Wisconsin Basketball: Badger bounce back season

Wisconsin basketball’s Nigel Hayes leads off our “Comeback Season” series.

Over the next few weeks, Busting Brackets will be breaking down players who are set to rebound following a disappointing 2015-16 campaign.

Our “Comeback Season” series will highlight top players across the country who are set to positively re-emerge in the national spotlight.

Wisconsin basketball forward Nigel Hayes will kick things off.

In 2014-15, during Wisconsin’s eventual run to the National Championship, Nigel Hayes was one of the most consistent sophomores in the country. Hayes started every game that season and averaged over 12 points and six rebounds per contest.

Coming off his breakout sophomore year, many thought Hayes could potentially lead Wisconsin back to the Final Four despite the team losing three starters from the 2014-15 season.

While Wisconsin didn’t make it to Houston, they did end up surprising people in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers upset number two seed Xavier and made it to the Sweet 16.

It was still was a very disappointing year for Hayes though.

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Hayes’ scoring average increased by over three points per game last season, but his efficiency was among the worst in the country. He went from shooting just under 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three in 2015, to shooting 37 percent from the field and 29 percent from deep last season. Hayes ranked dead last on the team in field goal percentage.

A lot of Hayes’ regression can be attributed to the fact that he wasn’t getting the same clean looks he was receiving the prior year. In 2015, when he was playing with future NBA first round draft picks Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker, Hayes could count on consistently getting open shots.

Kaminsky was one of the best post players in the country and drew the defense into the paint. Dekker was one of the best slashers in the country and his explosiveness going to the basket had to be accounted for.

Last season, Hayes was Wisconsin’s primary creator on offense. He boasted the highest usage rate on the team. Despite getting plenty of opportunities, Hayes consistently struggled to create his own shot. When the offense broke down, he relied heavily on the free throw line to save an otherwise rough season.

Hayes just never looked comfortable in his new role. There is no more difficult jump in college basketball than from role player to featured player. Hayes definitely struggled in the first year of that transition, but should have more success this season after experiencing what it’s like to be a go-to option.

As Hayes moves into the second year of his new role, so to does most of Wisconsin’s roster. The Badgers lost no rotation players and only brought in two freshmen. So, as Hayes settles in for his senior campaign, most of his teammates will have a year of experience within their respective roles.

The abrupt exit of longtime Badgers head coach Bo Ryan did nothing to help Hayes’ confidence. And Bronson Koenig needs to step up as a scoring threat and playmaker after shooting below 40 percent from the field last year.

Next: Three burning questions for Miami

But the Badgers will only go as far as Nigel Hayes takes them. The recently named Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year faces a lot of pressure to rebound from a disappointing 2016 season. If he can prove to be a consistent offensive force for Wisconsin, they may find themselves back in the Final Four.

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