Tag: Wisconsin Men’s Basketball

Former Wisconsin basketball great announces return to UW-Madison

Former Wisconsin basketball great announces return to UW-Madison

Former Wisconsin basketball great Sam Dekker announced via X on Monday that he has returned to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to finish his degree.

Dekker, one of the program’s most decorated alumni, departed the university in 2015 after three years on the hardwood to pursue NBA aspirations. By doing so a year early, he left campus without a degree.

After being selected with the No. 18 pick of the 2015 NBA draft, the Wisconsin native played 201 games across five NBA seasons for the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors from 2015-22.

Stints overseas with the VTB United League in Russia (2019-2020) and the Turkish Basketball Super League in Turkey (2020-2021, 2021-2022) followed.

The 6-foot-9 forward stars for the British Basketball League’s London Lions. As its offensive engine, Dekker helped the Lions capture the 2023 British Basketball League Cup championship and pocketed both league and finals MVP honors in the process. He registered 18.2 points, 5.6 rebounds off 53% clip from the field in nearly 21 minutes per appearance across the pond in ’23.

Nonetheless, Dekker’s NBA endeavors have yet to fade. This summer, the 2015 All-Big Ten second-team selection tried out for the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks.

With a portfolio of postseason success at Wisconsin and professional exposure thousands of miles away, Dekker can provide a veteran spark plug presence in an NBA locker room next season. However, with responsibilities in the classroom, the NBA could serve as a distraction from future homework assignments.

Now at age 30, Dekker plans to wrap up his education at one of the United States’ most recognized public universities.

Former Wisconsin forward describes playing on USA Basketball team with LeBron James

Former Wisconsin forward describes playing for USA Basketball with LeBron James

Former Wisconsin basketball forward Micah Potter shared what it was like to play alongside LeBron James in a recent interview with college basketball analyst Brian Butch.

In June, Potter was selected to practice against the 2024 USA Men’s National Team as a member of the 2024 USA Select Team. He, alongside fellow Badger Nigel Hayes-Davis, played an integral role in preparing legends including James, Steph Curry, Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid for their Olympic run.

Potter actually saw minutes in multiple exhibition games in July and scored multiple three-point field goals.

On top of that, one of his most memorable experiences came from watching James, a four-time NBA champion and 20-time NBA All-Star, operate on the hardwood.

Here’s Potter on LeBron:

“The level of practice was crazy. One of the cooler things was LeBron. Arguably one of the greatest players of all time. Him being 39, just seeing his  mental capability on the floor, his IQ, his communication, his effort and his attention to detail from the get-go. We could be walking through stuff, and he’s the loudest on the floor. That was really, really cool to see, just his level of expertise with everything.”

Potter and Hayes-Davis joined former NBA journeyman Langston Galloway as practice players during the 2024 USA Basketball Showcase in Las Vegas, Nevada, Abu Dhabi, UAE and London, England.

The former Badger forward currently plays for the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G-League.

NBA legend Kevin Durant says former Wisconsin basketball star ‘has the talent to be in the NBA’

Two-time NBA Finals MVP endorses former Wisconsin basketball star

NBA legend Kevin Durant believes Wisconsin basketball great Nigel Hayes-Davis can make a return to the NBA.

“I think he has talent to be in the NBA,” Durant told reporters Friday. “He’s shown that in college. He’s shown that playing in the EuroLeague. Hopefully, he gets his opportunity, but if anything, he just loves to play. He’ll go out there and work on his game until he can’t anymore. So hopefully he’s in the league soon.”

Hayes-Davis, a member of the 2024 USA Select Team, has been traveling with the 2024 U.S. Men’s National Team since its training camp commenced in Las Vegas. The crew is gearing up for a showcase game in London’s O2 Arena against South Sudan on July 20.

The former Badger captured a Turkish League Championship and MVP honors in Turkey’s Basketbol Süper Ligi Finals in June after averaging over 17 points per game during the final series.

Hayes-Davis also showcased his knack for scoring while oversees. The 6-foot-8 forward dropped 50 points against ALBA Berlin earlier this season to set the single-game scoring record in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

During his collegiate tenure in Madison, Hayes-Davis was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year (2014), two-time third-team All-Big Ten (2015, 2017) and first-team All-Big Ten (2016). He appeared in nine NBA contests during the 2018 season for the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings.

To receive praise from one of the NBA’s most gifted scorers of all time is nothing short of remarkable. Who knows how much the endorsement could mean to front offices. What remains certain, however, is Hayes-Davis’ relentless commitment to his craft.

NCAA committees propose new first contest dates for D-I basketball seasons

NCAA committees propose new first contest dates for D-I basketball seasons

The NCAA’s Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Oversight Committees proposed new first contest dates starting in 2025-26 on Thursday.

As of July 18, the 2025-26 season will commence on Tuesday, Nov. 11 for both men and women. The proposed alteration would move the first game of the season to Nov. 5 for the D-I men and Nov. 3 for the D-I women.

Not only would this blueprint standardize the college basketball campaign to 22 weeks each year, but it would also stagger first contest dates for the men and women to overcome television roadblocks and venue issues.

The Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee also believes switching first game days will provide D-I women’s basketball extra marketing exposure, per NCAA Associate Director of Communications Greg Johnson.

As of the 2024-25 season, both the men’s and women’s campaigns range between 21 and 22 weeks. This proposal would ultimately eliminate fluctuating timetables and provide stability regardless of championship schedules.

The committees have manufactured an outline for what the ensuing six seasons of NCAA Division I basketball could look like in their proposal. In each year, the women would begin their seasons two days earlier than the men.

Wisconsin’s men’s basketball team kick-started its 2023-24 season on Nov. 6 last year while Marisa Moseley’s crew began their slate on Nov. 7. Both games were held at the Kohl Center.

LOOK: Former Badgers practice with USA Men’s National Team in Abu Dhabi, UAE

LOOK: Former Badgers practice with USA Men’s National Team in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Former Wisconsin basketball stars Nigel Hayes-Davis and Micah Potter have wrapped up their stint in Abu Dhabi, UAE with the USA Men’s Basketball Team prior to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

The team will now venture to London, England for an exhibition match against South Sudan on July 20 at 2:00 p.m. central. Hayes-Davis and Potter have been practicing with the team since the team’s training camp commenced in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 6.

Despite seeing minutes in previous exhibition games, the former Badgers are not members of the 12-man Men’s National Team. They, alongside USA Basketball veteran Langston Galloway, are members of the 2024 USA Select Team responsible for helping the Olympic-bound crew ramp up for the upcoming event.

Still, both Hayes-Davis and Potter have been consistently practicing alongside LeBron James, Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis and Devin Booker. Kevin Durant is also a member of this group but is currently sidelined due to injury.

Potter, a Badger from 2019-21, has made two three-pointers in exhibition matches against Canada and Serbia thus far.

He and Hayes-Davis will continue to work on their crafts with prospects of inking an NBA contract. Potter plays for the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate, while Hayes-Davis hoops overseas in the Turkish League.

WATCH: Former Wisconsin forward drains 3-pointer for 2024 US Men’s National Team

WATCH: Former Wisconsin forward drains 3-pointer for 2024 U.S. Men’s National Team

Former Wisconsin forward Micah Potter nailed a 3-pointer in the 2024 U.S. Men’s National Team’s exhibition match against Serbia on Wednesday.

The look arrived in a 28-point game with under two minutes to play, and Potter didn’t hesitate before hoisting his shot attempt off a pass from Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.

Potter also scratched the scoresheet in the USA’s first exhibition contest against Canada on July 10. The Mentor, Ohio, native attempted another outside look, but failed to connect from the left wing.

Both Potter and former Badger Nigel Hayes-Davis are traveling with the star-studded 2024 U.S. Men’s National Team during the 2024 USA Basketball Showcase.

As members of the 2024 USA Select Team, both UW alumni served as practice players for the 12-man team to work out against before their trek to France for Olympic Games Paris 2024.

The two are currently working on a return to the NBA. Hayes-Davis has showcased his hardwood abilities abroad as a member of the Turkish Super League, including a 50-point game earlier this year.

Potter, on the other hand, has suited up for the Salt Lake City Stars on a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz.

Their contributions to the United States’ 2024 squad will not go unnoticed. Both Hayes-Davis and Potter consistently stayed after each Select Team practice in Las Vegas well after other Hall of Famers left the gym.

Former Wisconsin basketball star signs new deal with Spanish team

Former Wisconsin basketball star signs new deal with Spanish team

Former Wisconsin men’s basketball star Brad Davison signed a new deal with Spain’s Obradoiro CAB on Friday, per his recent post on X.

The squad is based in Compostela, Spain, and competes in the LEG Gold League. This will be Davison’s third season playing professional basketball overseas.

Most recently, Davison spent his 2023-24 season representing another Spanish platoon, HLA Alicante. The Minnesota native averaged a stellar 18.5 points, 2.9 boards and 2.5 assists per appearance on a nearly a 42% shooting clip from beyond the arc.

Davison departed Madison after five spectacular seasons as a Badger. He ranks No. 1 in school history with 300 career 3-point field goals, 156 career starts and 160 games played. He also lands within the top 10 in career free throw efficiency (84.1%), wins (101), points (1,827), free throws (405), assists (343) and steals (160).

Davison was named to the All-Big Ten second team after his 14.5-point, 4.1-rebound output in 2022. He remains one of four players in program history with 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists alongside Michael Finley, Nigel Hayes-Davis and Ethan Happ.

Wisconsin basketball extends offer to top-100 class of 2025 small forward

Wisconsin basketball extends offer to top-100 class of 2025 small forward

Wisconsin men’s basketball program extended an offer to class of 2025 small forward Amari Allen on Friday, per his recent post on X.

The news arrives four days after the Badgers locked in an official visit with top-ranked in-state SF on Monday. He is slated to visit Madison the weekend of Sept. 13, the same weekend UW will play Alabama at Camp Randall.

Allen will also take official visits to Minnesota and the University of Central Florida.

247sports, On3, ESPN and Rivals all consider Allen a four-star recruit. He’s ranked as 247Sports’ No. 100 player in the class of 2025, No. 18 small forward and No. 11 recruit from the state of Florida.

Of his 25 offers, the most notable include Creighton, Auburn, Indiana, Iowa, Marquette, Tennessee, Villanova, Georgetown and Virginia Tech.

Despite being considered a Florida prospect, the 6-foot-7, 180-pounder played basketball at Kaukauna High School in Kaukauna, Wisconsin before joining Bradenton, Florida’s IMG Academy.

Greg Gard’s current class of 2025 ranks within the nation’s top 10 with two athletes committed: four-star shooting guard Zach Kinziger and three-star center Will Garlock.

Given Allen’s prestige in national rankings and in-state ties, the Badgers appear to be preparing an impressive official visit with the Crimson Tide football team in town. His commitment would be nothing short of monumental for a team looking to reclaim postseason success in a loaded 18-team Big Ten.

Wisconsin basketball adds new opponent to 2024-25 non-conference schedule

Wisconsin basketball to host Montana State as part of 2024-25 non-conference schedule

Wisconsin men’s basketball is set to play Montana State as part of its 2024-25 non-conference schedule on Nov. 7 in Madison, according to a report from college basketball analyst Rocco Miller.

The news arrives on the same day Wisconsin received its opener from the inaugural Greenbrier tip-off in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The Badgers will play the UCF Knights on Nov. 22.

The Badgers will also square off against in-state rival Marquette on Dec. 7, tip off against Butler in a neutral site contest and open their 2024-25 gauntlet with Holy Cross at home. All that comes before entering a gauntlet conference slate.

In terms of its conference schedule, UW will also host 10 Big Ten opponents this season, including new conference opponents Washington and Oregon. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State will all play at the Kohl Center.

Wisconsin will also travel to Los Angeles for bouts against UCLA and USC and visit Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue and Rutgers.

The Badgers are look to build off its 2023-24 campaign after compiling a 22-14 overall mark and being ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation in February. Greg Gard’s crew went on to pocket a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament before dropping its Round of 64 contest to No. 12 James Madison in March.

Wisconsin basketball receives opening opponent for Greenbrier Tip-Off

Wisconsin basketball receives opening opponent for Greenbrier Tip-Off

Wisconsin men’s basketball to open the 2024 Greenbrier Tip-Off against the University of Central Florida on Friday, Nov. 22.

Wisconsin will also participate alongside Pittsburgh and LSU in what will be the event’s first installment in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The first announcement surrounding Wisconsin’s involvement with the early-season tournament arrived in early March.

The circuit will take place from Nov. 22 to 24 in a two-game bracketed tournament format. Following its first game, UW will face either LSU or Pitt on Sunday, Nov. 24.

The Badgers will also square off against the in-state rival Marquette Golden Eagles on Dec. 7, 2024, face Butler in a neutral site contest and open their season with Holy Cross at home.

Unlike previous seasons, Wisconsin’s men’s basketball program will not play in an island resort or in Las Vegas during its annual Thanksgiving tournament.