Wisconsin Basketball at Indiana: Disappointing Injury News for UW

Wisconsin basketball faces the Indiana Hoosiers tonight in a battle of longtime Big Ten foes. Wisconsin (18-9, 10-6 Big Ten) looks to win back-to-back games for the first time since January. Indiana (14-13, 6-10 Big Ten) hopes to stop its own skid after losing four straight games. Both teams, however, may not be at full strength. Despite previous indications that the Badgers would return a key contributor for tonight’s game, UW has confirmed it will be shorthanded.

Wisconsin Basketball Injury Report: Kamari McGee Out at Indiana

Jan 19, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) returns to the Wisconsin Badgers bench with a boot on his injured leg during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

Kamari McGee suffered a lower-body injury during Wisconsin’s first game against Indiana. Before that game ended, the Racine native returned to the bench with a boot on his right leg. McGee has been sidelined since that 91-79 victory inside the Kohl Center on January 19th. At that point, the Badgers were 6-1 in conference play. Without the reserve point guard, UW is 4-5.

McGee’s value has been in the spotlight in his absence. Despite his limited presence on the stat sheet, his average of 6.9 minutes per game allowed Badgers head coach Greg Gard to give his starters some rest. Without the former Wisconsin-Green Bay transfer, the long Big Ten regular season gets a little longer for starting guards Chucky Hepburn and Max Klesmit.

Regardless of if it's 10 or 14, this would slate McGee's return for the #Badgers on their trip to Indiana on February 27th. McGee would miss three more games before then:

2/13 vs Ohio State
2/17 at Iowa
2/20 vs Maryland https://t.co/Ah4lMUKFM9

— Kedrick Stumbris (@KedrickStumbris) February 12, 2024

Previously, Gard provided a timeline of 10-14 days for McGee’s return. That was on February 12th. With McGee out again tonight, he will not return to Wisconsin’s lineup within that window.

Indiana Lists Several Key Contributors Questionable vs. Wisconsin

Jan 19, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (14) sets a screen as Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) is fouled by Indiana Hoosiers guard Trey Galloway (32) during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin basketball is not the only team in tonight’s contest with injury woes. Three of Indiana’s regular rotation players are designated as questionable. Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway are regular starters for the Hoosiers. Wing CJ Gunn has appeared in all but one game for IU this season.

The questionable label is actually an upgrade for Johnson. The point guard has missed Indiana’s last six games; the Hoosiers are 1-5 in that stretch. In January, the sixth-year senior recorded eight points, two assists, and three rebounds against Wisconsin. Johnson also missed the second half of last season with a broken foot.

Galloway is a new addition to Indiana’s availability report. The starting guard may have sustained the injury on Saturday against Penn State. The Indiana native briefly exited the game with an apparent lower-body injury but later returned to the game. Galloway is averaging 10.8 points and 4.3 assists per game on the season.

Despite the most recent timeline shared by Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard, #Badgers reserve PG Kamari McGee remains out tonight per UW's availability report.

Xavier Johnson, CJ Gunn, and Trey Galloway are all questionable for Indiana. pic.twitter.com/BUTEpu9e4u

— Kedrick Stumbris (@KedrickStumbris) February 27, 2024

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