Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2019-2020 season

By Austin Walther

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 01: Brad Davison #34 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts in the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at the Kohl Center on February 01, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 01: Brad Davison #34 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts in the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at the Kohl Center on February 01, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

6) Wisconsin Badgers

This begins a new era for Wisconsin basketball. No more using Ethan Happ as the display picture every time we talk about the Badgers. Happ did so much for Wisconsin basketball over the years. He is one of the rare players to average over 15 points, 8 rebounds and three assists in a four-year span.

His footwork and scoring ability made us forget for a while that he can’t hit a three-pointer and his free throw percentage actually got worse as time went by. But the Badgers would lose a close one because of missed free throws and it’d remind us why he isn’t a first rounder in the NBA draft.

Happ along with Khalil Iverson are the only two starters gone. The third senior leaving is long-time last man in the rotation Charlie Thomas. I know Badger fans were hoping he’d turn into something like Vitto Brown, but that never happened. Tai Strickland entered the transfer portal after only playing in 16 games. He was the guy the Badgers got when Tyler Herro decommitted.

If you thought the Badgers relied a lot on their back court last year, it’ll be even more for this upcoming season. D’Mitrik Trice was shooting the lights out at the beginning of the season. We knew he’d cool down, but he finished the season under 40 percent from deep. Brad Davison moved back to his natural shooting guard position and seemed to be even better.

Iverson was a lock-down defender and those are going to be tough shoes to fill. Davison has proven to be a wonderful defender, but he doesn’t have the size like Iverson. Wisconsin will be hoping for Brevin Pritzl to keep shooting his shot and playing time shouldn’t be an issue as he will more than likely be a starter. Kobe King will also get better the more time he’s on the court as well.

Nate Reuvers is showing us signs of being the next Frank Kaminsky, but he still has to learn to finish at the rim. But the front court is in his hands now. He’s not alone though. Wisconsin landed a nice six-foot-nine transfer from Ohio State in Micah Potter. He averaged just over four points per game for the Buckeyes in two seasons to go along with almost three boards.

Aleem Ford has primarily known to just hit three-pointers, but flashed signs of being able to work around the basket. There’s potential for someone to step up as another big man. Wisconsin will be getting two seven-foot centers off from redshirt for this next season.

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