Wisconsin Badgers had their first ever summer practice for the 2025 season and head coach Greg Gard thought the team is already full of energy.
The practice was open to the media and they players were allowed to talk to reporters after. Noticeable was the joy each player has being in the basketball court again after a short offseason.
Gard said the competitiveness between his boys is already showing.
“We have very high level competitors that want to win, whether there are 17,000 in here or nobody,” he said.
“It’s like this every day.”
The team will feature a new look this season with the departure of three of their five starters from last season. They are John Tonje, now with the Utah Jazz in the NBA, guard Max Klesmit, and big man Steven Crowl. Also gone from the line up are Carter Gilmore, Markus Ilver, and Kamari McGee.
Greg Gard on team chemistry
The old timers are gone and the task now is to get the new ones acclimated not just to the team’s system but also to the Badgers culture,
The program acquired new players through the transfer portal and these guys will instantly inserted into the starting line-up. Andrew Rohde, Nick Boyd, and Austin Rapp will fill the spots vacated by Tonje, Klesmit, and Crowl.
Gard said he is already working on the chemistry between players through 5-on-5 scrimmages.
“That helps in terms of the chemistry and the connection, just playing a lot,” he shared.
“We’ve had to kick them out of the gym at times because they really like to play.”
Other newcomer on the team are Braeden Carrington and Elijah Gray.
For more great Wisconsin sports content
Follow us @WiSportsHeroics for the latest and trending news about Packers, Brewers, Bucks, Marquette, and the rest of Wisconsin Sports. Stay updated by reading more of our Wisconsin Sports articles by clicking here and college basketball by clicking here!
