Nonsensical Wisconsin Men's Basketball Ramblings for Sickos Vol. 2
Wisconsin basketball sickos gather around because it's time to unleash my nonsensical ramblings that consume too much of my thoughts Vol. 2.
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My name is Dillon Graff, and I'm an overly invested fanatic of the Wisconsin men's basketball program. Rather than attend a local meeting and earn sobriety chips, I've decided to lean into my addiction and give my poor wife a break from listening to my Badgers hoops takes -- by continuing my ramblings here -- for anyone who cares to read them.
The overwhelming support I received from the community after volume 1 was beyond humbling -- and because of you -- I'm happy to make this a regular thing as long as you still find value or entertainment from reading the words I type.
Before I lose you -- if you're even still reading -- let's dive into volume two -- where I share a few opinions that won't flow together, but I feel strongly about enough to share with the other UW hoops sickos.
Let's begin.
Experience Will Be Key for the Badgers This Season.
Greg Gard and the Wisconsin basketball program are coming off a disappointing 20-15 season where the Badgers finished 11th in the conference and failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last 25 years.
However, Coach Gard brings back a talented roster with good chemistry to go along with returning 92% of its scoring (top's in the B1G) and 90% of its minutes from last season.
Jordan Davis was the program's lone transfer -- which had more to do with a diminishing role than anything -- nothing personal.
Despite last season not going as planned, this group is battle tested and has plenty of room for internal growth from returning players.
With the offseason addition of AJ Storr and the incoming 2023 recruits, Wisconsin basketball should have more capable/improved players in their rotation, (hopefully) leading to less late-game fatigue.
The lack of playable depth paired with UW riding their starters as much as they did is the No. 1 thing that kept the Badgers team from making the tourney last season.
I believe Wisconsin basketball primed to compete for a double-bye in the Big Ten this season -- primarily because of their returning experience. More of a high-floor group -- but an NCAA Tournament team nonetheless.
Max Klesmit Could Thrive as the 6th Man for Wisconsin Basketball.
Every good Wisconsin basketball team needs a guy willing to check his ego at the door and do what's best for the program to win games.
After watching Max Klesmit play for the Badgers last season -- it's safe to say he's that guy for Greg Gard.
Klesmit appeared and started in 33 games, averaging 8.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 steals in 32.1 minutes per game -- while shooting an impressive 38.3% from beyond the arc.