Wisconsin Badgers basketball will need new players to step up as senior leaders move on
MADISON Wis. — Wisconsin basketball will look to improve upon last year’s second-round exit in the NCAA Tournament as the season tips off in under 50 days.
In order to have a successful season, head coach Greg Gard, who is entering his 7th year as the leader of this squad, will need many new names to step up. Five Badgers who averaged double-digit minutes per game last year are no longer with the team.
Forward Nate Reuvers is now a member of the Cibona in the Croatian Basketball League. Guard D’Mitrik Trice plays for Fos Provence Basket of the LNB Pro A. Forward Micah Potter is currently a member of the Miami Heat. Forward Aleem Ford was drafted No. 1 overall in the Puerto Rico professional basketball league. Lastly, senior Trevor Anderson used his extra year of eligibility to enter the transfer portal and joined the Valparaiso men’s basketball team.
The positive news for Badger fans is senior Brad Davison used his extra year of eligibility to return to Wisconsin and will look to be the senior leader for what expects to be an uncharacteristically young Wisconsin team.
In addition to Davison, Wisconsin will also return sophomore Jonathan Davis, whose playmaking and effortless scoring will be much appreciated. Junior Tyler Wahl, who has been a big part of the Badgers rotation since his freshman year and has consistently been one of the team’s best defenders, will also be returning.
Some new names fans should see to step up will be Chris Vogt, a 7-foot senior transfer who has spent the last two seasons holding down the low post block for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Vogt was tied for 5th in the American Athletic Conference in blocks, averaging 1.1 per game and 15th for offensive rebounds at 1.5 per game. In his junior year, he was the conference leader in field goal percentage with .648. Vogt should look to fill the shoes of Micah Potter and Nate Reuvers in his last year of college basketball eligibility.
Another player who Badger fans should be seeing more of this year is Jordan Davis, the brother of Wisconsin starting shooting guard Johnathan Davis. Jordan appeared in 13 games last year and should see more consistent playing time after a full season with the team last year and should be looking to compete more on a consistent basis.
In a very competitive Big Ten conference, Wisconsin will look to compete with many top teams including, Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Purdue who should all expect to be ranked in the AP Top 25 later in the year.
It appears Badger fans are already fired up for the season as student section season tickets went on sale at 7:30 in the morning on Sept. 23 and, according to the official Twitter account of the Men’s basketball team, they were sold out in just 12 minutes.
Having the Kohl Center packed with fans again should help the young team and create the fun atmosphere that Madison is accustomed to.
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