Wisconsin basketball picked up another win last night against rival Minnesota 63-60. What was more impressive is that they did it without the help of one of their best players. Tyler Wahl only played nine minutes before exiting with an apparent ankle injury. Other players stepped up and they got the win but long term, the Badgers will need Wahl’s leadership and scoring. After the game, Greg Gard gave an update on the Tyler Wahl injury.
Greg Gard says Tyler Wahl stepped on someone's foot.
Wahl told Gard he was going to try and play the second half, but couldn't get the ankle loose.
Timetable for return is TBD.
"Not gonna put him in position where he's gonna hurt himself any more."#Badgers
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) January 4, 2023
Wisconsin Basketball: Update On Tyler Wahl Injury
Wahl stepped on someone’s foot and tweaked his ankle. Gard said that Wahl was going to try and play the second half but just could not get the ankle loosened up. Gard immediately made the decision to shut him down for the game saying, “not gonna put him in a position where he’s gonna hurt himself anymore.” After the game, there were good signs on the Tyler Wahl injury.
I'm no doctor, but the fact that #Badgers Tyler Wahl was not wearing a protective boot last night has to be an encouraging sign for his rehab. If you are on campus during the season and go through a day without seeing an athlete in a boot, something is amiss.
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) January 4, 2023
He was not in any kind of protective boot after the game signaling that the injury is not serious. There is no timetable for his return but the team will be cautious with his return. There is no sense in forcing the issue now. It is more important that Wahl is healthy in March than in early January.
Opportunity For Others
While you never want to see injuries to players, it does provide opportunities for others to step up. A couple of players had season-highs in minutes and played very well.
The injury to #Badgers Tyler Wahl forced Gard to tweak the rotation. The result: Gilmore played a season-high 29:53 and Ilver played a season-high 10:52.
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) January 4, 2023
The defensive identity of the team is something all players have caught on to. The Badgers are winning with elite defense. Gilmore and Ilver did not impact the scoring much. They only scored five points between the two of them. However, their defense and effort are something that will not show up in the stat sheet. The fact that the Badgers won this game without Tyler Wahl says a lot about what this team is made of.
At this point, we wait for more updates on the Tyler Wahl injury. The good news is it does not seem to be a long-term concern. The Badgers have a quick turnaround as they travel to Illinois for a tough road test.
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