Last season, the Wisconsin Badgers put together a team that combined both under-the-radar transfer portal talent with high school recruits.
The Badgers found immense success last season after embracing both a new play model on the court as well as becoming an aggressive program in the portal. The portal is a numbers game and the Wisconsin staff understands that finding experience, capable talent is easier than ever before.
Wisconsin now aims to capitalize off of the success the program had last season by adding through the portal once again. However, this time around the staff had more roster spots to fill and a heavier reliance was placed upon landing portal talent. One such example who was a transfer portal addition for the staff that the Badgers believe can help orchestrate the offense is Andrew Rohde.
Rohde, a former Virginia and St. Thomas-Minnesota guard, announced his re-entry into the transfer portal after his second season with the Cavaliers. Rohde was previously a target in the transfer portal for the Wisconsin Badgers when the guard decided to leave the Tommies. The Milwaukee native had long been on the radar of the Badgers, and now will have a chance to potentially star for the team after developing his game at each stop along the journey.
Wisconsin Badgers Transfer Addition Andrew Rohde Adds Versatility, High IQ Play to the Team
Rohde was originally an addition that many Badgers fans criticized due to his statistics with Virginia, but with the guard now in the Madison the correct fit could be in place. Previously, the guard spent the last two season with the Cavaliers serving an interesting but specific role.
On the court, Rohde is a capable scorer from far beyond the three-point line and at the rim as well. When the guard is not dropping long-range shots for his team, then he can be found attack the rim and pushing the pace of the offense. Rohde is a high energy player who has found a niche as someone who pushes the tempo and creates plays for other people on the court.
During his time with the Tommies, Rohde put together his best scoring numbers averaging 17.1 points per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. However, the guard shot 32% from long-range due to an influx in three-point shots. Rohde pushed with the Tommies too hard at times on offense in order to make a difference on the scoreboard, but has since matured and begun to create plays for his teammates more often.
This past season, Rohde put together arguably his best all-around season despite his statistics not necessarily being career-highs in each category. At the rim, Rohde shot 43% while taking 26% of his total shots in the area which equates to nearly 61 field goals. Beyond the arc, the guard prefers to shoot from the right side of the break three, nailing 34% of his field goals taken in that area.
Asides from his scoring ability, the guard has many valuable strengths on the court that can benefit the Wisconsin Badgers offense such as his passing ability. Rohde recorded a 30% assist rate last season, averaging 4.3 assists per game and recording three nine assist games Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and Pittsburgh.
Rohde possesses excellent court vision and understands where to attack in order to pull the defense away from his teammates. Once the guard finds an open shooter, his slick passing skills allows for assists to be made in tight quarters. Rohde has struggled with turnovers in the past while trying to force passes, but the guard has steadily improved after spending more time on the court.
For the Wisconsin Badgers, Rohde could be the perfect addition via the transfer portal due to his advanced passing abilities and comfortability attacking the basket in a variety of ways. The Wisconsin Badgers also landed forward Austin Rapp, a talented big-man who specializes in outside shooting and roll and pop plays. With Rohde being a successful play-maker and roll and pop specialist himself, the Badgers could have the perfect connection on the team.
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