Tag: wisconsin badgers basketball recruiting

Badgers offer four-star class of 2026 forward from Ohio

Badgers take stab at impressive class of 2026 player

Wisconsin offered TJ Crumble, a four-star class of 2026 forward from Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday. The 6-foot-7, 180-pound athlete is still a sophomore in high school and has two more years until he’d potentially make the leap to the collegiate level.

Crumble has now received 16 Division 1 offers, including five from within the Big Ten. Amongst those, Ohio State likely has the upper hand simply because they’re his home state school.

Wisconsin doesn’t have any commitments for 2026, though considering how far away that season is, it’s not much of a surprise. Regardless, Greg Gard’s squad will look to get back on track this year after missing the NCAA Tournament last year.

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How Wisconsin basketball performed in their Paris opener

The Badgers trip gets off to a winning start

The Badgers are taking advantage of college basketball’s four-year travel rule as Wisconsin is spending the week in France preparing for the 2022-23 season.

Every four years, a program is allowed to take an international trip that is usually filled with scrimmages, sightseeing, and team bonding. The Badgers got off to a winning start against a group of French pros. Wisconsin pulled away for an 81-66 win as they showed off a new-look starting lineup and gave a number of players the chance to show what they can do.

Here is what head coach Greg Gard had to say after the trip got off to a winning start on Wednesday:

How did each Badger perform in the win? Here is a look:

Wisconsin basketball 2021 target James Graham teases a Monday announcement

The Badger target will make an announcement on Monday

James Graham is one of the nation’s hottest recruits over the past few months, and Wisconsin has been a key player in the recruiting battle for his services. The 6-8 SF has a do-it-all game, and has been tearing up the Badger state on the club circuit after an impressive junior season at Nicolet High School in Milwaukee.

Graham teased fans on Twitter today that something was coming tomorrow.

According to multiple insiders, including 247Sports insider Evan Flood, Graham is likely cutting his list of schools down tomorrow, and the Badgers hope to be on that shortened list.

The 2021 four-star holds a number of high-major offers from the likes of Florida State, Memphis, Michigan State, and Maryland. Wisconsin jumped in on the later side with an offer on July 9, but given the in-state connection there is reason to believe that the Badgers could be in the mix if and when Graham shortens his list.

Scouting Report: 2021 five-star Patrick Baldwin Jr.

After tackling a number of Wisconsin commits in our BadgersWire scouting report series, we now turn to one of the top in-state recruits in the history of the Badger state. Patrick Baldwin Jr. is the truth. The class of 2021 “small forward” (in …

After tackling a number of Wisconsin commits in our BadgersWire scouting report series, we now turn to one of the top in-state recruits in the history of the Badger state. Patrick Baldwin Jr. is the truth. The class of 2021 “small forward” (in reality, he does not have a true position) has an NBA frame and an NBA jumper to go along with it. The Sussex, Wis. (Hamilton) native recently released his top ten schools, and had Wisconsin included with the likes of ACC powerhouses Duke (where he has been closely linked), North Carolina, and Virginia. He also has family ties included on his list as his father Patrick Baldwin Sr. is the Head Coach at UW-Milwaukee.

Patrick Baldwin Jr. in one word: Ok, I have to cheat with this one. Using two words, the 6-foot-9 prospect can best be described as under control. There are nearly no moments on tape where the Hamilton star looks rushed, frazzled, or like he is not playing at his own pace. In fact, oftentimes he looks like he is playing at a completely slower pace than others around him, yet he dominates games without being in a hurry.

Breaking it down: Breaking down Baldwin Jr’s strengths begins with his jump shot. When you watch the five-star prospect shoot it almost looks like his shot was created in a lab. His mechanics are scary good. Like NBA sharpshooter Klay Thompson-level good. At 6-foot-9 with tremendous length, he can get his shot off against almost anybody at any time. Whether it’s a pull-up three in transition, a quick catch-and-shoot, or an off the dribble jumper, Baldwin Jr. can cash it because of consistent mechanics and a quick trigger.

His handle is fluid and consistent for his size. There is an element of smooth in his dribble moves, and he has quite a few in the bag. The Wisconsin native has a bounce to his step with the basketball in his hands and the explosive ability to go up and over nearly all defenders at the high school level.

Baldwin Jr. also excels with his face-up game. Instead of playing with his back to the basket, he is more comfortable facing up against his defender and making a quick move off the dribble.

As I previously said, there never seems to be any rush in the five-star prospect’s game. Couple that with his size, length, and mobility, to go along with a perfect jump shot from a mechanics perspective, and you have one of the best offensive recruits in the history of Wisconsin high school basketball.

In terms of his size, many will say that the class of 2021 prospect needs to add muscle in the weight room. At under 200 pounds and 6-foot-9, he will certainly add muscle at the next level, but just how much should he add to his frame? When I watch Baldwin Jr., one of the first NBA comparisons that pops into my mind is Kevin Durant. Durant is not only one of the greatest scorers in the history of the game, but also a player that is known as the ‘slim reaper’ and a star that never added to his frame in a significant way. The way Baldwin Jr. plays and the direction that the game is headed in makes me question just how much he should change his physique.

Overall: Whoever gets the Wisconsin product is obviously landing one of the best players in the country. It is hard to find a glaring weakness offensively, and the combination of a pure jump shot, mobility, and size is rare to see at any level. If things go as planned for a player that is currently a consensus top-five prospect in his class, Baldwin Jr. is going to be a high-NBA lottery pick.

 

Nate Reuvers is on pace to set a Wisconsin basketball record that will be very hard to break

The Badger star is on pace to shatter a current record held by Ethan Happ

[lawrence-newsletter]Following the departure of Ethan Happ, Wisconsin forward Nate Reuvers was expected to take a major step forward this past season. The junior big man stepped up to the challenge on both ends of the floor. Reuvers improved his points per game average to 13.1, averaging nearly five more points than he did in 2018-19. Despite the increased role at the offensive end, the defensive end of the floor is where Reuvers has worked wonders in both his sophomore and junior campaigns. The Lakeville, Min. native has now had back-to-back seasons of averaging nearly two blocks per game, and with added muscle has become one of the Big Ten’s most prolific rim protectors.

Reuvers followed up his 60 blocks in 2018-19 with 58 this past season in a year that was cut short. Wisconsin’s leading scorer finished this season with 144 career blocks, just ten shy of Ethan Happ who holds the current Badger all-time record with 154.

The junior forward has also had some impressive single-game performances in terms of blocked shots, the most recent of which came when he matched a career-high with nine rejections against Eastern Illinois early in the year. Reuvers was one block away from a triple double in that early-season contest, and absolutely dominated a smaller EIU team with his size and athleticism on the defensive end.

Had this year finished out with what would have been at the very least two more games, but in all likelihood far more than that, Reuvers would have easily surpassed his 60 blocks from the 2019 season. With another full year under his belt, expect 2020-21 to be a senior finale where Reuvers not only captures Wisconsin’s all-time blocks record but sets the bar extremely high. All signs point towards the Badger big finishing his career with over 200 blocks and beating the all-time UW record by over 50 rejections. Stay tuned for Reuvers’ senior block party.

Wisconsin basketball has the luxury to stay out of the current transfer portal madness

The Badgers have the luxury of returning their solid core from a year ago

[lawrence-newsletter][lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]Transfers in college basketball have become the new recruiting battle in college basketball. According to 247sports, a one-time immediate eligibility rule is expected to pass for transfers when the NCAA votes on May 20th. That change would likely increase what has already become a massive pool of talent in the transfer portal due to those players gaining immediate eligibility with no questions asked.

You only need to look around the Big Ten to see what the madness of transfer season creates. Look no further than the Ohio State Buckeyes as an example. Two-year starter Luther Muhammad has transferred out of the Buckeye program along with D.J. Carton and Alonzo Gaffney. On the flip side, Ohio State has brought in Harvard transfer Seth Towns and just yesterday it was announced that Utah State point guard Abel Porter would use his graduate year of eligibility to join OSU. All of a sudden, in a matter of two weeks, an entire Big Ten roster sees itself flipped. It almost feels like an NBA offseason.

The Badgers had enough transfer drama during the year. Now they can sit back and watch everything unfold. When Kobe King transferred out in the middle of the Big Ten season, and then a few weeks later committed to Nebraska, the Badgers were able to face adversity on the fly. They bonded together as a unit during the second half of the season. The best news? That unit is coming back.

The Badgers only lose one significant contributor in terms of minutes, that being Brevin Pritzl. With 88% of the minutes coming back to Madison, and nobody leaving in the transfer madness, Wisconsin can stay out of what has already been a wild off-season for multiple Big Ten programs. Even more important for UW, a returning core that has played with each other for a full year (and more in most cases) has built the chemistry that only comes with time.

Turnover in transfer season may be fun for fans, and if the NCAA vote on May 20th grants immediate, one-time eligibility that would be a major win for the players. Staying out of the entire process as a team, however, will likely translate to consistency and wins. Take two teams of relatively similar talent. One of those teams has three new significant pieces while three players have departed. The other has the same solid nine players that made up last year’s foundation. Who would you take?

Wisconsin basketball not only has the luxury of depth, but also a foundation of players who are not going through the grinds of a Big Ten season for the first time. While the transfer portal may feel like a fun, shiny new car, the Badgers have a steady ride that will not break down in 2021.

Luka Garza’s NBA decision could be very significant for the Badgers

The best player in the Big Ten Conference has his NBA decision looming

The Big Ten Conference is gearing up for another year on top of the college basketball world, and the Badgers have plans to be on top of the conference in 2021. A common theme among the way-too-early projections for college basketball rankings see Iowa playing second fiddle to Wisconsin in top-25 lists among a variety of major networks. The Badgers and the Hawkeyes have consistently been projected to be top-10 teams next season. Although no coach or player wants to focus on what other teams and players are doing, Iowa basketball recently made news that could have a major effect on Big Ten supremacy.

The battle for the Big Ten runs through Iowa City and Madison in 2021, although the path could be come much clearer for the Badgers given the results of a pending decision. Iowa star Luka Garza recently made headlines with a decision on his future. The 2019-20 Big Ten Player of the Year has decided to enter the NBA Draft without losing his senior season eligibility, per his Twitter account. “If it ends up not being the right time to make the move to the NBA, I’m excited about the potential of what my senior season as a Hawkeye could have in store,” Garza said via Twitter.

 

The Iowa center had a career junior season in which he averaged 23.9 points per game and 9.8 rebounds in an award-filled campaign. Garza would not only be the popular pick to repeat as Big Ten Player of the Year, but also the clear favorite to take home the Wooden Award for best college basketball player in the nation, an honor that he narrowly missed out on this year when Dayton star Obi Toppin took home the hardware. As the biggest pre-season threat to the Badgers repeating as Big Ten Champions, the Hawkeyes would certainly look extremely different without their best player.

So how does this decision work for Garza? According to NCAA rules he is now able to keep his eligibility through the draft process, and participate in workouts, the NBA Draft Combine and other events with teams. His name can still be entered in the NBA Draft pool, and given where he feels like he would fall Garza can make a decision on his future after the pre-draft process plays out. Another interesting element in his decision could be an NBA Draft process that looks extremely different. If the NFL Draft is any indication, the draft process in a global pandemic will certainly change drastically. Badger fans should keep their eye on Garza throughout his process, as the big man’s decision could have a major say in who wins the conference next season.

ESPN includes a Badger when ranking the top 25 college basketball players for 2020-21

A Badger is included in ESPN’s rankings of the best college basketball players in 2020-21

The Big Ten Conference was all over ESPN’s recent list of the top 25 players in the country for 2020-2021. ESPN insider John Gasaway had two Big Ten ballers in his top 10, including Iowa Hawkeye star Luka Garza ranked as the top player in the country.

Garza was neck-and-neck with Dayton star Obi Toppin for the Wooden Player of the Year Award, ultimately losing out to Toppin for college basketball’s top honor. The Hawkeye big man averaged 23.9 points per contest to go along with 9.8 rebounds last season.

Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu was ranked as the eighth-best player, although the Illini star still has to answer the questions that the NBA Draft is asking. Dosunmu has yet to verbally say he is staying for his junior season, and his teammate Kofi Cockburn just announced his decision to declare for the NBA Draft.

The Badger that was included in the list was not Wisconsin’s leading scorer Nate Reuvers, but instead Big Ten sixth man of the year snub Micah Potter. The Ohio native was ranked as the 18th-best player in college basketball for next season. Potter averaged 10.1 points per game and 6.2 rebounds this past year after making his Badger debut in December. The Ohio State transfer will be a major piece for a 2020-21 Badger squad that has Final Four aspirations. ESPN sees him as the best returning Badger next season on a squad that returns 88% of their minutes from this past year.  

Why was Greg Gard so divisive among the Badger fan base?

Greg Gard has won at a high level, developed players, and recruited. So why have many Badger fans been split about their opinions of him?

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]There is a saying in sports that sums up this past February and March for Badger basketball: winning solves a lot of problems. I hope the problems that Badger fans have with Greg Gard have been largely solved. The title of this article should not actually be “is” so divisive. This should be a past tense problem. With that being said, here is why that problem existed in the first place.

Before Wisconsin rattled off eight straight wins and won the Big Ten regular season championship, there was swirling hostility among Badger fans surrounding Gard. The longtime assistant to Bo Ryan faced harsh criticism even when winning at a high level. The question that a large portion of fans wanted to know is why?

In my opinion, the first part of the answer as to why is the most important aspect. How many head coaching jobs open up when in the previous two years (and twelve games into a third year) the program has gone 73-17? UW had a win percentage of over 80% in Ryan’s final three years, a stat that usually does not equate to coaching turnover at the college level. In other words, Gard had impossible shoes to fill. Replacing a legend simply does not happen. You can never replace the love and respect that a specific fan base has for a figure like Ryan, you can only hope to earn a different, unique respect of your own over time.

Being held to Ryan’s standard is an unfair bar, but to make matters even more unfair to Gard let’s remember how this coaching change happened. After the Badger legend had been talked out of retirement following Wisconsin’s national championship game loss in 2015, Ryan returned for the 2015-16 campaign. That season began with a sluggish 7-5 start that included a season-opening home loss to Western Illinois. Then, following a December 15, 2015 win over Texas A&M CC, the Badger head coach retired at his postgame press conference. This is by no means saying that Ryan should not have done it this way. He had the resume to do things exactly how he wanted to do them. It still, however, left Coach Gard in a strange place as he inherited the team.

Gard struggled early, going 2-4 in his first six games at the helm after the sudden transition. It was a confusing time for Badger basketball fans, and an easy outlet for frustrations was Gard. He was now filling the shoes of a legend, had taken over the program in the middle of a season where the team was already struggling, and had failed to provide an immediate spark. Then, as Gard has done at a high clip in Madison, he began to win. Up until the beginning of this season, the former UW-Platteville head man was 80-47 (.62 win percentage) as the head of the Badger program.

The common argument was that he was doing it without his own players, which was true then. That led into the narrative that Gard and his staff struggle as recruiters. Then Wisconsin recruited two excellent classes in 2020, and in 2021. Oh, and about the winning with Ryan’s players argument? Gard just navigated overwhelming adversity to steadily guide the Badgers to eight straight wins this past February/March with his own players. Those players have also developed tremendously over the last couple of years.

Gard was destined to be divisive because while many have looked at the situation he inherited as the dream for a new coach, that dream scenario comes with dream-like expectations. From replacing a legend, to taking over mid-season and struggling early, Gard had a marathon ahead of him to win over Badger fans. Hopefully, the finish line was last month when the Badgers celebrated a Big Ten Championship in a Kohl Center parade.

There are certainly many more goals in front of Gard and his staff, but up to this point he has passed tests with flying colors. Gard has answered every question so far, and Badger fans should come together to support a team and a coach that should have Final Four aspirations next season.

Does Vegas think Wisconsin basketball has a chance at the 2021 National Championship?

With sports still in shutdown mode, sports gambling has also come to a screeching halt. In fact, the only college basketball line listed on BetMGM’s online platform is a future for who is going to take home the 2021 National Championship. Wisconsin …

With sports still in shutdown mode, sports gambling has also come to a screeching halt. In fact, the only college basketball line listed on BetMGM’s online platform is a future for who is going to take home the 2021 National Championship. Wisconsin is expecting to be in the mix for a Final Four berth next season as the Badgers return 88% of their minutes from this Big Ten Championship winning season. The returning core will be paired with a solid, six-man 2020 recruiting class. UW is primed for success. Vegas certainly agrees.

Odds via BetMGM. Access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated April 5, 2020 at 5 p.m. ET. 

Wisconsin comes in at +1600 to win the 2021 National Championship, tied for the tenth-best odds. The +1600 number means that a ten dollar wager on the Badgers would yield $160 of profit. UW was not in the top 25 of BetMGM’s odds to win the natty at any point during the 2019-20 season, yet open as a top-10 favorite. It is clear that Vegas sees the potential in this Badger team. Currently, the co-favorites to win it all are Baylor and Gonzaga at +800. The only Big Ten team with better odds than Wisconsin is Iowa, who cash in at +1500.

“Want to get in on the action? Place your bet now at BetMGM.”

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