Tag: wisconsin badgers basketball

Notes: Wisconsin Beats Instate Rival Marquette at Home 77-61

Game notes from Wisconsin’s victory over instate rival Marquette.

MADISON, Wis.– News and notes from UW Athletics after Wisconsin’s 77-61 victory over instate rival Marquette on Sunday.

TEAM NOTES

  • Wisconsin moved to 3-1 on the season, recording its 12th consecutive non-conference home win.
  • Head coach Greg Gard improved his overall record to 83-48 (.634), including a mark of 49-14 (.778) at the Kohl Center.
  • Wisconsin registered its 300th win in Kohl Center history. Since the building opened on Jan. 17, 1998, the Badgers are 300-51 (.855) all-time at the Kohl Center, the 9th-highest win percentage among NCAA Division I venues.
  • Wisconsin improved to 68-58 all-time against Marquette, including a mark of 39-18 in Madison. The Badgers are 2-2 vs. the Golden Eagles under head coach Greg Gard.
  • The Badgers’ 16-point margin of victory marked their largest win over Marquette since a 65-41 triumph on Dec. 23, 1998.
  • Wisconsin’s 77 points were their most scored against Marquette at the Kohl Center since a 77-63 victory on Dec. 10, 2005.
  • A total of 6 Badgers scored in double figures, marking the first game for Wisconsin with 6 double-digit scorers since a 93-84 win over Marquette on Dec. 10, 2016.
  • Wisconsin went 18-for-20 (.900) at the free throw line. That marked the first time the Badgers shot at least 90.0% from the charity stripe on 20 or more attempts since going 28-for-31 (.903) vs. Indiana on Feb. 3, 2015.
  • The Badgers shot 57.1% (8-for-14) from 3-point range in the second half en route to shooting a season-high 47.8% for the game.
  • Wisconsin outscored Marquette in the paint 24-10. On the season, the Badgers are outscoring opponents by an average of 9.0 points per game in the paint (28.0-19.0).
  • The Badgers held Marquette’s Markus Howard to 2 points on 0-for-9 shooting in the 2nd half. Howard, who finished with 18 points, had averaged 24.0 points in his previous 3 games vs. the Badgers.
  • Wisconsin surrendered only 5 offensive rebounds and 3 second-chance points to Marquette. The Badgers scored 14 secondchance points on their 9 offensive boards.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

  • Senior G Brevin Pritzl posted the first doubledouble of his career with 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, including 6 offensive boards.
  • Pritzl went 3-for-4 from 3-point range and 4-for-4 at the free throw line.
  • Junior G Brad Davison scored 15 points and pulled down 3 rebounds.
  • Junior F Aleem Ford scored 12 points and matched his career highs with 7 rebounds and 2 blocks.
  • Junior F Nate Reuvers scored in double figures for the 4th consecutive game, tallying 10 points.
  • Junior G D’Mitrik Trice scored 10 points and matched his career high with 3 steals.
  • Sophomore G Kobe King scored in double figures for the 2nd-consecutive game and the 7th time in his career.

Game Day Grades – Wisconsin vs. Marquette

What grades did Wisconsin receive following their game against instate rival Marquette?

Offense: A

One thing that had been missing from Wisconsin’s offense through the first three games was an offensive balance. The Badgers offensive production was generated through the post as it was needed, considering the struggles from 3-point range for Wisconsin.

Wisconsin was able to get on track from three in the second half against McNeese State when they shot 7-for-15 over the final 20 minutes. The Badgers were able to carry that performance over against Marquette as Wisconsin finished the game 11-for-24 (47.8 percent) from three.

Wisconsin had six different players knock down a three, as Brevin Pritzl led the way making three of his four attempts as his 15 points tied for the team lead in scoring with Brad Davison. D’Mitrik Trice and Nate Reuvers were the only other two players to make at least two of their 3-point tries as they shot a combined 4-for-9. Aleem Ford went 1-for-4, Davison went 1-for-3, and Kobe King went 1-for-2 from three.

The success Wisconsin had from 3-point range helped open up the paint for Wisconsin as the Badgers finished the game with 24 points down low as 18 of those points came in the first half.

Wisconsin was aggressive early and found ways to attack Marquette’s defense as the Badgers scored nine points off of fastbreak opportunities. Due to the aggressive play by Wisconsin’s offense, it also allowed for Wisconsin to get to the free throw line. For the third time over Wisconsin’s first four games, the Badgers got to the free throw line at least 20 times. Wisconsin was able to convert on their opportunities by going 18-for-20.

Overall, Wisconsin had six different players score in double figures. Outside of Pritzl and Davison each scoring 15 points, Ford finished the game with 12 points, while Trice, King, and Reuvers all finished with 10 points.

Wisconsin finished the game shooting 24-for-56 (42.9 percent) from the field.

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3-Point Shot Wisconsin vs. Marquette

Here are the three keys to a Wisconsin victory over in-state rival Marquette on Sunday.

Marquette has beaten Wisconsin over the last two meetings and three of the last four games. The Badgers certainly will have a challenge on Sunday against Marquette as the Golden Eagles are coming off of a 10-point victory against Purdue to improve their record to 2-0.

In this Badgers Wire feature, we will look at the three keys or questions for Wisconsin as they prepare to play in-state rival, Marquette.

LAYUP: WISCONSIN’S SUCCESS IN THE PAINT

Marquette through two games is allowing their opponents to average 28 points around the rim compared to Wisconsin averaging 29.3 points in the paint.

Nate Reuvers will play an important role in making sure that Wisconsin is able to generate high percentage shots around the rim against a Marquette team that’s averaging eight blocks a game.

In particular, Reuvers will have a challenge against Theo John as he leads the team with nine blocks as eight of them came in Marquette’s season opening win over Loyola Maryland.

If Wisconsin is going to challenge John and generate points in the paint Reuvers can’t get into foul trouble like he did against McNeese State. If he does it will take one of Wisconsin’s more consistent scorers off the floor as he’s averaging 15.3 points. Reuvers ability to have success around the rim and ability to stretch the floor could lead to balanced scoring against Marquette.

MID-RANGE: CAN WISCONSIN CONTINUE ITS MOMENTUM FROM 3?

Wisconsin certainly caught fire from three in the second half against McNeese State as they shot 7-for-15 (46.6 percent), which is the Badgers best shooting half from three.

The question is does the performance from three in the second half against the Cowboys continue against Marquette or will it revert back to what Wisconsin has shown this season?

Wisconsin is shooting a lowly 27.7 percent (18-for-65) from three and if Wisconsin’s offense is going to have success against Marquette they’ll need to turn in a better performance from the perimeter.

Problem is in two games Marquette has done well of contesting the 3-point shot as the Golden Eagles have held their opponents to shoot 25 percent or less from three on an average 21 3-point attempts a game.

If Wisconsin is going to continue where they left off from three against Marquette it will be up to Aleem Ford, D’Mitrik Trice, Brevin Pritzl, and Brad Davison. All four have attempted at least 10 three’s through three games.

Davison leads the team shooting 40 percent (4-for-10) from three as he went 3-for-4 from three against McNeese State. Making it important that when Wisconsin is able to create an open look from three the Badgers knock them down as there won’t be many opportunities where Wisconsin will get a good look from 3-point range.

3-POINTER: TRYING TO CONTAIN MARKUS HOWARD

Howard is one of the more natural scorers in college basketball as through two games he’s averaging 28 points per game while shooting 53.1 percent (17-for-32) from the field and 58.8 percent (10-for-17) from three.

Howard in three career games against the Badgers is averaging 24 points a contest and is shooting 37.2 percent (22-for-59) from the field. Howard is going to get his shots up against Wisconsin’s defense its a matter of making sure they aren’t opportunities where he can catch and shoot.

Although Howard scored 27 points against Wisconsin a season ago he did attempt 29 shots from the field. It will be a team effort to try and slow Howard down as the Badgers will need to effectively communicate to fight through screens to make sure Howard can’t exploit a mismatch against a Wisconsin defender.

If Wisconsin’s defense can make sure they don’t allow Howard to completely take over the game and frustrate him they’ll force somebody else to try and beat the Badgers.

That person could be Koby McEwen as he’s the only other player for Marquette to average double figures at 17 points a game.

In addition, Howard has been able to set his teammates up as his five assists are tied for the second best mark on the team but he also leads the team with six turnovers. Creating frustration for Howard will be difficult but if Wisconsin’s defense can knock him off his offensive game a little bit that could go a long way in how the game is decided.

Wisconsin-Marquette, in 2019, is extra personal for both sides

The meeting between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Marquette Golden Eagles is very personal, for two clear reasons.

Sunday’s game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Marquette Golden Eagles at the Kohl Center in Madison will be fierce and intense, just as every game is between Wisconsin and Marquette. The two schools always pour their emotions into this game. It always matters. It always stirs the soul.

This year, though, the battle between the Badgers and the Golden Eagles will be even more personal than it normally is. Really, you might be asking? What could be the reason to make a statement like that? The answer to the question is deceptively simple. There are two reasons why UW-Marquette packs more of a punch in 2019. Those reasons are named Joey Hauser and Sam Hauser.

Makes sense, right? Joey and Sam Hauser played for Marquette last season. Now they don’t. Joey transferred to Michigan State, Sam to Virginia. Those two schools are not Wisconsin. We are left with the simple reality that the Hauser brothers didn’t initially go to Wisconsin, and didn’t transfer there. They also, however, left Marquette and didn’t think it was worth it to stick with Steve Wojciechowski. Both schools have been stung by the rejection of the Hauser brothers.

To be clear, what young athletes choose to do with their careers is not a manifestation or reflection of morality or ethics. Playing at one school is not a more noble (or impoverished) decision than playing at another. A transfer is not an act of betrayal. None of this has anything to do with the character of a person, and should not be seen as a direct or implied criticism of the Hausers (or any other athletes who transfer). I am merely noting that in 2019, Marquette and Wisconsin are both taking the court without a Hauser brother in either program. The two brothers from Stevens Point, Wis., will not be found in Madison on Sunday.

You know Marquette wants to prove it can beat Wisconsin for a million different reasons, but winning without the Hausers is certainly one of the more prominent ones. You know Wisconsin wants to pounce on Marquette, early in the season, to make a statement about the balance of college basketball power in this state.

It is sometimes the case that the absence of a person — or two persons — from a building is noticed more than the presence of any other individuals. Wisconsin will feel the absence of Micah Potter from this game, but other than Potter, are two people going to be noticed more by their absence from Sunday’s contest than Sam and Joey Hauser? Those brothers, no longer playing college basketball in the state of Wisconsin, will definitely be noticed on Sunday. The next question: Which school will lament that absence more when Sunday’s game is over?

Marquette comeback against Purdue gets Wisconsin’s attention

Looking at the Marquette Golden Eagles’ win over the Purdue Boilermakers before Marquette faces the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday.

The shiny object found in the Marquette Golden Eagles’ 65-55 win over the Purdue Boilermakers on Wednesday night was the 40-point second half the Golden Eagles slapped on Matt Painter’s crew. If Marquette has established an identity in recent years, it is that it can explode on offense at any time. Markus Howard can break free. Seton Hall might have Myles Powell, but Howard makes sure that Marquette always has as much firepower as the opposition, if not more. A 40-point second half is on brand for MU and Steve Wojciechowski.

Yet, while looking at the shiny object — 40 points after halftime in a relatively low-scoring game — one shouldn’t ignore the more substantive aspect of a game in which Marquette came back from a 13-point halftime deficit (38-25). The Golden Eagles held Purdue to just 17 points after the intermission.

If Marquette — which got run off the floor by Ja Morant and Murray State in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament — is to improve as a program and become more of a national force in the Big East Conference, it will come at the defensive end of the floor. Being good enough and tough enough to hold Purdue to 17 points in a half sends a very positive message before Marquette faces the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday. Such a feat is… well… very Wisconsin-like.

As we size up the Golden Eagles before they visit the Kohl Center on Sunday afternoon, we are brought in touch with a fundamental question: As good as Marquette was in that second half, was the 40-17 drubbing the Golden Eagles handed to the Boilermakers a primary product of MU’s ability to adjust, or was it more a result of Purdue not finding an answer to the departure of Carsen Edwards?

From the Marquette side of the equation, the Golden Eagles have to feel confident they can defend at a high level. They can’t control Purdue’s limitations; they got punched in the mouth in the first half and could have wobbled. Instead, they roared back against a team which came within an eyelash of making the Final Four last spring. Marquette did what was within its power to do. To that extent, the Golden Eagles deserve ample credit.

It is the Purdue dimension of this question which is more encouraging to Wisconsin. Purdue, for those not getting up to speed on college basketball as football enters its crucial home stretch, lacked answers at crunch time versus Texas — in Mackey Arena — a few days earlier. If Purdue had solved Texas but then stumbled against Marquette, the Golden Eagles could be viewed in a more favorable light. Because Purdue couldn’t use home-court advantage well against a previous opponent, however, this loss to Marquette seems like a trend more than a plot twist or an aberration.

Wisconsin can therefore look at Purdue and arrive at the conclusion that Marquette pounced on an especially vulnerable opponent. Wisconsin can look at the statistics and see that Marquette shot just 7 of 25 from 3-point range and won by 10… because Purdue was just 6 of 24 from long distance and a shocking 9 of 21 from the free throw line. If Purdue can’t stand on its own this season without Carsen Edwards, Wisconsin — lacking Micah Potter for no legitimately good reason — can stand on the strength of its balance and its defense.

Wisconsin doesn’t just have a chance to beat Marquette this Sunday. The Badgers can send a message to Purdue and the rest of the Big Ten about their resourcefulness, their balance, and their quality. Just imagine what a win without Potter could do for a team which is still settling into this season. A win over Marquette would settle some scores and enable Wisconsin to feel a lot more settled and calm about its long-term prospects.

Three Marquette players who Badger fans need to know

Wisconsin hosts Marquette at the Kohl Center this weekend. Badger fans should be sure to know these three opposing players.

Wisconsin hosts Marquette at the Kohl Center on Sunday afternoon in this year’s chapter of one of the nation’s most heated rivalries.

The Badgers are 2-1 following their 83-63 victory over McNeese State at home on Wednesday night, while the Golden Eagles are 2-0 and coming off of an impressive 65-55 win over a solid Purdue team in Milwaukee that same evening. Marquette has maintained bragging rights over Wisconsin the last two seasons, taking care of business against Bucky at the Fiserv Forum in a 74-69 overtime thriller a year ago.

While the Golden Eagles lost two huge pieces of their program as a result of the Hauser brothers’ decisions to transfer, head coach Steve Wojciechowski will still have plenty of talent at his disposal this season, and this should be a Top 25-caliber group all year long.

Here are the three Golden Eagles who Badger fans should keep a close eye on throughout Saturday’s contest.

1. Markus Howard – Guard

2019 stats: 28.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 53.1% FG, 58.8% 3P, 92.3 % FT

You can’t break down Marquette’s roster by starting with any player other than Howard, the Golden Eagles’ all-time leading scorer who just went over 2,000 points for his career this week.

The 5-11 senior has become a household name as a result of the monster scoring numbers he has put up throughout his career. Last season was his best yet, as Howard was the Big East Player of the Year and earned consensus Second Team All-American honors after ranking fifth nationally in scoring at 25 points per game.

Howard is off to another scorching start this year for the Golden Eagles through two games, opening the season with a 38-point outburst against Loyola Maryland and following up that performance with 18 points in Marquette’s victory over Purdue.

He has averaged 24 points per game against Wisconsin throughout his career, including 27 in Marquette’s overtime win at Fiserv Forum last year. However, Howard was held largely in check by the Badgers in terms of his production from the field, shooting just 7-29 for the game.

2. Theo John – Forward

2019 stats: 6.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 4.5 bpg, 55.6% FG, 50.0% FT

Feb 12, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles forward Theo John (4) blocks a shot by DePaul Blue Demons forward Paul Reed (4) during the first half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nuccio DiNuzzo-USA TODAY Sports

The Big East’s leader in blocks per game last season, the 6-9, 255-pound John is a force to be reckoned with in the paint. The junior forward isn’t exactly an impact player from a scoring standpoint, but he has utilized his massive frame to become one of the nation’s top post defenders and a monster on the boards to boot.

It’s safe to assume that John will likely be matched up with Nate Reuvers quite a bit on Sunday, which does not bode well for the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week’s production down low in this matchup. In fact, with him looming in the paint, the Badgers as a whole could have a rough go of it scoring near the basket.

What does this mean? For a team that has often been either extremely hot or cold from beyond the arc with little room in between so far this season, Wisconsin better hope the shots are falling from long range in this one.

3. Koby McEwen – Guard

2019 stats: 17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 50% FG, 60% 3P, 88.9% FT

With Sam and Joey Hauser out of the picture after packing their bags for Virginia and Michigan State, respectively, there were questions surrounding this Marquette team leading into the season regarding who on the roster would step up as a secondary scoring option to Howard.

After the Golden Eagles’ first two games, it appears as though McEwen may be the answer.

The redshirt junior sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules after coming over from Utah State, where he averaged 15.3 points per game in his two seasons there. McEwen was a Third Team All-Mountain West selection in 2017-18 after leading the Aggies in scoring and rebounding at 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

The 6-4 guard has clearly been Marquette’s second-best player so far, making an impact as a scorer, facilitator, rebounder, and defender. McEwen heads into Saturday’s matchup with Wisconsin on the heels of an impressive performance against Purdue in which he racked up 23 points, five rebounds, and 4 assists.

Steven Crowl Signs National Letter of Intent with Wisconsin Basketball

Steven Crowl signed his national letter of intent on Wednesday becoming the latest member of 2020 class for Greg Gard.

Steven Crowl

6’9″, 210, center, Eagan, Minn. (Eastview)

Crowl used a strong summer in front of the Wisconsin coaches to earn his offer from the Badgers this past July. After taking an official visit to Wisconsin in September he made his commitment to the Badgers in mid-September. Crowl officially became a Badger on Wednesday when he signed his letter of intent to play for Wisconsin.

Crowl and Ben Carlson will complement each other well when the duo are on the floor together. Similar to Carlson, Crowl is able to stretch the floor in addition he’s able to make an impact on the defensive side too. Crowl could use a redshirt year as it would be beneficial for him to continue to add strength in addition due to the depth Wisconsin has in the frontcourt.

Note: All quotes/stats provided by uwbadgers.com

Crowl chose Wisconsin over other offers from: Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Northern Iowa, and South Dakota

Crowl’s Accolades: Three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals … his junior season, led Eastview High School to the Minnesota Class 4A state tournament while averaging 19.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, shooting 39% 3FG from beyond the arc … scored 630 points as a junior and 470 points as a sophomore giving him 1,100 career points entering his senior season … first-team South Suburban All-Conference in 2019 and second-team in 2018 … plays travel basketball for D1 Minnesota, the same program as current Badgers Nate Reuvers and Tyler Wahl.

Gard on Crowl: “Steven has so many of the characteristics that we look for, both on and off the basketball court. He has excelled at a high level both on the court and in the classroom. From the first time we saw him, Steven has continued to grow and develop as a player. He has a great feel for the game and he will be able to utilize all those skills as he continues to develop. Steven has the ability to score both inside and out, which will add him to a long list of big men who have come through this program over the years. We are excited to add Steven to the Badger basketball family.”

Jordan Davis Signs National Letter of Intent with Wisconsin Basketball

Jordan Davis is the latest 2020 member to sign his letter of intent to play basketball for Greg Gard.

Jordan Davis

6’4″, 185, guard, La Crosse, Wis. (Central)

After receiving his offer in early June it didn’t take long for Davis and his brother Jonathan to commit to Wisconsin as they added their names to the 2020 class on the same day in June. Jordan Davis made it official on Wednesday by signing his letter of intent to play for his home state Badgers along with his brother Jonathan.

All five players in Wisconsin’s 2020 recruiting class can bring something to the table. For Jordan his defensive game is ahead of his offensive game. Although Jordan will likely redshirt his first year on campus due to the depth at the guard position will allow for Jordan to continue to develop his offensive game while continuing to add strength.

Note: All quotes/stats provided by uwbadgers.com

Davis chose Wisconsin over other offers from: UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee, UNLV

Davis Accolades: Three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals … as a junior, averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals per game at La Crosse Central, earning first-team all-conference honors and named the team’s defensive player of the year … his sophomore season, averaged 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals per game, garnering first-team all-conference honors … along with brother, Johnny, helped lead Central to the WIAA Division 2 state tournament each of their three years on the varsity team, including a title in 2017 with current Badger Kobe King … on the football field, Davis is also an impressive wide receiver for the Red Raiders, posting 358 receiving yards with 5 TDs through three games before suffering a season-ending injury … hauled in 49 receptions for 873 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior.

Gard on Davis: “We are thrilled to welcome Jordan to our program.  His commitment and work ethic on the basketball court and in the classroom is exactly what we look for in a Wisconsin student-athlete. Jordan brings a certain level of toughness to the basketball court that has been developed on the football field as a star receiver. He comes from a winning culture at La Crosse Central and knows what it takes to compete for championships. He has known Badger Basketball his entire life and his commitment shows how much pride he has in representing Wisconsin.”

Top remaining targets for Wisconsin in the class of 2021

With the all of the members of the 2020 recruiting class signed, here’s a look at Wisconsin’s top remaining targets in the class of 2021.

Wisconsin has officially secured its five scholarship commits in the class of 2020, as Ben Carlson, Johnny and Jordan Davis, Lorne Bowman, and Steven Crowl all put pen to paper and signed their letters of intent to play for Greg Gard on the first day of the early signing period yesterday.

As it has been a while now, all eyes are now on the 2021 class, where the Badgers are off to a fantastic start early on with commitments from Matthew Mors, Chris Hodges, and Chucky Hepburn. However, the staff is looking to add at least one and possibly even two more prospects to this class.

Here the top three remaining targets on Wisconsin’s board.

1. Julian Roper – Shooting Guard

Hometown: Franklin, Mich.

Rankings (per the 247Sports composite): 4-star (No. 36 SG, No. 152 overall)

Other offers: Northwestern, Alabama, DePaul, Illinois, Iowa, Miami (Ohio), Missouri, Ohio State and Toledo

Wisconsin has been a major player in Roper’s recruitment since extending an offer to the 6-3, 183-pound prospect in February, to the point where the Badgers could very well be the favorite as things stand today.

An athletic, high-upside guard who can slash to the basket and knock down shots from outside, Wisconsin doesn’t have players like Roper in its backcourt very often, and Gard and company have heavily prioritized him as a result. Additionally, it certainly doesn’t hurt the Badgers’ chances that they have Bowman, a high school teammate of Roper, in his ear about continuing their partnership in the backcourt at the next level.

Wisconsin is in such good shape here that many Badger fans felt there was a possibility Roper would pull the trigger and commit during his official visit last weekend, though that ultimately did not come to pass.

While Wisconsin has been trending in Roper’s recruitment, if it isn’t able to lock him down before the start of the AAU season in the spring, the competition is likely to ramp up significantly given his talent and the fact that he plays on the high-profile Nike EYBL circuit. Keep a particularly close eye on what in-state powers Michigan and Michigan State do here, as the Wolverines and the Spartans remain in play even though offers haven’t been extended.

2. Logan Duncomb – Center

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

Rankings (per the 247Sports composite): 4-star (No. 15 C, No. 123 overall)

Other offers: Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Miami (Ohio), Winthrop and Xavier

Wisconsin already has a couple of frontcourt prospects committed in Mors and Hodges, but the staff wouldn’t mind adding a center to this class as well.

The Badgers have offered two 4-star recruits at the position in Duncomb and Jackson Grant (Olympia, Wash.), but the latter is off the board after committing to Washington last week. However, the good news is that Wisconsin appears to be sitting in a pretty good position for Duncomb at the moment.

The 6-9, 225-pound center has the typical skill set that the Badgers love to have in their system with his versatile, inside out offensive package, so it’s no surprise that Duncomb has become a priority target for the staff.

As with Roper, the Badgers were able to snag a crucial official visit from Duncomb in October.

An Iowa legacy, the Hawkeyes are a major factor in the recruitment as well, and Wisconsin is also facing stiff competition from Indiana and Ohio State at the moment.

3. Patrick Baldwin Jr. – Small Forward

Hometown: Sussex, Wis.

Rankings (per the 247Sports composite): 5-star (No. 2 overall)

Other offers: Duke, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Marquette, North Carolina, Northwestern, Arizona State, DePaul, Iowa, Kansas State, LSU, Minnesota, Missouri, UCLA, UNLV, USC, Wake Forest and UW-Milwaukee

Baldwin could give 2020 Duke signee Jalen Johnson a run for his money as the best player to ever come out of the state by the time his prep career is over.

There’s also a strong case to be made that the 6-8 forward is the nation’s best player in the class of 2021 with his package of excellent positional size and length, lights-out shooting, athleticism, intangibles and advanced skill set. Baldwin will almost certainly be a one-and-done prospect for whichever college program is fortunate enough to secure his services for a season, and we could potentially be talking about a lottery selection in the NBA draft if all goes according to plan.

As a result, it’s no surprise that Baldwin is being heavily pursued by teams that make up the royalty of college basketball, such as Duke, Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina. The Blue Devils, in particular, appear to be out in front to land the best prospect in Wisconsin for the second straight season as things stand today.

While the chances of Baldwin ending up in Madison are incredibly slim, don’t be surprised if the Badgers hang around in this recruitment for a while given the proximity to home and a longstanding relationship between assistant coach Howard Moore and his father, UW-Milwaukee head coach Patrick Baldwin.

Ben Carlson Signs National Letter of Intent with Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard recieved Ben Carlson’s letter of intent on Wednesday as part of the Badgers five man 2020 recruiting class.

Ben Carlson

6’9″, 205, forward, Woodbury, Minn. (East Ridge)

Carlson made his commitment to Wisconsin in September making him the last member of the 2020 class. On Wednesday Carlson made it official by signing his letter of intent to play for the Badgers.

Carlson skillset certainly fits well for Wisconsin as he’s able to score around the basket in addition to stretching the floor. With basketball becoming more positionless the ability to have a forward who’s able to attack opposing defenses in a multitude of ways will only help Wisconsin and is one of the reasons why Carlson is ranked No. 88 in the ESPN 100.

Note: All quotes/stats provided by uwbadgers.com

Carlson chose Wisconsin over other offers from: Colorado, Creighton, Davidson, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, Stanford, and Xavier

Carlson’s Accolades: Four-star recruit by ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals … ranked No. 88 in the ESPN 100 for 2020 … Carlson currently has 1,299 career points, 745 career rebounds, 109 career blocks, 115 career assists and 83 career steals, making him the top rebounder and shot blocker in East Ridge High School history … as a junior, led East Ridge to the Minnesota Class AA state tournament while averaging a double-double (16 ppg, 11.3 rpg) … two-time all-SEC conference player … an AP scholar with honor, Carlson is a member of National Honors Society with a 4.1 GPA.

Gard on Carlson: “We are very excited to add Ben to our program. His commitment to academic excellence is extremely impressive, even on a national level. He has challenged himself year in and year out to become as well rounded a student as possible and he’s looking forward to continuing to develop at our prestigious university. On the court, Ben has a tremendously diverse skillset that should ultimately allow him to be effective in the post, off the dribble and from the perimeter as a shooter. His skills, combined with his great athletic ability, has us excited to begin working with Ben to help him reach his goals as a Badger.”