Wisconsin Basketball Exits March Madness With a Whimper

Mar 21, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Chucky Hepburn (23) looks to shoot the ball during team practice at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Ball security issues plagued this iteration of the Wisconsin Badgers. Aside from its first-half performance against Rutgers, perhaps no game exemplified the issue more than UW’s last. By turning the ball over on 14.6% of possessions, Wisconsin basketball finished the season with its worst turnover percentage since 2020, according to KenPom. 

Wisconsin turned over the ball a season-high 19 times against James Madison. In an 11-point loss, the Badgers lost the points off turnovers battle 28-8. 14 of UW’s turnovers were steals forced by the Dukes.

Perhaps no player was more disappointing from a ball security perspective than Chucky Hepburn. Almost no Badger in history has taken care of the ball as well as the Nebraska native. His 2.36 career assist-to-turnover ratio trails only Jordan Taylor and Mike Kelley in the program record book. Entering the NCAA Tournament, the All-Big Ten Defensive Team honoree’s 3.33 assist-to-turnover ratio on the season was the third-best mark in a single season for a Badger. Against JMU, Hepburn recorded four assists, three turnovers, and four fouls.

Tyler Wahl Ends His Career on Unfortunate Slump

Mar 21, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Chucky Hepburn (23) and forward Tyler Wahl (5) talk to the media at a press conference at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Wahl likely will not be remembered for how his career ended. With 162 games in a Wisconsin basketball uniform under his belt, there are too many other memories for fans to cling to for these past few games to be the only lasting memories. The Lakeville, Minnesota native, however, likely would have preferred if he had gone out in a more memorable fashion.

His name is littered across UW’s program record book. Wahl finished his career in Madison as the leader in games played. Additionally, he is top-ten in starts, wins, rebounds, offensive rebounds, and the list goes on. You would not have known that just by watching his performance this postseason, though.

Wahl could not find the bottom of the net in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. He made only six of his 23 shots from the field in four games and recorded merely 20 points. His availability was at issue too, fouling out in two of Wisconsin’s final three games.

What’s Next for Wisconsin Basketball?

Mar 22, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) reacts after the game against the James Madison Dukes in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Badgers enter the offseason with significant questions. Gard will have to replace Wahl, the most-tenured player in program history when his frontcourt already lacks depth behind him. With AJ Storr likely to test the NBA waters, Wisconsin may lose its leading scorer. Add any unexpected departures, and you have a roster in serious flux.

Fortunately for Gard, he has a recruiting class headlined by standout point guard Daniel Freitag on deck. He might get some frontcourt help from within his program, with Gus Yalden entering the rotation after his redshirt season. Then again, maybe Yalden will not be with the program at all next season.

The time to start asking hard questions about Wisconsin Badgers basketball is now. After a season that had so much promise ended with such disappointment, it is only fair.