How Can Wisconsin Men's Basketball Right the Ship?
Wisconsin men's basketball has struggled--that's no secret. However, there is still time for Greg Gard and the Badgers to right the ship.
Madison, Wis. -- Greg Gard and the Wisconsin men's basketball program (13-8, 5-6 Big Ten) are in a rut. The Badgers have lost six of their last eight games and are in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the second time in 24 years.
Perhaps the most troubling part is that UW hasn't played with the same passion, grit, and cohesion we've seen that helped the Badgers overcome talent gaps in the past.
With the Big Ten season halfway through, here are a few areas Wisconsin men's basketball can clean things up to right the ship.
Get Tyler Wahl Back on Track
Honestly, I don't see a route for the Wisconsin men's basketball team to figure out things on offense—scoring will continue to be challenging. But UW can be markedly better/more efficient if they figure out how to get Tyler Wahl back on track.
Wahl's regression in the low post has been a real head-scratcher, to say the least.
According to Synergy, Wahl averaged 0.992 points per possession on post-touches last season – placing him in the 80th percentile among all division one players. He was one of the best low-post scoring options in the Power 5 from an efficiency standpoint.
The Minnesota natives shooting splits went from an impressive 51.6% from the field and 57% on two-point baskets last season to an underwhelming 41% and 43.4% in 2022-23.
Some of Wahl's struggles could be explained by his ankle injury, increased role in the Wisconsin men's basketball program, and being the top player on the scouting report.The 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward has also seen a substantial uptick in usage -- going from 20.7 USG% to a team-high 29.6% this season.
Potential Solutions
But on the other hand, Wahl simply needs to be better and stop forcing the issue. Greg Gard needs him to play within the framework of the offense, improve his shot selection, and take a back seat to his teammates if he doesn't have a great matchup that night.
“You don’t have to force things when we don’t get exactly what we want,” UW head coach Greg Gard said. “The post is – as you’ve heard me call it so many times – a playmaking position. That doesn’t mean you have to shoot it."
His teammates must also move better without the ball on offense to allow him room to work in one-on-one situations.
Wahl is the best and most versatile defender in the Wisconsin men's basketball program, and nobody is disputing that. But if the offense is going to find its way, UW will need more from its senior forward.