Wisconsin Basketball: 5 keys to a successful 2018-19 campaign

Ethan Happ dominates as a Big Ten POTY frontrunner

Without a doubt, Ethan Happ is one of the top returning seniors in the entire country. An elite big man on both ends of the floor, Happ has the ability to take over a game at any moment inside the paint. Even though he was unable to carry the Badgers to a successful season in 2018-19, he still posted an outstanding season. Over the course of the 33-game campaign, the 6-foot-10 center averaged 17.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. He led the team in all of these categories.

As of right now, the most important key to success for Wisconsin this year will be the development of players around Happ. However, the team cannot completely reach its potential this year without Happ continuing his stellar play from last season. And, if he is able to improve his free throw shooting (55.0% last season), then this could be a special season for the senior.

Considering Happ leads the team in just about every major category, his importance cannot be understated. Assuming all goes well for Wisconsin this year, Happ will more than likely post similar numbers to a year ago but should have more help around him. His unique combination of scoring, passing, and defense make him an impactful player no matter where he is on the court.