Badgers still need to add a reserve center to complement Crowl
MADISON – Greg Gard and his staff have utilized the transfer portal to fill two roster spots by signing a pair of guards expected to be key members of Wisconsin's rotation next season.
They continue to search for a replacement for Chris Vogt, however.
Vogt transferred to UW from Cincinnati last season and served as the perfect complement to starter Steven Crowl and helped the Badgers win a share of the Big Ten regular-season title.
He averaged 2.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, led the team in blocks (26) in just 12.8 minutes per game and allowed the staff to limit Crowl to 25.3 minutes per game in his first season as a starter.
“We don't win the Big Ten without Chris Vogt,” Gard said after the regular season.
What are the staff's options if they can't land a transfer similar to Vogt?
The only other big man on the current roster is 6-foot-9, 239-pound Chris Hodges.
However, Hodges did not play as a high school senior because of COVID-19 concerns and redshirted last season. He might have to develop more quickly if Crowl is the only experienced big man on the roster next season.
Could Hodges give UW at least a few minutes per game against teams with bigger centers, teams such as Purdue and Indiana?
Another option would be to go with smaller lineups whenever possible.
Tyler Wahl's versatility would be critical in that scenario. Wahl can play any frontcourt position and generally causes matchup issues for larger, less mobile players.
Chucky Hepburn (7.9 ppg) likely will be more assertive offensively as a sophomore and should average double-figure points.
The addition of Kamari McGee from UW-Green Bay and Max Klesmit from Wofford should compensate for the departures of Lorne Bowman and Brad Davison.
Klesmit, who played two seasons at Wofford, chose UW over offers from South Carolina and Vanderbilt of the SEC, Clemson and Colorado State.
The graduate of Neenah High School should be able to slide into Davison's spot.
Klesmit started two games and played in 19 as a freshman at Wofford. He averaged 8.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game and shot 37.3% from three-point range (25 of 67), 46.6% overall (54 of 116) and 84.6% from the free throw line (22 of 26).
He started 31 games last season and averaged 14.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He shot 34.0% from three-point range (68 of 200), 44.6% overall (156 of 350) and hit 83.7% of his free-throw attempts (82 of 98).
McGee, a graduate of Racine St. Catherine's High School, played one season at UW-Green Bay. He should give UW a second dependable point guard to complement Hepburn.
McGee started the final 21 games for the Phoenix and finished at 11.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He shot just 38.8% overall, including 27.5% from three-point range, but many of the shots were contested and late in the possession.
In addition, he played his best ball down the stretch and averaged 17.6 points and 5.4 rebounds and shot 50.1% (34 of 67), including 40.0% from threepoint range (6 of 15), in the final five games.
Like Hepburn, McGee is a tenacious defender who can also break down opposing defenses off the dribble.
It is too early to know whether incoming freshman guard Connor Essegian will be ready to contribute next season.
Essegian, who starred at Central Noble High School, finished as the No. 10 scorer in the history of the state of Indiana with 2,526 points.
Here are some of the players ahead of Essegian and where they played college ball: Damon Bailey (3,143, Indiana), Deshaun Thomas (3,018, Ohio State), Romeo Langford (3,002, Indiana), Rick Mount (2,595, Purdue), Eric Hunter (2,583, Purdue) and Trevon Bluiett (2,568, Xavier).
The development of several players on the current roster could be critical.
Jahcobi Neath (1.6 ppg, 1.5 rpb) battled a left-knee injury that required surgery after the season. He played in only 23 of 33 games and only occasionally showed the explosiveness that is one of his strengths.
Jordan Davis is a better shooter than he showed last season when he hit just 8 of 28 three-pointers.
Can forward Markus Ilver, who showed promise in preseason practice before hitting the freshman wall and playing a total of 29 minutes, blossom?
Can forward Carter Gilmore provide quality minutes off the bench?
The Badgers are scheduled to depart for France on Aug. 7 for a four-game tour. Will they have a reserve center on the roster to help take pressure off Crowl?
Stay tuned.