If I Were Greg Gard: 2024 Wisconsin Men’s Basketball Offseason

Greg Gard and the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program followed up disappointing a season where the Badgers missed the NCAA Tournament by returning to the Big Dance and earning a 5-seed.

The Badgers reached as high as No. 6 in the Associated Press Top 25 polls this season before a February skid brought them back to earth. When all was said and done, Wisconsin basketball fell one game shy of a Big Ten tournament title and went home in the Round of 64.

Despite the vocal minority of fans calling for Wisconsin to part ways with Gard, Athletic Director Chris McIntosh confirmed that he would be returning next season.

“I think Greg puts us in the best position to be successful into the future,” McIntosh said. “I think Greg has a great understanding of what’s needed in the continued evaluation of our program to get there. It’s a program that’s been evolving with the times that we live in, and I’m excited about some of the things that he and I talked about for the future and the evolution of our program.”

While Gard’s return to the Wisconsin basketball program was never in question, there’s no denying that the Badgers staff has an important offseason ahead of them because the pressure to win in March is starting to mount — and the seat is getting warmer.

Knowing the importance of this particular offseason, I will conduct my annual offseason exercise to map out what I would do if I were Greg Gard or, in the future, [insert coach here].

*I want to start by acknowledging that it’s much simpler to voice these opinions when my choices have no real consequences and don’t impact personal relationships. Unlike the dedicated individuals involved with the Wisconsin basketball team, my daily life remains unaffected by the team’s wins or losses throughout the season.

With that said, let’s delve into the discussion.

Bring in Two Impact Transfers for Wisconsin Basketball

Last offseason, I sat here and wrote about the importance of Greg Gard getting Wisconsin basketball a legit small forward from the portal. Doing the same thing this offseason will be equally as important. 

With AJ Storr testing the NBA Draft waters and re-entering his name into the portal, the Badgers can’t sit around and wait to find out if he’ll come back because, if we’re being honest, the odds of that happening are slim. 

It’s not that the Badgers don’t have the NIL to compete to retain Storr’s services because, believe me when I say they do. However, I think it makes more sense for Wisconsin basketball to reallocate said money and bring in two portal players capable of slotting into the rotation. 

Chucky Hepburn, Max Klesmit, Steven Crowl, John Blackwell, Nolan Winter, and Kamari McGee make up a good returning nucleus to build around. Incoming freshman Daniel Freitag isn’t coming to sit on the bench, either, but you’ve got to supplement that core with legit difference makers. 

Thankfully, the perfect solution to this dilemma has already visited campus: Omaha transfer Frankie Fidler, who has ties to Hepburn. 

The 6-foot-7 junior wing is coming off an impressive season with the Mavericks, during which he averaged 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 35.6% from beyond the arc.

With one year of eligibility remaining, Fidler would add some much-needed wing depth, be a better offensive fit than Storr, and provide coach Gard with another three-level scorer who can get to the free-throw line.

Personally, I’d make all the necessary calls to ensure that Fidler joins the Wisconsin basketball program and use the additional NIL funds to add a low-usage stretch four from the transfer portal who can fill Tyler Wahl’s void and space the floor, giving Crowl enough room to work down low. 

Landing two starting-caliber transfer players is easier said than done, but the Badgers have more minutes to offer than they’ve had in the past. This might be a hot take, but if Wisconsin basketball can add someone like Fidler and find an experienced forward who shoots 34% from three or better, I think the team could be better next season. 

At the bare minimum, these are spots on the Wisconsin Badgers roster without quality replacements waiting in the wings. So, I’m addressing these positions at all costs in the portal and saving the money it would take to bring back Storr by spending it on two rotation pieces.

I’d ‘Tom Crean’ a Few Badgers on Scholarship 

There are countless reasons why I couldn’t do Greg Gard’s job, and here’s one of them: I’d struggle to tell a player I recruited that there’s no longer a spot for them on the team because they’re not good enough.

I want to make it clear that it’s not fair to blame a player if they’re recruited to play at a level that doesn’t suit them — that responsibility falls on the Badgers head coach. If the players I’m referring to are at peace with not seeing the floor and decide to stick it out, they should have the opportunity to stay and finish their education.

That said, Gard is under immense pressure to bring in talent and elevate the team. Achieving this would likely entail parting ways with a player/s to regain a scholarship, which isn’t typically characteristic of this program.

The currently constructed roster has a few holes that Gard could address with added flexibility. By my count, Wisconsin has two open scholarships with which to work. If an opportunity to upgrade arose, Coach Gard could approach freeing up a spot in one of two ways.

There would have to be a serious discussion with Chris Hodges about what he’s hoping to get out of his remaining time with the Badgers. He won’t be a contributor to the Wisconsin basketball program. Although I’m hesitant about revoking a spot due to a player’s lack of development, it’s a possibility that would need to be carefully considered. Anything of remote value would be regarded as an upgrade.

Finally, Carter Gilmore, whom I believe doesn’t receive enough recognition for his contributions as a depth piece, might be a candidate to transition off scholarship and be supported through NIL opportunities, a strategy the Wisconsin basketball program has utilized in the past. I am somewhat hopeful that Markus Ilver can become a rotational piece, but he’s another one where nothing’s off the table if a better option is there for the taking.

In today’s college basketball landscape, it’s all about what you’ve done lately. Staying competitive might entail making some tough decisions. If an opportunity arises to bring in a better player than those at the bottom of your depth chart, you’d be crazy not to consider it.

Final Thoughts on the Wisconsin Basketball Offseason

Perhaps I’m in the minority, but Wisconsin basketball has a solid nucleus of players returning next season, and I think the Badgers could be better next year if they get back to their roots and re-commit to defense and ball security while adding two Big Ten-caliber talents to the rotation.

Based on KenPom’s metrics, the Badgers finished the season 44th in adjusted defensive efficiency. In the grand scheme of things, out of 363 Division One teams, this might not seem like the end of the world. Yet, it’s worth noting that it’s the second-lowest ranking in the Greg Gard era and the team’s lowest since 2018.

Further, Wisconsin men’s basketball wrapped up the season ranked 50th in adjusted turnover percentage. That’s the first time since 2019 that the Badgers finished outside the top 15 in turnover percentage.

By no means am I suggesting that AJ Storr alone caused some of these issues, but finding players who are better schematic fits overall could lead to a far more consistent product in 2024-25. 

It’s imperative for Greg Gard to address the issues that troubled Wisconsin basketball last season to demonstrate that he’s the man to lead the Badgers into the future.

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