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A Judgmental Women’s Thoughts on the Wisconsin Basketball Team

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5 months ago

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Dec 6, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Steven Crowl (22) high-fives forward Tyler Wahl (5) during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

I am, what most would call, a very typical female sports fan. Don’t get me wrong; I understand sports, especially Wisconsin basketball. And I’m not the girl who refers to teams by their jersey colors or players by their numbers, nor do I ask 20 questions about basic rules or make dumb comments about obvious things. 

What I mean when I call myself a typical female fan is that, while watching a game, I notice things and form opinions that men often don’t see, i.e., appearance, mannerisms, accessory choices, etc.

I have been a big Wisconsin basketball fan since middle school. Upon meeting my husband and beginning to watch games with him, he realized I had a lot of random opinions. He is generally interested in my takes and looks forward to my thoughts at the start of each season. While he might not always agree, he’s generally entertained. 

So here’s my shot at seeing if anyone else finds any humor in my judgemental thoughts on the Wisconsin basketball team. 

*Note: All of these comments are intended to be light-hearted, and I have withheld sharing this because I fear hurting anyone’s feelings. I know these players are real kids with much more talent and potential than I would ever dream of having, and I in no way think anything negative about them. 

No. 1: Steven Crowl’s Hair…Yikes

Dec 6, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) and forward Steven Crowl (22) celebrate their win over the Maryland Terrapins at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s kick it off with my longest-standing opinion, Steven Crowl’s hair. 

While it has come a long way since he first started at UW, it still looks like the kind of haircut an elementary school kid gets. Many players have what appears to be a fresh cut every single game day. Do they invite Steve to those haircuts? 

Honestly, though, his hair fits what I think his personality is. A sweet, shy, maybe a little sheltered guy that all Wisconsin basketball fans have a soft spot for.

No. 2: My irrational love Jordan Davis

Jan 3, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Jordan Davis (2) passes the ball against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

I’ve had an irrational love for Jordan Davis for the last two years. As someone who grew up with a set of twins in my friend group, I know the rivalry between them can be intense. Watching Jordan become Johnny’s No.1 fan without appearing to be jealous absolutely warmed my heart. 

My husband and I attended the Battle 4 Wisconsin charity softball game over the summer. Jordan participated while Johnny did not, yet the children yelled out from the stands to Jordan, “Where’s Johnny” or “Say hi to Johnny for me.” 

As I was thinking how bad it would suck to still be overshadowed by your twin who has moved on to the NBA, Jordan kindly responded and showed no signs of bitterness whatsoever. 

And if that wasn’t enough, Jordan performed incredibly at the charity softball game. Based on his technique, it was VERY apparent that this guy was not a baseball/softball player. VERY clear. Yet he made some pretty damn impressive plays, despite the ugly form. 

I want nothing but the best for this kid and hope to see more growth from him as the Wisconsin basketball season continues.

No. 3 Markus Ilver’s Face

Oct 30, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers Markus Ilver (35) rebounds the ball against the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

Markus Ilver is a really tough one for me, and the only reason I have for my animosity is his face. 

Does anyone else think that Ilver constantly looks like he’s on the verge of a nap? 

They show him on the bench or in the huddle, and I’m always doing a double take to ensure he’s not asleep. Even when he’s on the floor, he looks bored. It might just be me, but I can’t unsee it. 

No. 4 Carter Gilmore and Troy Bolton’s Dad are Doppelgangers

Jan 10, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (14) looks to pass the ball during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

Lastly, Carter Gilmore and Troy Bolton’s dad are doppelgangers. Many of you have already weighed in on this in my husband’s Twitter poll. For reference, 54% of the voters agreed with me. 

If you don’t know, I am referring to the character coach Jack Bolton (Troy Bolton’s dad) in High School Musical. 

It’s important to note that I watched High School Musical the day before my husband posted the poll. (I was introducing my daughter to a Disney classic, so you can stop judging why a 28-year-old woman is watching HSM on a random Monday night). 

So that was on my mind upon watching the Wisconsin basketball game the next day. I’m also what most would consider a High School Musical connoisseur, so I feel like my opinion weighs a little bit heavier than the middle-aged men who voted, having never seen the movie. 

I’d like to clarify that this is in no way an insult. Watching the movie as an adult, I thought to myself, “Troy Bolton’s dad is kinda hot.” 

So Carter, apparently, you have the potential to be a good-looking basketball-coaching dad someday.

Final Thoughts on the Wisconsin Basketball team

As I said, this is all meant to be light-hearted. I mean, absolutely no hate for any of these guys. 

I’ve never put my opinions on the internet, which makes me a little uncomfortable. Remember, I’m a girl and a pretty soft one at that. So if you hate my opinions on the Wisconsin basketball team, consider going easy on me. 

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis.

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Basketball

Wisconsin Basketball Lands Blue Chip Point Guard, Knueppel Update, More

Published

4 days ago

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June 3, 2023

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Wisconsin Badgers Basketbal target Kon Knueppel
Wisconsin Lutheran guard Kon Knueppel (33) handles the ball against Pewaukee guard Nick Janowski (25) on Tuesday January 3, 2023, at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Pewaukee

It’s been a busy week for the Wisconsin basketball program, ladies and gents, but you’re in luck because BadgerNotes can help get you back up to speed with a roundup of some important Badgers news you may have missed.

Wisconsin Badgers Stay Patient, Land Top 10 2024 Point Guard 

On Friday, Greg Gard got arguably the biggest recruiting win of his coaching tenure when he received a verbal commitment from 2024 four-star point guard Daniel Freitag out of Bloomington, Minnesota.

Per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings, Freitag is the No. 71 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class and the No. 9 PG in the country.

Not only is Freitag the fifth-highest-rated recruiting in school history, but he’s also the top-rated backcourt player the Badgers have ever landed. The Minnesota native, who held division one offers in basketball and football, chose Wisconsin over a final five, including Minnesota, Baylor, Notre Dame, and Virginia.

Wisconsin basketball was the first program to offer Freitag and never let off in their pursuit. Coach Gard made him a priority, never offering another player at the position despite recruiting Freitag for two years. In the end, his relationship with the top 10 point guard won out.

“The Wisconsin staff has always been great to me; Coach Gard and I are very close,” Freitag told BadgerNotes. “I am also very close to Coach Krabbenhoft and the other UW assistants.”

Wisconsin Basketball Receiving Visit From Top Remaining Target in 2024

According to a report from Mark Miller, Phenom University standout and top 40 prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, Kon Knueppel, plans to visit Madison on June 21. 

Per the 247Sports Composite rankings, he is the No. 32 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class and the No. 11 SF in the country.

The four-star wing has been on a tear this summer, averaging 22.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, shooting 50% from the field and 46.7% from beyond the arc. He will also take an unofficial to Marquette and official visits to Louisville and Ohio State. 

Knueppel, a 6-foot-6 marksman from in-state, currently holds offers from Notre Dame, Stanford, Marquette, Virginia, Miami, and several other Power 5 programs.

A trusted source to BadgerNotes has shared that Wisconsin basketball is very much in the mix for his services and is considered to be in Knueppel’s “top 2” at the moment. “I’m very interested,” Knueppel told 247Sports. The hometown aspect is a big appeal. But it’s also been a very successful program for quite a long time. 

If the Badgers could add him to their 2024 recruiting haul, Greg Gard would have a chance to finish with the best class in program history. 

Other Wisconsin Basketball News

Speaking of the 2024 Wisconsin basketball recruiting class, Badgers commit Jack Robison out of Lakeville North HS has put together an impressive summer of his own playing for Howard Pulley in the EYBL. 

The 6-foot-6, top-150 recruit went off during session 4 in Memphis, averaging 22.5 points per game. Per 247Sports, he’s considered the No. 142 player in the country and the No. 3 player in Minnesota. 

Robison is a lanky, gritty wing that can really shoot it from beyond the arc and has the positional versatility as a defender to guard two through-small-ball four that Greg Gard and his staff covet. 

Robison is your prototypical hard-nosed Wisconsin basketball player that is intriguing in his own right and was a nice complimentary pickup by the coaching staff early in the 2024 cycle.

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

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Basketball

Wisconsin Basketball: Top 2024 In-State Target Taking Second Visit

Published

4 days ago

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June 3, 2023

By

Wisconsin Basketball head coach Greg Gard

Madison, Wis. –The Wisconsin basketball staff is expected to host one of the top in-state recruits in the coming days following his impressive Spring season.

Kon Knueppel, a rising Junior at Wisconsin Lutheran, is a 2024 four-star recruit. Knueppel is the top prospect in the state of Wisconsin for the 2024 basketball recruiting class. The small forward also ranks as the No. 11 player at his position and the No. 32 recruit overall in the class.

Knueppel is arguably the best shooter in the class and has recently included the Badgers on his list of unofficial visits.

Wisconsin Badgers Heat-Up Race For Kon Knueppel

The talented small forward Kon Knueppel is by far the best recruit that Wisconsin has tied themselves to in the 2024 recruiting class. The forward is an incredible shooter with a particular interest in shooting long range shots. Knueppel can pull-up from anywhere on the court and threaten the defense with his ability to score. This past season for Wisconsin Lutheran, Knueppel developed into a truly strong shooter as he led his team.

Wisconsin basketball coach Greg Gard has been eager to make a splash in the recruiting world to help boost the Badgers team. Recently, Gard was successful at landing St. John’s transfer guard AJ Storr. However, he also lost fellow transfer Noah Reynolds to the portal before he officially joined the team. Gard has been heavily scrutinized since taking over as the Wisconsin basketball head coach due to his lack of success in the position. The Badgers have struggled under Gard, but perhaps with the right recruits Wisconsin can turn themselves around.

Now, after shaking up the 2024 recruiting class by landing four-star Daniel Freitag, Gard may continue to set his sights on top recruits. Knueppel is one of the highest rated recruits left on the board for the Badgers. With an upcoming visit at the end of June, Wisconsin expects to make a heavy push for the recruit. Thus far in the Spring EYBL sessions, Knueppel has dominated the competition and put his deep-range shooting on display. Knueppel has shot 47.9% from long range while averaging 28.2 points per game during the most recent session in Memphis. The recruit earned offensive Most Valuable Player honors during this past session.

Another Massive Commitment Could Pull Wisconsin Closer To Top Recruits

There is no doubt that just between Freitag and Storr, Gard has added plenty of future talent in a short period of time. The new additions to the program could also serve as building blocks for Gard as he continues to hunt down top recruits. For Kon Knueppel, coach Gard will certainly try to use the upcoming visit as a major recruiting pitch. New Badger Daniel Freitag cited the environment and experiences that Madison provided contributed to his commitment.

Perhaps the Wisconsin basketball staff will try the same pitch on Knueppel in hopes of adding another star-studded recruit.

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Jarrett Guerrera on Twitter @JarrettGuerrera.

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Basketball

Twitter Reacts to Wisconsin Basketball Landing 4-Star Point Guard

Published

5 days ago

on

June 2, 2023

By

Wisconsin Men's Basketball

Madison, Wis. – On Friday afternoon, the Wisconsin basketball program picked up one of its biggest recruiting wins under Greg Gard.

Four-star point guard Daniel Freitag took to Twitter to announce his commitment to Wisconsin.

According to the 247Sports Composite, Freitag is the No. 69 player in the nation, the No. 8 point guard, and the No. 1 player in California. The Badgers beat out Minnesota, Baylor, Virginia, and Notre Dame for the four-star prospect.

The Wisconsin basketball staff made Freitag a priority, as he was the only point guard offered in the 2024 cycle. The risk paid off, and now, the Badgers will have a dynamic floor general headed to Madison in 2024.

Incoming recruits and former players took to social media to celebrate the announcement. Here are some of the best reactions.

Twitter reacts to Wisconsin basketball landing Daniel Freitag

Current teammate and Wisconsin basketball commit Jack Robison congratulates Freitag

2023 Wisconsin basketball commit Nolan Winter chimes in

Wisconsin basketball legend Sam Dekker is pumped up

The Gus Bus welcomes Freitag to Madison

Tough day for the “Gard can’t recruit” crowd

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter. Additionally, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here. Also, like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. Lastly, follow Jake Maier on Twitter @JakeJMaier.

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