigates Zach Edey’s whistle from Wisconsin’s upset win over Purdue

The matchup is tailor-made for Pardon My Take, one of the most popular sports podcasts in the world. The two hosts are Dan Katz (Big Cat) and Eric Sollenberger (PFT Commenter). Katz is a famous Wisconsin alumnus and one of the school’s biggest advocates. Sollenberger, on the other hand, went to James Madison.

James Madison basketball is rarely on this stage, so Sollenberger is seldom heard from about the program. Katz, on the other hand, is front-and-center when it comes to anything Wisconsin athletics.

Going back two years, the two hosts were quite literally front-and-center for Wisconsin’s memorable buzzer-beating victory over top-ranked Purdue. The win clinched the Badgers a share of the Big Ten title — and is arguably the program’s best win in the last half-decade.

Plenty of photo and video evidence exists of Sollenberger courtside rooting for the Badgers. Because that evidence exists, Wisconsin basketball on X had to remind Sollenberger who he used to root for:

Wisconsin and James Madison are set to tip off at 9:40 p.m. Eastern with the game being broadcast on CBS.

Regardless of which team wins Friday night, Pardon My Take may be the biggest winner of anybody.

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.

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Wisconsin basketball experiences a classic East Coast big-city problem…traffic

Wisconsin experiences a classic New York problem…….traffic

Wisconsin basketball has arrived in New York ahead of the team’s NCAA Tournament round of 64 matchup with James Madison in Brooklyn on Friday night.

The Badgers went through an open practice at the Barclays Center on Thursday afternoon. That practice was followed by media availability, during which it was made clear that Wisconsin showed up late to the arena due to a classic East Coast big city problem: traffic.

Related: Wisconsin Badgers vs. James Madison Dukes: Preview and prediction for NCAA Tournament round of 64

Gard addressed the situation after practice, saying it was “a little longer bus ride than we were told it was going to be. New York traffic is not quite like Wisconsin.”

I can relate to the team’s struggle as an East Coast resident, though I must note that I also ran into plenty of traffic on the beltline during my years living in Madison, Wisconsin.

But Jim Polzin’s assertion is correct, New York City has a bit more traffic than Cobb, Wisconsin.

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.

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