Wisconsin Basketball Defeats Indiana as Max Klesmit Dominates

Originally posted on Badger Notes | By Kedrick Stumbris | Last updated Jan 20, 2024 2:04 AM ET

Wisconsin basketball needed to bounce back after losing on the road to Penn State on Tuesday night. With the Indiana Hoosiers coming to town, the Wisconsin Badgers needed a better defensive performance than earlier in the week. UW got that better showing on the defensive end, but the talk of the night was about a kid from Neenah as Wisconsin defeated Indiana 91-79.

Max Klesmit Takes Over to Defeat the Indiana Hoosiers

In one of the most dominant outbursts of basketball imaginable, Max Klesmit could do whatever he wanted on the court. Driving the lane, shooting from beyond the arc, or getting to the free-throw line did not matter. The former Wofford transfer could do it all.

The guard connected on just one shot in the first half. Then, beginning at the 17:24 mark of the second half, Klesmit took over.

It started with making back-to-back threes. A couple of minutes later, he hit back-to-back threes again. Plus, after drawing the foul on that final shot, the junior completed the four-point play. Throw in a jumper, a layup, a couple of more free throws, and a steal and Klesmit looked unstoppable. The dramatics did not stop there.

During a stoppage, Indiana’s CJ Gunn elbowed Klesmit in the face. Gunn was ejected with a Flagrant 2 foul; Klesmit made both free throws for good measure.

Turning back around on the other end, with every defender collapsing on him, Klesmit found a wide-open Carter Gilmore. Gilmore made the layup, capping off a 24-11 run in a mere 5:33. Klesmit scored or assisted on 22 of those 24 points.

Kamari McGee Leaves With Injury

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard talks with guard Kamari McGee (4) during the first half of their game against Stanford Friday, November 11, 2022 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis.
Mjs Uwmen11 21 116241024

Kamari McGee has become a staple of the rotation for Wisconsin basketball. After getting acclimated to head coach Greg Gard’s system last year, the UW-Green Bay transfer has seen increased minutes this season. He recorded four points, two rebounds, and one assist in 10 minutes against Indiana before exiting the game with an apparent injury to the lower half of his right leg.

McGee took a hard fall and was helped off the court. The Racine native appeared unable to put any weight on his right leg and went immediately into the tunnel. When he returned to the court with just over a minute remaining, McGee had a boot on his right leg.

The Impact of a Kamari McGee Injury on Wisconsin Basketball

If McGee is unable to return to the lineup, Klesmit is a likely candidate to absorb more backup point guard duties. The impact would likely be felt more on the defensive end of the floor as the junior has become among Gard’s most reliable defensive reserves. If Klesmit must take more responsibility for running the backup point, a combination of freshman John Blackwell and sophomore Connor Essegian will likely replace those minutes at shooting guard.

This article first appeared on Badger Notes and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: