Why Carter Gilmore is an 'unsung important piece' for Wisconsin men's basketball
Carter Gilmore has been an 'unsung important piece' for the Wisconsin men's basketball team as they navigate a season filled with so many new faces.
Greg Gard and the Wisconsin men's basketball team moved to 2-0 on the season after picking up a 79-67 win over Montana State, a program KenPom ranks 189th nationally. It's become clear that this Badgers team is likely in for some growing pains and has the potential to be more of a slow burn than in past seasons due to the influx of new players on the roster.
Amid this adjustment period, with players finding their footing and roles still taking shape, one constant for coach Gard’s rotation stands out: the reliable presence of Carter Gilmore—who’s been with the program since day one, often overlooked by the fanbase but never outworked.
A former walk-on from Hartland (Wis.), Gilmore's impact on the floor brings a steadying influence to the Badgers. Gilmore can often be found on the court doing all the gritty, underappreciated things that rarely make headlines but keep this Wisconsin team moving forward.
"I think I have a cool story of just being a walk-on and coming here and kind of proving my way, and just trying to represent the Badgers, the best way I know how," Gilmore told Badgernotes. "I just try to be a hard-working guy who shows up every day and is loyal."
Against Montana State, Gilmore saw 19 minutes on the court, the most action he’s had since the Badgers NIT win over Oregon back in March of 2023. Gilmore contributed four points on 2-of-3 shooting, grabbed two boards, dished out two assists, and had a highlight-worthy chase-down block in transition that gave Wisconsin a spark late in the first half.
“He just comes off the bench, gives good energy, knows the game, plays the game the right way, and plays his role," John Blackwell said after the game. "He doesn’t complain, comes in with a high spirit every day, and does his job.”
With sophomore forward Nolan Winter locking down the starting spot at the four next to Steven Crowl over Northern Illinois transfer Xavier Amos, it set off a domino effect of questions surrounding the backup frontcourt minutes that coach Gard still needs to sort out.
Gilmore will be a big part of that solution, proving time and time again that he can step in and deliver reliable defense, connect the offense, and stick to his strengths to keep providing value whenever he’s on the court for Wisconsin.
"I know he's taken a lot of shit over his career here, and it's quite frankly unwarranted because if you have any idea what you're looking at, you can see that he really anchors us defensively, he covers up a lot of stuff," Gard told reporters.
The 6-foot-7 forward may not be the guy filling up the stat sheet for the Badgers, but Gilmore's proven that, regardless of the situation, he's ready to do whatever it takes to help this team win.
"He sees things a little further ahead than maybe what most players do in college," said Gard. "He's been able to play within his strengths and not get outside of his strengths. He's very valuable because he's smart, he's tough, he covers up mistakes, knows what we're doing, and he really is a good leader from a voice standpoint because he knows what he's doing.
"So yeah, he's kind of an unsung important piece to this group."
Figuring out who the second forward will be in the rotation is still very much a work in progress. Amos, brought in as a stretch-four, logged 11 minutes against Holy Cross in the opener but saw his playing time dwindle to just four minutes against Montana State. Markus Ilver is another option who can provide some spacing off the bench but hasn't made an impact yet, with eight minutes played in two games.
With the top seven spots in Gard’s rotation appearing to be set, Gilmore’s spot among that group serves as a testament to his steady impact and the value he brings to a team that’s still trying to develop on-court chemistry and sort out a rotation that Gard can depend on.
With over 100 games under his belt, Gilmore gives coach Gard someone he can trust and will undoubtedly provide toughness, leadership, and stability.
Say what you will about Gilmore, but you can’t deny the selflessness and maturity he brings to the basketball program. In an era when the grass often looks greener elsewhere, Gilmore has chosen to water his own lawn — right here in Madison.
The Wisconsin basketball team returns to the court on Nov. 10 to face the Appalachian State Mountaineers at 11 a.m. CT at the Kohl Center.
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