Tag: Wisconsin basketball

Where Wisconsin basketball lands in KenPom 2024-25 preseason rankings

Where Wisconsin basketball lands in KenPom 2024-25 preseason rankings

Wisconsin basketball was ranked No. 46 in the first installation of the 2024-25 Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings on Sunday.

The first version lists Houston as the No. 1 team in the country, Duke at No. 2, Auburn at No. 3, Alabama at No. 4 and Connecticut at No. 5. Purdue was the sole Big Ten team to crack KenPom’s top 10 ahead of the 2024-25 season at No. 10.

Wisconsin landed as the No. 11 team in the Big Ten on the hierarchy. Illinois (No. 23), UCLA (No. 26), Oregon (No. 29), Ohio State (No. 31), Iowa (No. 33), Michigan State (No. 35), Michigan (No. 36), Maryland (No. 37), Indiana (No. 39) and Northwestern (No. 50) rounded out conference teams in the top 50.

Unlike other rankings, the KenPom rankings measure college basketball teams based on metrics including offensive efficiency, defensive efficiency, net rating, tempo and strength of schedule. For context, Monday’s AP Top 25 poll listed Kansas as the No. 1 team in the nation, a difference of five spots when compared to KenPom’s No. 6 ranking for the Jayhawks.

Wisconsin is no stranger to receiving subpar positions in preseason rankings. UW earned the No. 12 spot in the Big Ten’s preseason hierarchy a few weeks ago before being placed well outside the AP Top 25 on Monday.

The placement adds up. Wisconsin will enter the 2024-25 season without veteran point guard Chucky Hepburn (transfer), athletic wing A.J. Storr (transfer) and mainstay forward Tyler Wahl (graduation). The team’s top options include Max Klesmit, John Blackwell and Steven Crowl, a far cry from the glory days with Frank Kaminsky, Nigel Hayes and Sam Dekker.

Still, Wisconsin finished last season at 22-14 and earned a No. 5 seed in the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament. The crew also welcomed transfers John Tonje, Xavier Amos and Camren Hunter to the fold this offseason.

The Badgers will begin their 2024 season against Holy Cross on Nov. 4 at the Kohl Center.

PHOTOS: Wisconsin basketball legend Bo Ryan through the years

A look at Bo Ryan’s career with the Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin basketball legend Bo Ryan was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

The longtime Badger coach received his induction back in April. Sunday’s event made his enshrinement official, as he and the rest of the Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2024 received their jackets and were immortalized among the sport’s all-time greats. Other members of that class include NBA greats Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups and Walter Davis.

“I’m still pinching myself,” the Wisconsin Badgers legend said before the ceremony. “When I got the word, all the memories, all the players, all the camaraderie of the teams that were cohesive…those are the things that flashed into my head. Boy, do I have a lot of people to thank.”

Here is a clip from Ryan’s speech, specifically about his players and program at Wisconsin:

Ryan coached for the Badgers from 2001-2015. His Hall of Fame tenure with the program included four Big Ten Coach of the Year awards (2002, 2003, 2013, 2015), four Big Ten titles, two Final Four appearances and a final record of 364-130.

To say that there are Wisconsin program ‘greats’ discounts Ryan’s substantial individual impact and importance. He is the embodiment of Wisconsin basketball and is a significant reason the program is where it is today.

As Ryan’s coaching career is celebrated by the basketball world, here is a look at his time at Wisconsin, through photos:

Wisconsin legend officially enshrined into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Wisconsin legend officially enshrined into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Wisconsin legend Bo Ryan was officially enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Ryan, who coached for the Badgers’ men’s basketball program from 2001-15, was among 13 basketball luminaries to represent the Hall of Fame’s class of ’24. 2004 NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups, 22-year NBA veteran Vince Carter, five-time NBA champion Michael Cooper and 1978 NBA Rookie of the Year Walter Davis were among the legends recognized. 

Ryan first received word of his place on the ballot as a finalist on April 6. Roughly seven months later, the moment he’d been waiting for came to fruition.

“I’m still pinching myself,” Ryan told NCAA reporter Andy Katz on Sunday. “When I got the word, all the memories, all the players, all the camaraderie of the teams that were cohesive… those are the things that flashed into my head. Boy, do I have a lot of people to thank.”

The Badger legend retired from manning the sidelines in 2015 after serving as head coach for 15 years in Madison. He captained UW to a a 364-130 overall record, 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, two Final Fours and one national championship game during his tenure.

Oct 13, 2024; Uncasville, Conn, USA; Class of 2024 inductee Bo Ryan speaks during the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Symphony Hall Springfield. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Ryan was a four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (2002, 2003, 2013, 2015) and established Wisconsin as one of the NCAA’s most respected programs across the nation. He was also inducted into the Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

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.

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Wisconsin basketball 2024-25 full schedule with tipoff times, TV networks

Wisconsin basketball 2024-25 full schedule with tipoff times, TV networks

Wisconsin’s men’s basketball program announced its tip times and television networks for the 2024-25 schedule on Wednesday.

It total, the Badgers’ games will be featured on six different channels, including five contests on network television stations.

UW’s first four home games against UW-River Falls, Holy Cross, Montana and Appalachian State will be aired on Big Ten Plus before its Nov. 15 clash against Arizona on Peacock. Peacock will air a total of nine Badger games this season.

The Badgers’ Nov. 18 game against UT-Rio Grande Valley will be aired on Big Ten Network, and CBS Sports Network will carry every contest during the 2024 Greenbrier Tip-Off on Nov. 22 and 24.

Other notable designations include Wisconsin’s I-94 rivalry game against Marquette on Dec. 7 on FOX and its Feb. 8 showdown vs. Iowa on NBC.

For more information on the entire TV schedule this season, click here.

https://twitter.com/BadgerMBB/status/1844091511052595681

Wisconsin will enter the season tied with Nebraska at No. 12 in the 2024-25 Big Ten Media Preseason poll. The team will welcome transfers John Tonje (Missouri), Camren Hunter (Central Arkansas) and Xavier Amos (Northern Illinois), alongside talented freshman point guard Daniel Freitag.

UW went 22-14 a season ago and lost in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. After the departures of point guard Chucky Hepburn, athletic wing A.J. Storr and veteran forward Tyler Wahl, the team will lean on big man Steven Crowl and sophomore John Blackwell for offensive boosts throughout the campaign.

Greg Gard compares mindset of Wisconsin sophomore wing to former Badgers star

Greg Gard compares mindset of Wisconsin sophomore to former Badger star

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard praised sophomore wing John Blackwell during his media availability on Monday.

With just a few weeks until its 2024-25 slate commences, Wisconsin has returned to the hardwood for a series of preseason practices. It’s safe to say Gard has appreciated the outlook of his second-year 6-foot-4-inch playmaker.

Gard reportedly compared Blackwell’s mindset ahead of his sophomore campaign to that of former Wisconsin star Johnny Davis before his second year in Madison. Davis, who now represents the NBA’s Washington Wizards, earned the 2022 Big Ten Player of the Year nod after averaging 19.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore.

Considering his seven-point per-game clip as a freshman, Davis’ jump was substantial. Suppose Blackwell can come anywhere close to emulating what the future lottery pick did during his second college season. In that case, the Badgers will unlock an entirely new dynamic ahead of this season.

Blackwell’s freshman season was one of the most notable in the program’s last decade. The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, native averaged 8.0 points per game off 45.1% from the field, 45.% from outside and 82.1% from the charity stripe en route to Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week four times, a feat no Badger had achieved since Nigel Hayes in 2013-14.

The dynamic wing will play a much larger role in Gard’s system this season following the departures of Chucky Hepburn, AJ Storr and Tyler Wahl. The team will open the season against Holy Cross on Monday, Nov. 4.

Sights and sounds from Wisconsin Badgers at 2024 Big Ten Basketball media days

Sights and sounds from Wisconsin Badgers at 2024 Big Ten Basketball media days

Wisconsin basketball was well represented at the 2024 Big Ten Basketball media days on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Head coach Greg Gard, sophomore guard John Blackwell, senior center Steven Crowl and senior guard Max Klesmit made the trek to Chicago, Illinois to represent the Badgers this week.

The group participated in several hits for Big Ten Network, spanning from short social media videos to entertain badger faithful and panel discussions about the team this coming season.

While Blackwell, Gard and Klesmit were present at the Big Ten Network studio set, Blackwell fielded a question about Klesmit being the top trash talker on the 2024 team.

Here’s what he and Gard had to say:

UW’s representatives also participated in individual interviews and photo ops during their time in Chicago.

Before the media day appearance, Wisconsin was ranked No. 12 alongside   Nebraska by the Big Ten media on Wednesday. Given the departures of guard Chucky Hepburn, wing AJ Storr and veteran Tyler Wahl, Wisconsin finds itself in its typical preseason position: underrated.

The Badgers will kick-start its loaded 2024-25 schedule with an exhibition game against UW-River Falls on Oct. 30 and look to build off its 22-14 output and first-round loss in the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament a season ago.

Greg Gard highlights breakout player on Wisconsin basketball’s 2024-25 roster

Greg Gard highlights breakout player on Wisconsin basketball’s 2024-25 roster

Wisconsin basketball head coach Greg Gard spoke with reporters at Big Ten media days in Chicago, Illinois on Thursday. The event marks the start of the ramp-up to the season, which is just four weeks away.

One topic of conversation was Gard’s thoughts on his roster entering the season. Specifically, on a player who could experience a breakout campaign.

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

His answer: sophomore center Nolan Winter.

BadgerExtra’s Michael McCleary relayed Gard’s sentiment: “For Nolan to take the jump he has … he still’s got a ways to go, but we really like what we’ve seen so far.”

Winter played in 36 games as a true freshman in 2023-24. He finished with per-game averages of 9.4 minutes, 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds on 56% shooting. Most significantly, he was thrust into action against some of the best players in the country, headlined by Purdue superstar center Zach Edey.

The sophomore enters 2024-25 still as Wisconsin’s backup center behind senior Steven Crowl. This role should allow Winter to continue his development without being relied upon as arguably the most critical member of the Badgers’ starting lineup. If Gard’s words are any indication, Winter could be ready for the same midcareer jump seen with several recent Badgers centers. Crowl and Nate Reuvers are two prominent examples.

Wisconsin enters the 2024-25 season tied for 12th in the preseason Big Ten media poll. While the team has real questions after offseason departures of Chucky Hepburn, A.J. Storr and Tyler Wahl, Gard reloaded the roster in the transfer portal and welcomes top 2024 point guard Daniel Freitag to campus.

Signs point to Wisconsin entering the season under the radar with the ability to again contend for a conference title. Game 1 is at the Kohl Center on Nov. 4 against Holy Cross.

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Wisconsin basketball again severely underrated in Big Ten preseason media poll

Wisconsin basketball again severely underrated in Big Ten preseason media poll

Another year, another example of the Big Ten and national college basketball media not believing in Greg Gard and the Wisconsin Badgers.

This now feels like an annual occurrence. Wisconsin experiences a rough season or loses a few key players and everybody expects it to suddenly finish 12th in the Big Ten and miss the NCAA Tournament.

Related: Big Ten basketball teams ranked by returning production entering 2024-25 season

That is where Wisconsin is ranked by the Big Ten media entering the season: tied for 12th. The ranking was released on Wednesday in advance of the conference media days in Chicago, Illinois.

The context makes some sense. Stars from the program’s 2023-24 team that went 22-14 are now gone, headlined by PG Chucky Hepburn transferring to Louisville, SG A.J. Storr transferring to Kansas and F Tyler Wahl running out of eligibility.

Those losses accounted for combined per-game totals of 36.6 points, 4.1 assists and 12.6 rebounds. Anybody who watched or followed the Badgers can recognize the impact of their respective departures.

But history also matters. Wisconsin finished fifth in the Big Ten in 2023-24, 11th in 2022-23, tied for first in 2021-22, 6th in 2020-21, 1st in 2019-20 and 4th in 2018-19. The program rarely falls near the bottom of the conference, minus a forgettable 2022-23 season.

Greg Gard and his staff also responded to those roster losses offseason. Wisconsin landed transfers John Tonje (Missouri), Camren Hunter (Central Arkansas) and Xavier Amos (Northern Illinois), pairing them with a freshman class headlined by top point guard Daniel Freitag.

The team may need some time to gel given all of the new faces. But if Freitag and John Blackwell reach their potentials, and the transfers prove to be valuable contributors, Wisconsin has a chance to surprise. Returning starters Steven Crowl and Max Klesmit should help to bridge that gap.

This may be a natural reaction to Wisconsin football struggling with lofty expectations. But the upcoming 2024-25 basketball season has all of the makings of a classic ‘how did everybody underestimate the Badgers again?’ type of season

For more on what exactly to expect, here is our recent look at the Badgers updated starting lineup and rotation after signing Italian center Riccardo Greppi.

The Badgers begin their season at home on Nov. 4 against Holy Cross.

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

Wisconsin blanked from Big Ten basketball preseason All-Conference team

Wisconsin blanked from Big Ten basketball preseason All-Conference team

Zero Wisconsin men’s basketball players earned a spot on the 2024-25 preseason All-Big Ten team on Tuesday.

The first-team includes Indiana center Oumar Ballo, Iowa forward Payton Sandfort, Minnesota forward Dawson Garcia, Northwestern guard Brooks Barnhizer, Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton, Oregon guard Jackson Shelstad, Penn State guard Ace Baldwin Jr., Purdue guard Braden Smith, Rutgers guard Dylan Harper and Washington forward Greg Osobor.

Smith, Purdue’s all-world guard and 2023-24 All-Big Ten Team member, was selected as the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year.

Wisconsin’s absence from the list doesn’t come as much of a surprise, especially given its recent departures. Those include guard Chucky Hepburn (Louisville), wing A.J. Storr (Kansas) and veteran forward Tyler Wahl (graduation). Wahl and Hepburn both earned preseason honors ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

The only remaining postseason nominee from 2023-24 on UW’s roster is sophomore John Blackwell, who earned Big Ten All-Freshman team nods following a his eight-point, 3.2-rebound per-game averages a season ago.

Wisconsin will now look to lean on its senior center, Steven Crowl, alongside its three transfer additions Camren Hunter, John Tonje and Xavier Amos. The crew went 22-14 in 2023-24 and fell in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.