Badgers Film Room: Chucky Hepburn is Wisconsin’s Next Star Point Guard
Wisconsin is in good hands at PG moving forward:
The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program has had a pretty damn impressive run at the point guard position, now spanning more than two decades.
While not all UW point guards were highly rated prospects, their ability to recruit and develop at the position has been rather impressive.
A run of PGs that began with Devin Harris, Kamron Taylor, Trevon Hughes, Jordan Taylor, Traevon Jackson, Bronson Koenig, and D’Mitrik Trice appears to have a new addition to the fraternity in Nebraska native, Chucky Hepburn.
Freshman Year:
As a true freshman, Hepburn was given the keys to the car by head coach Greg Gard, and let me tell you, the early returns were more than promising.
Hepburn started all 33 games for the Badgers and provided a steady presence at the point that allowed UW to push the pace while remaining under control.
On the season, the Nebraska native averaged 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals in just over 30 minutes per game.
The former Bellevue West standout’s on-ball defense ranged anywhere from good to great and made life increasingly difficult on opposing point guards all season long.
Perhaps the most impressive stat for Hepburn wasn't something he did but rather what he didn't do.
In 1,020 total minutes played, he only turned the ball over 39 times – which was good for an average of just one turnover every 26 minutes. A genuinely remarkable stat for a true freshman playing in one of the most physical defensive conferences in all of college basketball.
Overall, he finished the year with an impressive 1.97:1 assist-to-turnover ratio - showing masterful control and patience running the Badgers' offense.
Just for good measure, it's also worth mentioning that no moment was too big for Hepburn - who had the stones to take and make one of the biggest shots in school history this past season with the Big Ten on the line.