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Wisconsin Basketball vs Robert Morris: How, When, What to Watch

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Wisconsin Badgers basketball player Max Klesmit
Mar 2, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) celebrates a three-pointer during the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin basketball has one “get-right” game before it jumps right into the fray of one of the most challenging schedules in the country. The Wisconsin Badgers (1-2) host the Robert Morris University Colonials (1-2) before traveling to Florida for the Fort Myers Tip-Off. 

Wisconsin Basketball vs. Robert Morris – Time and TV Channel

Wisconsin Badgers vs. RMU Colonials: Roster Stability vs. Turnover

Robert Morris is playing the role of a natural foil to Wisconsin. UW head coach Greg Gard kept his roster nearly perfectly intact in the offseason, losing only Jordan Davis to the transfer portal. On the other hand, Colonials head coach Andrew Toole lost three of his four top scorers from last season. Headed into his 14th season at RMU, Toole was fortunate to find two players from the portal who are having an immediate impact.
Former Wisconsin Badgers basketball guard Jordan Davis

Feb 18, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Jordan Davis (2) runs back on defense after scoring during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

Justice Williams a Much-Needed Scoring Threat for Robert Morris

Justice Williams moved much closer to his home of Philadelphia by transferring from LSU to Robert Morris. The 6’4″ junior was brought in not just for his ability to score. Toole also appreciates Williams’ ability to facilitate, while his roster lacks a natural point guard. Williams impressed in his RMU debut against Xavier, notching 21 points while getting the majority of minutes at the point.

Will Wisconsin’s Forwards Stop Markeese Hastings?

The second impact transfer is Markeese Hastings. The Michigan native is making his third stop in college after spending two seasons each at Butler and Western Michigan. The forward has earned a reputation for himself as one of the best rebounders in the country.

Gard bemoaned the effort of his starting forwards, Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl, after Wisconsin’s loss to Providence. This upcoming battle with Hastings for the ball on the glass might be a measuring stick for the effort Wahl and Crowl give in this one.

Wisconsin Basketball and Robert Morris Both With Injured 3-Point Shooters

Although Connor Essegian has not missed a game for the Wisconsin Badgers, I suspect he is not entirely healthy. The sophomore from Indiana exited Wisconsin’s opening game after suffering an upper-body injury. Since then, he has recorded only 11 and six minutes in UW’s two subsequent games. With no minutes coming down the stretch in either of those games and no made three-pointers, the sharpshooter is clearly still struggling through some pain.

Wisconsin Badgers Basketball; Connor Essegian

Nov 6, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; An athletic trainer helps Wisconsin Badgers guard Connor Essegian (3) up off the floor during the first half against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

If Essegian sees limited minutes again tonight, it might be more than Robert Morris gets from its go-to three-point shooter. Josh Corbin is, at his best, a good to great threat from beyond the arc. In his sophomore season at Winthrop, the six-foot-three-inch wing shot 40.5% from deep on 116 attempts. He had a bit of a slump in the following season but had a resurgence last season after transferring to RMU. The Ohio native shot 35.3% from three on 235 attempts last season. He has, however, only appeared in one of the Colonials’ three games due to a hand injury.

RELATED: Connor Essegian Set for a Massive Season

Corbin’s injury significantly hampers RMU’s offensive capabilities. With a roster that features only one rotation player taller than six-foot-seven-inches, the Colonials need a feared presence on the perimeter.

Wisconsin Basketball: One Thing I Cannot Wait for This Season

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BadgerNotes' resident college basketball sicko, Kedrick Stumbris covers Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball and women's hockey teams unlike anyone else. He received his B.A. with economics and political science majors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2018 and has had his work published on Bleacher Report and Verbal Commits.

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