Wisconsin Basketball: Has UW Fixed Its 6th Man Problem?

Depth issues have plagued Wisconsin basketball for multiple seasons. Last season, in particular, it felt as if Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard did not have a single reliable option from the bench. Finally, UW seems to finally have found a sixth man.

In just six days, Wisconsin unveils its revamped roster. When the Badgers take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves in Madison on Monday, November 6th, be ready with the ultimate Wisconsin Badgers basketball season preview series. Our team at BadgerNotes has you covered:

• Day 10: Is Tyler Wahl a Top-10 Defender in Program History?
• Day 9: Badgers Face Early Test Against the #9 Ranked Tennessee Volunteers
• Day 8: Wisconsin Basketball Has One of the Most Challenging Schedules in the Country, Featuring Eight Ranked Matchups
• Day 7: 7 Games the Badgers Must Win to Get Back to the NCAA Tournament

Wisconsin Basketball and Its Sixth Man Problem

The lack of a scoring threat off the bench last season made for a long winter. For a short while, it appeared then-freshman Connor Essegian filled that role. It did not take long into the season, however, for Essegian to supplant Jordan Davis in the lineup. With Davis slumping in the starting five and from the bench, the Badgers struggled to fill minutes.

Davis did manage to average 5.1 points per game last season in Madison. Those numbers, however, were buoyed by early season performances in a starting role. In the final nine games of the season, the twin brother of Johnny Davis scored five or more points only twice and was absent from the score sheet three times.

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

Two seasons ago, UW saw even less production from its bench. Guard Lorne Bowman averaged 3 points, and grad transfer center Chris Vogt averaged 2.9 points per game. Bowman’s availability due to a medical condition was often uncertain – appearing in only 22 games. Vogt was productive when on the court, but his minutes were limited due to his defensive limitation and foul trouble. Despite averaging only 12.8 minutes per game, he averaged 2.3 personal fouls per game.

The issue of Wisconsin basketball and the sixth man is illustrated clearly by the fact that its leading scorer off the bench the previous two seasons is no longer on the roster. Neither of them exhausted their eligibility before leaving Madison.

Is AJ Storr Exactly What the Wisconsin Badgers Need?

This offseason, Gard went to the transfer portal and found exactly what he needed. AJ Storr, a four-star recruit out of high school according to the 247Sports Composite and a four-star recruit in the transfer portal according to the 247Sports Transfer rankings, chose Gard over new St. Johns head coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Rick Pitino. Yep, you read that right.

Feb 4, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; St. John’s Red Storm guard AJ Storr (2) shoots against the Xavier Musketeers in the first half at Cintas Center. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Storr transferring to Wisconsin gives the Badgers exactly what they have been lacking the previous two seasons. An additional scoring threat on the wing and off the bench. While Gard returns all five of his starters from last season’s team, Storr has a chance to find his way into a starting role before the season’s end – and that will not be to anyone’s fault but only to Storr’s credit as an athlete.

In his freshman season at St. John’s, the Rockford native shot 40.4% from three to lead all freshmen in the Big East, averaged 10.5 points per game in league play, and took home Big East Freshman of the Week three times. He proved to be a scoring threat from anywhere on the court by using his large six-foot-six-inch, 200-pound frame to score inside and out.

It was clear throughout last season that Wisconsin basketball needed more athleticism on the court. Despite their contributions, former walk-ons and low-major transfers simply were not enough to get the Badgers to the NCAA Tournament. An addition like Storr could be an X-Factor to help UW not just get back to the Big Dance but to make some real noise there.

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