Where Wisconsin men’s basketball and the Big Ten stand after three top-10 NBA draft picks | Wisconsin Badgers Men’s Basketball
When Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis announced he’d be missing the NBA Combine due to COVID-19, the junior’s hopes of being drafted started diminishing.
He announced he’d be returning to the Hoosiers for another season a few days later. This piece of news changed the outlook of the Big Ten Conference and it was only May.
Jackson-Davis was arguably the most electric player in the Big Ten Tournament last season. He helped his team upset No. 1 seed Illinois and was the only player who didn’t participate in the championship game to be named to the All-Tournament team.
Jackson-Davis’ return paired with a top-notch recruiting class has many people with their eyes looking to Bloomington, Indiana, ahead of the season. The Hoosiers also return four starters and add five-star recruits Jalen Hood-Schifino and Malik Reneau.
To quote CBS’ Jon Rothstein, “The Big Ten OFFICIALLY goes through Bloomington.”
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The Hoosiers are an early favorite, according to Big Ten and national media, for what could be a very chaotic conference. There’s a lot of turnover making a lot of unknowns for many teams in the conference.
The Big Ten produced three top-10 NBA draft picks for the first time in nine years.
Former UW guard Johnny Davis was selected 10th overall by the Washington Wizards, behind Iowa’s Keegan Murray (fourth) and Purdue’s Jaden Ivey (fifth).
In 2013, it was Indiana’s Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller going second and fourth after leading their team to the Sweet 16. Michigan’s Trey Burke — who also was the Big Ten Player of the Year and a consensus All-American — was drafted ninth.
The Big Ten had nine selections in this year’s draft; that’s the most among all conferences, and the most picks by the league since it had 10 picks in the 1990 draft.
There were at least 37 players to transfer out of various Big Ten programs. All but Rutgers had players decide to leave for other programs. That doesn’t even include those who graduated.
There’s more questions than answers but here’s a way-too-early look at the 2022-23 Big Ten season.
How does UW fare compared to other Big Ten teams?
Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis and UW’s Steven Crowl battle for a loose ball last season in Bloomington, Ind. UW won 74-69.
The loss of Davis and Brad Davison are huge hits for the Badgers, but they return three starters in Steven Crowl, Chucky Hepburn and Tyler Wahl. Coach Greg Gard returns 41.1% of his scoring, 46.5% of his rebounding, 50.1% of his team’s assists and 37.6% of his made 3s from a year ago.
The lack of depth from the bench was an issue that plagued UW all last season. That could change this upcoming season as UW brought in two transfers in Kamari McGee and Max Klesmit. They also added freshman Connor Essegian. They’ve got four returning players from the bench, including Jordan Davis and Jahcobi Neath, who had some standout moments last season.
Other teams had even more turnover than UW.
Illinois starters Trent Frazier, Alfonso Plummer and Kofi Cockburn have all left the Illini. Andre Curbelo and Jacob Grandison transferred. Despite the turnover, Illinois has the second-best odds for a potential national championship out of all Big Ten teams.
Last season’s Big Ten co-champions reloaded through the transfer portal, hitting the Big 12 and adding a former champion. Chicago native Terrence Shannon Jr. averaged over 16.7 points per game during three seasons at Texas Tech. Matthew Mayer was a rotational player on Baylor’s 2021 national championship team and joins the Illini alongside Bears teammate Dain Dainja.
There might not be a team in the Big Ten who fared better in the transfer portal.
Michigan lost freshmen Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate to the NBA draft. The Wolverines only return one starter in Hunter Dickinson and two significant bench contributors, though they add the No. 13 recruiting class in the nation to try to make up for the loss of seven players.
Ohio State lost nearly its entire rotation from last season as nine players who played meaningful minutes have either left for the NBA or chose to transfer. Forward Zed Key is the only returning starter.
Starters Gabe Brown, Max Christie and Marcus Bingham Jr. all parted ways with Michigan State, as well as key rotational player Julius Marble, but an experienced backcourt returns and is driven by A.J. Hoggard and Tyson Walker. It also has veteran forwards Malik Hall and Joey Hauser. The Spartans bring in the No. 40 recruiting class in the country, according to 247 Sports.
Kris Murray is the biggest returning contributor for Iowa. The twin brother of Keegan Murray averaged 9.7 points per game for the Big Ten Tournament champions.
Purdue lost three starters from last season — Ivey, Sasha Stefanovic and Eric Hunter Jr. — as well as Trevion Williams and Isaiah Thompson. Zach Edey and Mason Gillis return for a strong frontcourt, but guard play could hinder Purdue.
Rutgers was the only team to not lose a player to the transfer portal, but Ron Harper Jr. (turned pro) and Geo Baker (graduation) left. Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Caleb McConnell is poised to take on a bigger role next season. The Scarlet Knights also return Paul Mulcahy and Cliff Omoruyi as starters last season.
What we can learn from Kaminsky, Dekker leaving in 2015
UW forward Tyler Wahl backs down Michigan center Hunter Dickinson last season at the Kohl Center. UW won 77-63.
When UW had to part ways with Big Ten Player of the Year and consensus All-American Frank Kaminsky in 2015 there were a lot of people wondering how the Badgers would fill the hole left behind. The 2014-15 season was the last time the Badgers made it past the Sweet 16 and fans weren’t ready to say goodbye to success. It didn’t help that second-leading scorer Sam Dekker joined Kaminsky as first-round picks in the NBA draft.
The next season didn’t disappoint. UW made it to the Sweet 16 by leaning on returners Nigel Hayes and Ethan Happ to go 22-13 and finish in a three-way tie for third in the regular season.
The 2021-22 season had the most turnover in recent years, losing seven players total, including all but one starter. UW shocked the Big Ten — and the nation — to earn a share of the Big Ten regular season and surpass the preseason prediction of finishing 10th.
How? It’s a similar pattern. They leaned on their returners. It was expected for Davison to have a similar, if not increased, contribution. What wasn’t expected was the jump Johnny Davis would make. The pair combined for 33.8 points per game.
The best avenue for the Badgers to fill the hole left behind is to rely on their returning players — something historically successful for the team.
Wahl, who is 6-foot-9, was the third-leading scorer for UW at 11.4 points per game. He was a dominant force down low and managed to score over even the best centers in the league, including the 7-4 Edey, 7-foot Cockburn and 7-1 Dickinson. He had the shock advantage last year: No one really knew what to expect of him. He doesn’t have that this year.
Then there’s Crowl, who wasn’t considered as one of the dominant centers in a league that prides itself on its bigs. He was, however, consistent. He was able to stifle Purdue’s and Michigan’s centers enough in UW victories.
He was elevated to starter after playing 11 games as a freshman. He had some shining moments and with another year of experience, he could be poised for another leap.
Hepburn had a fantastic freshman season despite many curveballs thrown at him. He was the only freshman point guard to start for a Big Ten team. His god-brother died just days before playing in his home state of Nebraska in February. He battled injuries all season, including an ankle sprain that ended his — and the Badgers’ — season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The league has a legacy of freshmen making a jump in talent into their sophomore year — take last year’s top-10 picks for example.
Hepburn proved he has a knack for hitting difficult shots, punctuating that fact with a banked 3 to earn a share of the league’s regular-season title. He wasn’t expected to be a scorer for UW last season. However, this season he’ll likely have to be in charge of ball-handling and scoring — two things he definitely can handle.
It’s possible Neath and Jordan Davis also will step up. Neath played a majority of last season with a torn labrum and he’s off crutches and participating in practices, according to UW social media posts. Davis trained for a month in Miami with NBA prospects and told the State Journal he’s confident in his abilities to substantially contribute.
The last player who could make a substantial impact for the Badgers is Klesmit. He was Wofford’s second-leading scorer last season, averaging 14.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 44.6% from the field, including 34.0% from 3-point range. He was named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman team the year prior.
There’s precedent for players making a jump after transferring to a Power Five conference from Wofford. Keve Aluma became an All-ACC player after transferring to Virginia Tech. Wisconsin native Storm Murphy also rose to All-ACC fame a year later when he headed to the Hokies, winning last year’s ACC Tournament championship for the first time in program history.
The transition from a mid-major to a Power Five conference could be a challenge, but Klesmit has already stated he’s not intimidated by the increased competition.
What could non-conference play reveal for the regular season?
UW’s Chucky Hepburn shoots over Michigan State’s Tyson Walker last season at the Kohl Center. The Spartans won 86-74.
It’s not news that the Big Ten typically schedules challenging opponents for non-conference play. This season is no exception. Many of the teams’ questions could be answered before conference play even starts.
UW currently has games on the calendar with Stanford and Wake Forest. The Badgers also are set to compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis with a field that includes 2022 NCAA champion Kansas, which depending on the bracket and matchups could result in a meeting. The I-94 rivalry game against Marquette is the only other known game.
Michigan State has guaranteed games against Notre Dame, Gonzaga, Villanova and Kentucky — all of which were NCAA tournament teams last season.
Indiana has games scheduled with NCAA tournament teams North Carolina, Arizona and Kansas. It’s arguably the second-toughest non-conference schedule in the Big Ten.
Three Big Ten teams have the potential to play against Kansas, which could also be a measure of how the league could shape up in what’s considered a down year for just about all teams. The non-conference challenges will reveal where teams stand ahead of an up-for-grabs Big Ten.
Title IX timeline: 50 years of halting progress across U.S.
1917
Former U.S. congresswoman Jeannette Rankin (R-Montana) prepares to leave Washington, June 2, 1932, for a speaking tour calling for a peace plank in the Republican and Democratic party platforms. As the first woman elected to Congress, she did not vote for war in 1917.
1920
In this file photo from Aug. 27, 1920, New York Gov. Alfred E. Smith welcomes Carrie Chapman Catt, women’s suffrage leader, on her return from Tennessee, the last state to ratify the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, in New York. Catt carries a bouquet of blue and yellow flowers, colors of the National American Woman’s Suffrage Association.
1936
A federal appeals court effectively says doctors can prescribe women birth control.
1947
The first Truman Commission report pushes for more equal access to higher education, including ending race and religious discrimination.
1954
This May 17, 1954 file photo shows, from left, George E.C. Hayes, Thurgood Marshall, and James M. Nabrit joining hands as they pose outside the Supreme Court in Washington. The three lawyers led the fight for abolition of segregation in public schools before the Supreme Court, which ruled that segregation is unconstitutional on May 17, 1954, as a hushed crowd of spectators packed the Supreme Court, awaiting word on Brown v. Board of Education, a combination of five lawsuits brought by the NAACP’s legal arm to challenge racial segregation in public schools. The high court decided unanimously that “separate but equal” education denied black children their constitutional right to equal protection under the law, effectively removing a cornerstone that propped up Jim Crow, or state-sanctioned segregation of the races.
U.S. Supreme Court rules “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal” in landmark Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision.
1960
Gold medal winner Wilma Rudolph of the U.S., center, silver medalist Dorothy Hyman of Great Britain, left, and bronze medalist Giuseppina Leone of Italy share a three-way handshake at the victory stand during the XVI Summer Olympic Games in Rome, Italy on Sept. 2, 1960. They competed in the women’s 100-meter dash.
1963
The Commission on the Status of Women, headed by Eleanor Roosevelt, finds widespread discrimination against women in the U.S. and urges federal courts that “the principle of equality become firmly established in constitutional doctrine.” Congress passes the Equal Pay Act.
1965
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act gives federal funding to K-12 schools with low-income student populations. President Lyndon Johnson also signs the Higher Education Act of 1965 that gives college students access to loans, grants and other programs.
1966
The National Organization for Women is established, calling for women to have “full participation in the mainstream of American society … in truly equal partnership with men.”
1969
New York Assemblywoman Shirley Chisholm was elected to Congress to represent the 12th district of New York on Dec. 20, 1968. Here, she talks to a constituent in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area in the heart of Brooklyn.
1971
The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) is founded to govern collegiate women’s athletics and administer national championships.
1972
Congress passes Title IX, which is signed into law by President Richard Nixon. Title IX states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Congress also passes the Equal Rights Amendment, but it never gets approval from the 38 states needed to become law.
1973
Tennis stars Bobby Riggs, top, and Billie Jean King are shown in action during the “Battle of the Sexes” match in the Astrodome in Houston, Tex., Sept. 20, 1973.
The Supreme Court issues its Roe v. Wade opinion establishing the right to an abortion. Billie Jean King beats Bobby Riggs in straight sets in the “The Battle of the Sexes” tennis exhibition match.
1974
The Women’s Educational Equity Act provides grants and contracts to help with “nonsexist curricula,” as well as to help institutions meet Title IX requirements.
1975
President Gerald Ford signs Title IX athletics regulations, which gives athletic departments up to three years to implement, after noting “it was the intent of Congress under any reason of interpretation to include athletics.”
1976
NCAA challenges the legality of Title IX regarding athletics in a lawsuit that is dismissed two years later.
1979
Basketball player Ann Meyers is seen, Sept. 5, 1979.
1979
U.S. officials put into effect the important three-prong test for Title IX compliance when it comes to athletics.
1980
Title IX oversight is given to the Office of Civil Rights in the Education Department.
1981
Sandra Day O’Connor waves as she arrives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington in September 1981, shortly after her nomination to the Supreme Court is confirmed by the Senate. Walking behind O’Connor are, from left, Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz., Attorney General William French Smith, Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., and Sen. Dennis DeConcini, D-Ariz.
1982
Louisiana Tech forward Ann Pendergrass holds the NCAA championship trophy after Tech defeated Cheyney State College, 76-62, in the first women’s NCAA Final Four in Norfolk, Va., Sunday, March, 29, 1982.
Louisiana Tech beats Cheyney State for the first NCAA women’s basketball title. Two months later, the AIAW folds, putting top women’s collegiate sports fully under the NCAA umbrella. Cheryl Miller scores 105 points in a high school game to kick off one of the greatest careers in basketball history.
1984
U.S. women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt is carried off by members of the team following their 85-55 Olympic gold medal win over South Korea in Los Angeles, Aug. 8, 1984.
1988
Congress overrides President Ronald Reagan’s veto of the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, making it mandatory that Title IX apply to any school that receives federal money.
1994
The Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act is passed. Under Title IX, schools with federal financial aid programs and athletics must provide annual information regarding gender equity, including roster sizes and certain budgets.
1995
In this April 2, 1995, file photo, Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma, left, rides on the shoulders of his players after Connecticut beat Tennessee 70-64 to take the NCAA Women’s Final Four Championship in Minneapolis, Minn.
1996
Female athletes win a lawsuit and force Brown to restore funding for women’s gymnastics and volleyball after the saying the school violated Title IX when it turned both teams into donor-funded entities. The NBA clears the way for the Women’s National Basketball Association to begin play the following year.
1999
In this July 10, 1999 file photo, the United States’ Brandi Chastain celebrates by taking off her jersey after kicking in the game-winning penalty shootout goal against China in the Women’s World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
2001
Jacksonville State sophomore Ashley Martin of Sharpsburg, Ga., kicks her first extra point of the season against Cumberland Aug. 30, 2001, in Jacksonville, Ala.
2008
American Danica Patrick of Andretti Green Racing poses with her trophy as the second place finisher, Brazil’s Helio Castroneves of Team Penske, shows his trophy on the podium after winning Bridgestone Indy Japan 300 mile auto race April 20, 2008, in Motegi, northeast of Tokyo.
2014
In this Oct. 16, 2014, file photo, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon walks onto the floor during the second half of an NBA preseason game against the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix.
2015
In this July 5, 2015, file photo, the United States’ Megan Rapinoe celebrates after the U.S. beat Japan 5-2 in the FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer championship in Vancouver, British Columbia.
2022
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley celebrates after a college basketball game in the final round of the Women’s Final Four NCAA tournament against UConn on April 3, 2022, in Minneapolis. South Carolina won 64-49 to win the championship.
