When Greg Gard and the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team learned its placement in the NCAA Tournament bracket, the room buzzed with smiles and applause from most individuals present. However, Chucky Hepburn, the Badgers junior point guard, seemed unamused.
Understandably, Hepburn’s lack of enthusiasm stemmed from the Badgers being fresh off a 93-87 loss to Illinois in the Big Ten title game. Nevertheless, there were also other emotions at play.
“I don’t want to just go make March Madness,” Hepburn told reporters. “I want to make a deep run in this tournament.”
Let’s be real here: the chance of Wisconsin basketball making a tournament run seems much more plausible now than it did in February. And a big part of that is how Hepburn has been performing as of late.
During the Big Ten Tournament, the Nebraska native came alive, averaging 17.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds on 68% shooting from the field with only three turnovers in 95 minutes.
For much of the season, however, the Badgers reduced Hepburn’s offensive burden, allowing him to control the game’s tempo and lean into his playmaking abilities. His selflessness helped improve their offensive cohesion and the shot quality of everyone around him. More recently, he’s changed his mindset and taken on a more prominent scoring role.
“Thirsty for blood, that’s all I’ve got to say,” Hepburn told reporters. “Thirsty for blood.. Killer instinct, everybody gettin’ it.”
That mindset is something the Badgers could certainly use more of if Wisconsin basketball is aiming to progress beyond the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years. Hepburn has had to navigate the delicate balance that a point guard faces between facilitating and looking for chances to contribute more to the offense. But it feels like he’s found a winning combination at the right time.
Two years ago, Hepburn’s freshman season came to an abrupt halt due to an ankle injury in an NCAA Tournament matchup against Iowa State, which ultimately led to the Badgers’ exit. Now, after patiently awaiting his second chance at the Big Dance, Hepburn is eager to make the most of this opportunity as Wisconsin basketball takes on James Madison.
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