Wisconsin men’s basketball is finally practicing again, which means the process of turning a roster with eight newcomers into an actual team has entered a different stage.
Assistant coach Sharif Chambliss joined Brian Butch on Butchie’s Den following Wisconsin’s official start to practice and offered some insight into what the Badgers have been working on behind the scenes.
There was plenty of optimism, particularly about the size and depth Greg Gard has assembled. But Chambliss also acknowledged how much remains unsettled.
“It’s still like Jell-O,” Chambliss said. “You got to leave it in the fridge, let it sit, let it settle, and see how it’s going to shake out a little bit.”
Here are three things that stood out.
Wisconsin is putting a lot on its guards in the ball-screen game
We’ve spent plenty of time discussing what Owen Foxwell brings to Wisconsin as a pass-first point guard with pro experience, and Chambliss has even described him as a “coach’s dream” so far.
Chambliss also offered some insight into what Wisconsin needs from its guards within an offense increasingly reliant on ball screens.
“A little bit of everything,” Chambliss said. “Obviously, the IQ, we’re playing in a lot of ball screens now. Them making the start to make the right reads consistently, putting pressure on the defense when we start to get up and down.”
Chambliss later boiled successful ball-screen play down to one thing: consistently making the correct read. That becomes particularly interesting when considering Wisconsin’s options behind Foxwell.
He specifically mentioned Zach Kinziger, the De Pere (Wis.) native whose shooting ability has never really been the question. Kinziger appeared in 16 games as a freshman after the staff pulled his redshirt, averaging 1.3 points and 0.6 assists in 4.8 minutes per contest. Now the Badgers are asking the 6-foot-3 sophomore to expand his game.
“He’s getting more consistent in that ball screen, trying to make the right reads,” Chambliss said. “Obviously, we know he’s a great shooter. He was one of the leaders in the EYBL, which is probably one of the better youth leagues for AAU in the country. And he shot it at a high level.
“Now, when that ball screen comes at your size, can you make the right read consistently? Are you able to hit the pocket? Are you able to get downhill and throw the lob when the big comes over late? Are you able to make somebody pay if a guard gets caught going under? Now you’ve got to be able to make a shot off the dribble.”
That development could become important because Wisconsin doesn’t necessarily need Kinziger to become another Foxwell. It needs someone who can keep the offense running when Foxwell isn’t controlling it.
Will Garlock keeps generating buzz
Lance Randall praised Will Garlock’s development earlier this offseason. Chambliss independently landed on the same player when Butch asked who had made the biggest jump.
“For me, it’s been Will Garlock,” Chambliss said. “Will Garlock’s taking a huge jump.”
Garlock appeared in 30 games as a true freshman but played a limited role, averaging 1.1 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in just under seven minutes a game. His path to a larger role became more complicated when Wisconsin added Hofstra transfer Victory Onuetu, but Chambliss believes that competition has actually helped accelerate Garlock’s development.
“I think it’s been great for him to have Victory Onuetu here to go in there and bang against every day,” Chambliss said. “I’m sure they get sick of each other some days, but they’ll probably be best of friends when it’s all said and done.”
That’s worth monitoring.
Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp give Wisconsin two established frontcourt pieces, while Onuetu brings a different dimension as a physical rebounder, rim protector, and vertical threat. Garlock doesn’t necessarily need to beat any of them out for a major role once the season starts.
But if the 7-foot sophomore has legitimately taken the jump Wisconsin’s coaches keep referencing, Gard’s frontcourt may be even deeper than it appeared entering preseason practice, provided there are no injuries.
Wisconsin knows where its defense needs to improve
Improving the defense has become one of the most consistent messages from Wisconsin’s staff throughout the offseason.
The Badgers finished 56th nationally in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency last season. Gard has made becoming more physical and consistent defensively a priority, and Chambliss offered perhaps the simplest explanation yet for where that improvement needs to begin.
“I think the defensive part starts just individually guarding your man,” Chambliss said. “And we’ve worked on that the first day, one-on-one. You got to be able to guard your man mano-a-mano.”
The logic is straightforward. Keep the ball in front, and everything behind it becomes easier. So much of good defense starts with staying connected to your assignment and not forcing four other guys to cover for you.
“If you can take away straight line drives, then it takes away the help,” Chambliss said. “You don’t have to give as much help. Then guys are able to rotate to their guys, and then our team defense is collectively better.”
Wisconsin should have more size and lineup flexibility to work with this season. Eian Elmer gives the Badgers a 6-foot-6 wing with switchability. Onuetu adds legitimate rim protection. Chambliss even identified transfer Trey Autry as the team’s best on-ball defender so far in practice.
But none of those additions automatically make Wisconsin a better defensive team. It still starts with keeping the ball in front.
And with eight newcomers still learning how to play together, Chambliss isn’t pretending Wisconsin is a finished product after one official practice. His message to Badgers fans was instead to pay attention to how it develops.
“Enjoy watching the process of our journey,” Chambliss said. “Start early. Watch this team grow. Watch this team come together. We have an opportunity to be pretty good if everything is headed in the direction that we believe it is.”
We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.
You can also follow Site Publisher Dillon Graff at @DillonGraff on X.