It’s been a frustrating season for the Wisconsin Badgers. After being as high as #14 in the country in early January, the Badgers lost seven of their next eight games. Recently, they have been the victim of many close losses, especially at home. Players such as Chucky Hepburn, Tyler Wahl, and Steven Crowl were considered leaders of this young team. They’ve had moments but have not been consistent. There have been injuries and overall a down year for all three. Lately, it’s been Wofford transfer and Neenah native Max Klesmit who has stepped up and done everything on both sides.
Max Klesmit Has Always Been A Good Offensive Player
MAX KLESMIT HEAT CHECK 🔥🔥🔥@maxkle2 is up to 15 points, 13 of them coming in the second half alone
WIS 53, PUR 52 | 6:34 2H pic.twitter.com/m66VHtz701
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) March 3, 2023
Before coming to Wisconsin, Klesmit was a star player at Neenah High School. He began his college career at Wofford. Klesmit averaged eight points a game his freshman year and then exploded to average 15 points a game his sophomore year. Right now, he’s been in double figures in five of his last six games.
When Max Klesmit committed to Wisconsin, I knew the Badgers would get a player who could score. It was a player they needed out of the transfer portal badly. There were talks about him being a good defender as well. However, he has been a better defender than I thought he would.
Klesmit isn’t forcing up any shots. He lets the game come to him, and he usually makes it when asked to shoot. I do wish he was more aggressive shooting the ball at times. We saw it in the Purdue game on Thursday. He was Wisconsin’s offense in the second half, and it was awesome to see.
Getting It Done On Both Sides
Max Klesmit playing some really good off-ball defense on Fletcher Loyer after two early buckets.#Badgers
— Bucky’s 5th Quarter (@B5Q) March 3, 2023
Max Klesmit is only averaging just over eight points a game this season. However, he’s leading the team in minutes played (32) and three-point percentage (40%). Over the last few weeks, he’s found his groove offensively.
On the defensive side, he’s usually tasked with defending the best offensive player on the other team. He’s had to guard players such as Fletcher Loyer, Tyson Walker, Tony Perkins, Jalen Hood-Schafino, and Kobe Bufkin, just to name a few.
Klesmit is asked to do a ton on this team, and he continues to deliver consistently. He’s Wisconsin’s best defender and has no issues taking charges. He’s also the player who gets the crowd fired up and his teammates fired up. His effort and energy is felt on the bench and in the crowd.
Max Klesmit Moving Forward
I mentioned after the game I think Wisconsin needs to run more offense with Klesmit at the helm. We saw it quite a few times Thursday night. I like that Max Klesmit also moves with the ball too. He isn’t afraid to drive to the rim and look for contact. Connor Essegian is also really good at this too.
I don’t want to knock on Chucky Hepburn, and while he’s hit some big shots in his short career, the offense becomes too stagnant at times when he’s running it. Chucky is a really good spot-up shooter, and I think he could benefit from being on the wing. If Klesmit can make the defense defend the paint, it would force other defenders to help. This could result in Hepburn getting open shots which he’s proven he can hit. I know he likes the step-back fade-away, but he’s becoming too dependent on a low-percentage shot. I realize Greg Gard gave him the keys to the offense, but we don’t need to see that shot multiple times every game.
Whether it’s a three to provide a spark or a play on the defensive side of the ball, Max Klesmit is doing it all for the Badgers in his first year. He’s the player that has brought the energy not only to his team but to the home crowds. That’s what you look for in a leader. That’s exactly what Max Klesmit has become.
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