The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Montana State Bobcats in the Kohl Center, 79-67, in the first game of the Bobcats 2024 season.
The Badgers were expecting a tough fight against a step-up in competition after facing the Holy Cross Crusaders to open the season. The Crusaders actually gave Wisconsin headaches, and led for a portion of the game despite being the 345th ranked school in college basketball. Montana State also gave the team headaches, playing solid basketball and keeping the came close as the 189th ranked school.
Rankings aside, Wisconsin has managed to settle things on the court and walk away with two wins early in the season. After the win over the Bobcats, the Wisconsin Badgers still have a few questions that must be answered moving forward.
Wisconsin Badgers Question #1: Will Camren Hunter Play Against App State?
After missing the season-opening win over the Holy Cross Crusaders with an injury, transfer guard Camren Hunter was made available once again. The guard was removed from the inactive list on the Big Ten Conference website, however, Hunter never made his season debut against the Bobcats.
Many Wisconsin Badgers fans are wondering what the potential issue is, as Hunter was a top transfer addition and expected contributor. However, injuries take time and unfortunately for Hunter, injuries have been something slowing the guard down for some time. Hunter missed all of the 2023 season due to an ankle injury and missed portions of offseason training camp with the Badgers due to injuries as well.
The Wisconsin Badgers play App State during an afternoon game on Sunday, November 10th, in a game where Hunter could finally make his debut.
Wisconsin Badgers Question #2: Could Kamari McGee Start Games During the 2024 Season?
An interesting thing the Wisconsin Badgers staff did at times against the Montana State Bobcats was leave both Klesmit and Blackwell on the court with Kamari McGee. The guard has played 27-minutes per game to start the season for the Badgers as he commands the “floor general” role for the team.
One concern many had with the Badgers was the fact that the team lacks a “true” point guard in the starting lineup. While McGee is still not a true facilitator like many analysts and fans may want, the guard offers exceptional floor recognition that the team needs. With the Badgers leaning on that presence from McGee through two games, it does not seem that crazy to think the guard might start games later in the season for Wisconsin.
McGee has been a player that offers a spark for the offense and above average perimeter defense abilities. What McGee lacks as a player, the rest of the Wisconsin Badgers lineup is strong at such as shooting accuracy (Blackwell) and volume shooting (Klesmit, Tonje). McGee also looks like an entirely new player this season, having drastically changed his physique by gaining nearly 15-pounds.
Wisconsin Badgers Question #3: What Role Will Xavier Amos Have Off of the Bench?
One of the big transfers the Wisconsin Badgers staff landed this offseason was forward Xavier Amos, a former NIU Huskies role player. The forward can do a bit of everything on both sides of the court, and it should be interesting to see what Amos does moving forward. Amos has been quiet through two games and an exhibition for the Badgers, but should develop a larger role in the future.
The transfer forward is in an interesting position as Wisconsin has an abundance of similar forwards on the roster. The emergence of Nolan Winter has essentially solidified a role for the forward in the starting lineup, while Carter Gilmore has been the first forward off of the bench.
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