With senior guard Brad Davison announcing his return to Madison for a fifth and final year as a Badger, the immediate takeaways start with his impact on the 2021-2022 season.
Yes, of course, Wisconsin will be a better team on the court with Davison versus without him in 2021-2022. It’s also fair to say the reality of the current roster in Madison means Wisconsin likely isn’t competing for a Big Ten championship next season with or without the senior guard returning, barring significant pickups in the transfer portal.
The cynical view of Davison’s return could be that it takes minutes and opportunities from young players who need to grow through game action. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
To think Davison returning would hinder instead of help 2021 signee Chucky Hepburn and 2020 signee Lorne Bowman, who will be playing his first season, ignores what the senior has been for Wisconsin throughout the last four years. There is no better player to learn from than the Minnesota native.
Having four years of experience on the court to share with Wisconsin’s young core is one thing, but Davison is also someone who always does it the right way off the hardwood. Forget playing alongside a fifth-year starter who is a tenacious worker, what about practicing with him? Wisconsin’s future at the guard position will get to battle Davison every single day on the practice court and will certainly become better players because of it.
We comin with 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/Nopz7z0Id0
— Chucky Hepburn (@ChuckyHepburn) April 14, 2021
If you watched a Wisconsin basketball game this year you heard something you probably didn’t hear as clearly through Davison’s previous three years. He talks more than maybe any player in the country on the defensive end.
Due to the lack of fans we could hear his defensive quarterbacking (sorry, I had to) loud and clear, and it’s habits like his vocal cues that can have an impact on younger players. You can only learn so much from coaches, while veterans can provide an entirely different and valuable education.
Wisconsin has a senior leader who has been an excellent representative of the program and the school throughout the past four years. Every single young player is going to benefit on and off the floor, and make this future Badger core better down the road.