When the University of Wisconsin basketball program’s season ended against James Madison in the Round of 64, head coach Greg Gard addressed the Badgers when the team returned to Madison, knowing full well what the offseason could bring.
Some of what Gard feared was possible came to fruition. The Badgers’ starting point guard, Chucky Hepburn, and his representatives didn’t even sit down with the Wisconsin basketball coaches to discuss his decision to enter the transfer portal. Instead, that news came via phone call.
While Gard didn’t elaborate on Hepburn’s situation, he conveyed his understanding of the Nebraska native’s decision to enter the portal, aligning with the choices made by others facing similar circumstances.
“I’ve seen this landscape coming,” Gard told reporters. “This isn’t a surprise to anybody. I’m not mad at anybody because, specifically Chucky and AJ, if anybody in their right mind told any of you guys or gals that you could go triple your income by taking a different job, you’d do it in a heartbeat, no questions asked.
“But I understand the landscape we’re in,” Gard continued. “I would tell my kid probably to do the same thing if I was in that position, because the earning power window was really small. And when they have those type of opportunities in front of them, that’s hard to say no to. So I don’t begrudge them at all for that.”
The fact that Hepburn’s representatives didn’t allow Wisconsin basketball to match an NIL offer before his entry into the open market indicates the unfortunate reality of today’s college landscape. Nobody on your roster is safe without up-front cash at your disposal.
Gard pointed out that Wisconsin basketball had almost tripled its NIL funding for the men’s team in just a year. However, it’s tricky to determine the precise amount the Badgers have and how it stacks up against other programs. Clearly, there’s a cap on these funds from private donors, and other top schools may have access to far greater resources.
Currently, Gard’s focus lies in retooling the roster. Wisconsin has had seven players enter the transfer portal this offseason, four of whom were on scholarship. Among them, AJ Storr has already found a new home in Kansas. Connor Essegian is headed to Big Ten rival Nebraska, Hepburn landed at his long-rumored destination, and Gus Yalden is believed to be leaning toward Seton Hall, per a source.
Consider that Tyler Wahl has graduated, and that’s quite a few minutes in the Badgers rotation that need to be replaced heading into next season.
Navigating the landscape where recruiting is heavily influenced by NIL money presents challenges, even when pitching a long-term vision to high school prospects. While the Wisconsin basketball program hopes to maintain its developmental approach, it also needs to adapt to the realities of the transfer portal and the evolving recruiting landscape to piece this roster back together with players who fit the Badgers.
“It’s quite simple,” Gard said on Wilde and Tausch. “It’s cut and dry. We’re in a business right now. I don’t blame players; it’s going on all over the country. We were just immune to it longer than most at Wisconsin. We just avoided it longer than most programs did. The world is changing.
“Players are having more access to opportunities. I don’t blame them for moving in those areas where they can financially really make a difference in not only their lives and their family’s lives.”
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