The Wisconsin basketball team could seek a lineup change heading into the Big Ten Conference Tournament given the recent play of a guard.
John Blackwell, a true Freshman guard for the Wisconsin basketball team, has been a key bench player for Wisconsin this season. Blackwell has averaged 8.5 points and 3.2 rebounds for Wisconsin basketball this season in 18.3 minutes per game of action off the bench. As of late however, Blackwell has picked up his play, which brings up the question of whether or not the guard is better off on the bench or as a starter.
Wisconsin Basketball Guard John Blackwell Continues to Impress During True Freshman Season
If there is one thing that has been certain this season for Wisconsin basketball, it is that the team has a future stud guard on their hands. True Freshman guard John Blackwell has made tremendous strides for Wisconsin this season, between recording Conference Freshman of the Week honors multiple times to exploding for 17-points against a tough Arizona team early on.
Blackwell has shown he is an intelligent defender and has the potential to takeover games offensively as well. The Badgers have made the guard their first choice off the bench this season, and Blackwell has not failed to impress in that role. Over the last four games, Blackwell has seen an uptick in his minutes significantly which has led to some of his best play all year.
Should Wisconsin Badgers Basketball Make a Starting Lineup Change This Late in the Season?
At this point in the season with the Big Ten Conference Tournament and then the NCAA Tournament, making a change will likely not happen. However, Head Coach Greg Gard could consider moving Blackwell into the starting lineup for someone like Max Klesmit since Gard is willing to make changes at any time. In the last game against Purdue, Gard gave forward Chris Hodges his first minutes of play since their blowout loss against Rutgers.
Moving Blackwell into the starting lineup certainly has pros and cons, but the real question is who he would start over. While Klesmit has not been shooting the ball efficiently as of late, he still has been a defensive presence for the Badgers recording three steals against Purdue.
Making a lineup change at this point in the season seems very unlikely, but the Badgers have also struggled as a team. Perhaps making a change is what Wisconsin basketball needs to get back on track for the tournaments.
Can Blackwell Provide More as a Starter or as a Bench Role Player?
There is no question that Blackwell has been the most valuable player off the bench for the Wisconsin basketball team this season. While fellow guard Kamari McGee provides a spark and much-needed defensive intensity, Blackwell has been extremely valuable both as a scorer and defender off the bench this season.
Blackwell has scored 54 points off the bench in his past four games for the Badgers, while adding 18 rebounds and four steals as well. Moving Blackwell into a starting role could potentially get the guard moving faster and help ignite the offense early. The defensive pressure and energy that Blackwell offers is tremendous, much like McGee, and perhaps that is what the starting lineup for the Badgers needs.
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