The Wisconsin Badgers basketball team and coach Greg Gard have been all but quiet about their non-conference schedule this upcoming season.
Recently, the extremely talented guard Connor Essegian voiced his opinion about the non-conference games the Badgers have this upcoming season. Essegian stated that the Badgers are “ready” for their tough schedule next season, but the question of whether or not Wisconsin truly is still remains. As confident as the team is, there may still be a few holes that must be filled before any serious changes can be made.
Wisconsin Basketball Still A Player Away From Serious Contention?
The Wisconsin Badgers have had a fantastic off-season already. The commitment of St. John’s Red Storm transfer guard AJ Storr has highlighted their moves, but the team is still searching for more talent to add to the roster. Wisconsin has been on the hunt for a versatile big man in particular for the upcoming season, but the search has proven to be harder than the Badgers originally thought.
Wisconsin had also secured the commitment from Wyoming transfer Noah Reynolds, however Reynolds decided to re-enter the transfer portal. The Badgers have since been in contact with Utah State transfer Trevin Dorius, but Dorius has chosen to attend Utah Valley University instead. The Badgers sit in an awkward position now after losing out of two transfers they had come close to landing. Perhaps Wisconsin does not need to add another player going into the upcoming season given the talent on the team already.
Confidence Key To Wisconsin Badgers Basketball Future Success
The Wisconsin Badgers basketball team may not have reached the expectations that were set a year ago, but the confidence of the team is at an all-time high. Despite not making the NCAA Tournament last season, the Badgers made a deep run in the NIT before losing to North Texas. While the NIT may not be where the Badgers expect to be, given the way they had played at times last year, their play during the tournament was quite surprising.
For the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team and coach Greg Gard, this upcoming season will be a serious test for the Badgers. Between the out of conference strength of schedule and expected challenges within the Big Ten, the Badgers need to find their confidence and consistency in 2023. The Wisconsin basketball team finished with a conference record of 9-11 and struggled against Illinois and Indiana in particular.
This non-conference schedule is exactly what we wanted. Time to lock in 😈
— Connor Essegian (@CEssegian) May 23, 2023
Perhaps the heart of the emotional Badgers squad has been the talented guard Connor Essegian. Essegian, a rising Sophomore from Indiana, came into his own later on in the season. The exceptional guard dropped 116 points in the last eight regular season games for the Wisconsin basketball team, helping secure wins against Iowa, Michigan, and Penn State. Along with his success, fellow star Steven Crowl will be returning for his Senior year and expects to add to the Badgers success.
Crowl averaged 12.1 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Badgers a year ago, including a 36 point performance in the NIT against Bradley. Crowl is a versatile scorer who is not afraid to risk his body at the rim. Along with the high-flying ability of Essegian, the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team should be in good hands in 2023.
For More Wisconsin Sports Content:
Follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more College Sports content and @JarrettGuerrera on Twitter. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here! Check out 97.3 The Game on iHeart Radio!
