Badgers Non-Conference Slate Offered Valuable Insights
Wisconsin men's basketball is back on track in 2023-24.
Greg Gard and the No. 24-ranked University of Wisconsin basketball program exited a grueling non-conference slate, holding a 9-3 overall record, which includes a notable Big Ten Conference road win against Michigan State in East Lansing.
Although the Badgers found themselves in a similar position heading into conference play a year ago and wound up missing the NCAA Tournament, there are several reasons to believe Coach Gard and company are among the league's top contenders.
The Wisconsin Badgers own four wins over programs rated in the Barttorvik top 60 teams. Conversely, two of their three losses have come against teams ranked inside the top 10 (Tennessee/Arizona). To their credit, their other loss (Providence) is rated inside the top 40.
Before Wisconsin basketball resumes Big Ten play on January 2 against Iowa, here's a closer look at what we've learned about the Badgers during its brutal non-conference schedule.
Aj Storr is the Wisconsin’s offensive focal point.
Johnny Davis threw the Wisconsin men's basketball program's development arc for a loop when he declared for the NBA Draft after his breakout sophomore season.
Thankfully, Greg Gard found everything Wisconsin was missing from an athletic standpoint when he added AJ Storr from the transfer portal.
It took some time for Storr to let the game come to him and start feeling comfortable in the Badgers' offensive system, but the early results have been promising. According to Barttorvik, Storr leads the team in usage, commanding a 28.6% share of Wisconsin's offensive possessions.
That number is substantial when you consider the well-rounded nature of this team. Storr currently leads Wisconsin in scoring with 15 points per game and has reached double figures in 10 of the Badgers' 12 games.
It's worth noting that the Illinois native's 3-point shooting has dropped from his freshman season at St. John's, down to 31.7%, but his overall field goal percentage has improved (44.3%).
He's given the Wisconsin basketball team someone to manufacture touches for in the low post, a scorer who can get to the rim at will and get out in transition while also getting to the free-throw line. Storr's addition cannot be understated—and his coach-ability has been impressive.
Steven Crowl has taken a big step forward.
Junior center Steven Crowl has quietly emerged as a pivotal player for the Wisconsin basketball team.
In addition to being second on the Badgers in scoring at 12.8 points per game, he's also averaging career highs in rebounds per game (7.3) and field goal percentage (60.2%). Not to mention, Crowl has established himself on the offensive glass, making a substantial jump in OREB percentage from 5.2 to 13% this season. He's averaging three offensive rebounds per game thus far, which doubles last year's output.
The 7-footer has also become a more consistent scoring presence. Crowl has scored in double figures in nine of Wisconsin's 12 games. It's also worth mentioning that Big Steve currently leads UW in PRPG (5.4), which is a healthy jump from his team-leading 2.9 a year ago.
Wisconsin basketball getting a more aggressive and efficient version of Crowl this season has paid dividends — and it feels like this isn't getting the attention it deserves.
Chucky Hepburn is the straw that stirs the Badgers' drink.
Chucky Hepburn has transitioned into a more facilitative role for the Badgers in his junior season, and it's helped unlock the entire Wisconsin basketball offense as a result.