It was an ugly showing from Wisconsin basketball from the tip tonight. The Badgers fell to 12 seed James Madison in the first round of the NCAA Tournament 72-61. It is the end of the season as Wisconsin basketball finishes 22-14. Key players struggled all night for the Badgers that included 19 turnovers. Here are four takeaways from the loss tonight.
Wisconsin Basketball Looked Unprepared and Was Caught Sleepwalking From the Tip
Greg Gard mentioned Sunday he was thrilled to avoid playing until Friday night. He wanted to get his players healthy and some rest from playing four games in four days in Minneapolis. The rest and recovery was well deserved and necessary.
However, it looked like Wisconsin basketball had no idea what James Madison would do from the tip. They looked confused and shocked when the Dukes established the pace and momentum. James Madison was in the faces of the Badgers and took every ball from them. We all knew that is what they would do.
It’s hard to simulate that. But for a team that plays teams like Rutgers and Maryland who gets in your faces, there is simply no excuse for that. Wisconsin does not get a pass for how poorly they came to play tonight. That is on players and coaches.
AJ Storr and Tyler Wahl Were Abysmal Tonight
AJ Storr and Tyler Wahl where playing really good basketball over the course of the last few weeks. Wisconsin basketball relied on them in Minneapolis and a majority of the season. Tonight? James Madison picked on them early and often.
For now good of a player AJ Storr is, defense and turnovers were an issue all season. It looked like James Madison targeted Storr and got their hands on the ball every time he touched it. I think Storr has a future in the NBA, but he could certainly use another year to clean that part of his game up. It was a brutal showing for the star sophomore.
You feel for Tyler Wahl who had a great five year career for Wisconsin basketball. Unfortunately, he was not good at all tonight in his final college game. After having issues last season at the rim, Wahl missed multiple shots at the rim tonight and was responsible for multiple turnovers. During this time of the year, your veterans and best players need to step up. Storr and Wahl fell short of that tonight.
Max Klesmit Put Wisconsin Basketball On Hid Back in the Second Half
After having two early fouls having to sit most of the first half, Max Klesmit came out like a mad man in the second half. Klesmit made five second half threes and single handily kept the Badgers in this game. He had a tough defender on Terrance Edwards Jr. credit goes to Klesmit because this could have been uglier if he did not get his second half buckets.
The one turning point in this game was when Wisconsin basketball was down six and Klesmit got past the Dukes defender and went for a layup. However, the ball was short and stalled at the rim. James Madison got the rebound and came back and shot a three to lead by nine. Klesmit was fouled, but it was missed.
You lose the right to blame the officiating when you go 6-16 at the rim and turn the ball over 19 times, but the officiating was not good tonight. Credit James Madison for playing physical, but it was too physical and the officials let them get away with it. The Dukes had 20 fouls, but it should have been much more. Some of the UW turnovers were a result of missed fouls, but it didn’t decide the game.
The Core Is There, But Wisconsin Basketball Has to Get Back in the Portal
Greg Gard has had success the last two years in the transfer portal getting Max Klesmit and AJ Storr. However, tonight was an indicator Gard needs to get back in the portal. He likely has to replace Tyler Wahl as it’s clear Carter Gilmore and Markus Ilver are not the answer.
Depending on AJ Storr and what his future holds, you will need to replace him if he leaves. I love the core of Chucky Hepburn, Max Klesmit, John Blackwell and Steven Crowl, but players like Connor Essegian and Nolan Winter need to take the next step this summer. You also want a player like Gus Yalden to find his way on the court and for Daniel Freitag to make an immediate impact.
Assuming this core stays, I think you have a good team going into the 2024-2025 season.
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