Wisconsin Basketball SG Max Klesmit on an Unprecedented Offensive Surge

Greg Gard and the No. 11 Wisconsin basketball program won comfortably over the Indiana Hoosiers on Friday night at the Kohl Center 91-79, thanks to a second-half scoring barrage from shooting guard Max Klesmit. 

If you had never watched a basketball game before, you probably would have walked away from the Badgers’ 20th consecutive home win over the Hoosiers thinking Klesmit was the best player on planet Earth. 

After connecting on just one shot in the first half, Klesmit flipped a switch at the 17:24 mark in the second half that I won’t soon forget.

The Neenah native scored a team-high 26 points, 23 of which came in that second half. To be more precise, Klesmit rattled off 20 points in just 4 minutes and 39 seconds.

It was one of the most dominating stretches I’ve witnessed from a player donning a Wisconsin uniform in my lifetime.

He did it in a myriad of ways: dribble penetration, 3-point shooting, and even getting to the free-throw line. Everything went Klesmit’s way. 

It began with back-to-back threes. Just minutes later, the junior guard hit back-to-back threes again. Did I mention he got fouled on the last one and turned it into a four-point play? Then Klemsit made another jumper, got to the bucket for an easy two, and made a few more at the charity stripe. He was living in CJ Gunn’s head rent-free. 

Max Klesmit AGAIN.

To the line on a made 3, and Klesmit is on a personal 7-0 run.@maxkle2 x @BadgerMBB pic.twitter.com/KT0baQEerW

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 20, 2024

Then, during a stoppage, Klesmit started getting under Gunn’s skin. Gunn would elbow Klesmit in the face and be ejected shortly after that after picking up a Flagrant two foul. Klesmit knocked down both free throws. 

Finally, Wisconsin basketball was in transition, and John Blackwell found Klesmit at the top of the key for a heat check. With Indiana defenders keying in on Klesmit, he made a terrific pass to Carter Gilmore, who couldn’t have been more wide-open under the bucket for an easy two.

W teammate move.

Klesmit ➡️ Gilmore for the finish 🔥 pic.twitter.com/npofpN9Syo

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 20, 2024

It was a remarkable run from Max Klesmit.  

Wisconsin Basketball Offense, Max Klesmit Firing on All Cylinders

The Wisconsin basketball offense has now scored 70+ points in 12 straight games. For reference, the Badgers only eclipsed 70 points 11 times during the last season. 

“It’s free-flowing right now; we have a lot of different pieces and tools that we can use,” Klesmit said of the offense. “It’s fun right now playing on that side of the floor. We’ve got some really good team basketball going on right now.”

Max Klesmit was DOMINANT tonight for @BadgerMBB 🔥@BigTenNetwork x @bigten pic.twitter.com/UtAkNCM9h4

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 20, 2024

According to Bartorvik, Wisconsin is No. 4 in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency. Max Klesmit catching fire these last few games has only helped balloon some of those already impressive numbers. 

“Just doing whatever asked for me each and every night whether that’s, you know, running around chasing a shooter, best player, you know, helping out a little bit offensively, just, you know, trying to play my role and do whatever is asked of me,” Klesmit told reporters after the game.

Over the last four games, Klesmit has made 26-of-38 field goal attempts (68%) and 14-of-20 shots from beyond the arc (70%). He’s averaging 19.5 points per game during that stretch. 

“Being consistent, staying consistent with the work, and trusting that it’s going to work,” Klesmit told Robbie Hummel regarding what’s been different about the Wisconsin basketball offense the last four games. 

“Teammates got confidence in me, the coaches got confidence in me, so It’s just feeding off that. The guys we got in this locker room, the bond is unbreakable, even off the court.”

Having someone like Max Klesmit, who is a lockdown defender, also double as a low-usage offensive option that can turn it on and become a microwave scorer late in games is a luxury. 

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