Wisconsin Men's Basketball Doesn't Need a Roster Overhaul
It's been a tough year for the Wisconsin Badgers, but the roster isn't the dumpster fire some would lead you to believe.
Madison, Wis. -- I understand the struggles the Wisconsin men's basketball program has had this season -- I watch the same games as everyone else.
However, I consider myself an optimist, and I don't for one second believe this program is the dumpster fire that the vocal minority would lead you to believe. Sure, it has its warts, but the foundation is solid.
While an NCAA Tournament birth might be a longshot, I evaluate every Wisconsin Badgers roster by how many players would earn minutes on a Big Ten title-worthy team--something we've been lucky enough to see firsthand two of the last three seasons (thank you, Greg Gard).
I then use that curve to determine how many pieces Wisconsin men's basketball needs to add to get back in the hunt.
By my count, the Badgers currently have six players who would play for Greg Gard on a GOOD Wisconsin team. That's not to say there aren't others deserving of minutes this season -- or players capable of developing into those roles down the road -- instead, it's simply who fits the criteria as I write this today.
Who Makes up the Wisconsin MBB Teams Foundation?
I might be in the minority, but I firmly believe that Connor Essegian and Steven Crowl are the two best/most important players in the Wisconsin men's basketball program -- and the advanced stats agree.
Per Barttorvik.com, Big Steve and Essegian lead UW in PRPG with 2.7 and 2.6, respectively. PRPG is a metric that essentially accounts for how many points a player is worth to a program – relative to a replacement-level option.
Realistically, an argument could be made for anyone of UW's top four players as the most important -- but Essegian's scoring and Crowl being a seven-footer with an expanding low post game and facilitating ability make these two vital to the team's success moving forward.