Wisconsin Basketball: AJ Storr Dominates to Defeat Chicago State

With final exams wrapped up, Wisconsin basketball had one last test before Big Ten play begins in earnest. The Wisconsin Badgers passed that test with flying colors. UW defeated the Chicago State Cougars on Friday night 80-53.

Wisconsin Basketball Guard AJ Storr’s Dominating Performance

AJ Storr’s transfer to Wisconsin was widely hailed as one of the best transfer portal acquisitions in the country. The St. John’s transfer earned Big East All-Freshman honors last season. Since arriving in Madison, the Rockford, Illinois, native has not slowed down.

Dec 9, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard AJ Storr (2) shoots a basket against Arizona Wildcats forward Keshad Johnson (16) during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports

Storr can score around the rim, at the free-throw line, and beyond the arc. That natural scoring talent has made him UW’s leading scorer with seven straight double-digit scoring performances. He led all scorers in the contest against Chicago State with a career-high 29 points.

The points came quickly for the sophomore on Friday. He tallied 20 points in the first half alone. Showcasing his ability to score from anywhere on the court, Storr shot 11-of-18 from the field, three-of-five on three-pointers, and four-of-six from the free throw line.

Wisconsin Basketball: Connor Essegian’s Minutes Increase

Fellow sophomore guard Connor Essegian’s struggles this season are well-documented. He suffered a back injury in the Wisconsin Badgers season-opener and has been “in a funk defensively,” according to head coach Greg Gard.  Those factors have limited his ability to get meaningful minutes in games, but he was back in the regular rotation against the Cougars. He recorded a season-high 18 minutes.

Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian (3) misses a three-point shot during the second half of their preseason game Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin beat UW-Stevens Point 87-44.

Assessing Connor Essegian’s Performance

On the defensive end, the Indiana native had an up-and-down performance. Throughout the first half, he appeared to have his head on a swivel and did not get beat by his man. In the second half, however, he struggled a bit more. Thirteen of Essegian’s 18 minutes came in the second half, during which he committed four personal fouls.

Offensively, Essegian shot the ball at an average rate. He was two-of-five from the field and made one of his three three-point attempts. One of his misses was initially ruled a bucket due to goaltending, but following review during a media timeout, the goaltending call was overturned. Essegian finished with a plus-minus of +16, the highest among non-starters.

Overall, Essegian looks like he is doing what his coach said he needs to do: get back into a rhythm. He is not perfect right now, but what he adds is an invaluable shooting threat. Despite his flaws right now, every time he pulls up, the crowd at the Kohl Center sucks all the air out of the building in anticipation. That is the hallmark of a great shooter.

Wisconsin Badgers Point Guard Chucky Hepburn Exits Game with Injury

Early in the second half, Wisconsin basketball lost its starting point guard. Chucky Hepburn suffered a “lower body” injury and did not return to the game. Hepburn did, however, return to the bench in uniform.

After the game, Gard was asked about Hepburn’s status. Gard says Chucky Hepburn “was walking around in the locker room afterward. I’m sure he’ll be sore for a little bit, but he feels he’s going to be fine.”

Wisconsin basketball plays its next game on Tuesday, January 2nd, against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. For more Wisconsin Badgers Athletics and Big Ten content, follow us on Twitter & Facebook. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also follow Kedrick Stumbris on Twitter @KedrickStumbris

Also, be sure to check out our shop, subscribe to our newsletter, and the BadgerNotes After Dark podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. Because of your support, we have become one of the fastest-growing independent media outlets giving a voice to the fans!