Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard praised point guard Kamari McGee following the Badgers’ 78-62 exhibition win over UW-River Falls on Wednesday.
In 24 minutes off the bench, McGee registered five points, six assists and four rebounds for UW’s second unit. McGee also took care of the rock and did not record a turnover during his time orchestrating the offense.
“He’s been the most consistent,” Gard said after the game. “That’s what he’s done, day in and day out. He makes the teams that he’s on better. I told him as I decided who I was going to start tonight that I wanted to make sure he had that same energy and bounce.”
Gard elected to go with John Tonje, Steven Crowl, Nolan Winter, John Blackwell and Max Klesmit as his starting unit against UW-River Falls. Nonetheless, McGee has emerged as a trusted voice in Wisconsin’s locker room.
“He and [Max Klesmit] do a great job vocally of leading the team. Those guys are the heartbeat of it,” Gard emphasized.
#Badgers rolled without a true point guard in the starting lineup on Wednesday.
Greg Gard likes the spark Kamari McGee can provide off the bench.
Five points, six assists, four rebounds, one block, and zero turnovers. pic.twitter.com/C0isEsKhTU
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) October 31, 2024
In 56 career games at Wisconsin before his senior year, McGee averaged 7.6 minutes per game in his time as a valued bench asset. With three new transfers and two true freshmen now in the fold, his leadership and consistency figures to play a pivotal role in how UW’s group operates throughout the 2024-25 season.