Wisconsin Basketball: Analyzing the 2019-20 roster and projected rotation

Forwards

Aleem Ford (R-JR): 3.1 ppg (.340/.288/NA), 1.9 rpg, 0.4 apg

Aleem Ford missed Wisconsin’s first few games last season as a result of an injury and it seemed as though he never recovered to his prior form. He played 10 fewer minutes per game as a sophomore compared to his freshman year and his 3-point percentage also plummeted from 40.9% to 28.8%. It was clearly a disappointing season for the promising 6-foot-8 forward but there is potential for high hopes heading into his junior campaign.

Now completely healthy, Ford should be ready to return to a starting role now that Iverson and Happ are no longer on the roster. If his 3-point shooting is able to return to >35% and he is able to flash why so many were high on him heading into last season, Ford will be a major impact player. I might even go as far as to call him the most underrated potential contributor on this roster.

Tyler Wahl (FR): Ranked as the No. 194 overall recruit

Tyler Wahl is barely a top-200 recruit in this incoming class but he brings a unique skill set and will need to play significant minutes right away. At 6-foot-7 and 200 pounds, he has enough size to be an immediate impact player and he can score in a variety of ways. Depending on how Coach Gard wants his offense to run this season, Wahl can be a spot-up shooter, solid slasher, or underrated passer. Although Wahl does not necessarily boast an “elite skill”, he does a lot of things well that should warrant plenty of playing time in a thin frontcourt.

On the defensive end of the floor, Wahl has the ability to hold his own and that will be enough with shot-blocker Nate Reuvers roaming inside as well. Wahl will not be a star during his first year on campus but he will hopefully be able to provide consistently meaningful minutes for the team. The Badgers lack frontcourt depth and Wahl can help fix that issue.