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Wisconsin Basketball: 5 keys to a successful 2019-20 season

By Lukas Harkins

MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 01: D'Mitrik Trice #0 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: D'Mitrik Trice #0 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) /
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: Reuvers #35 of the Badgers shoots. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: Reuvers #35 of the Badgers shoots. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

Nate Reuvers takes a big leap.

Nate Reuvers is perhaps Wisconsin’s biggest key to this season. The 6-foot-11 rising junior showed flashes of brilliance throughout last year on both ends of the floor and will play a substantially bigger role in the absence of Happ. A solid stretch big with the ability to finesse his way to buckets inside as well, Reuvers should be a great fit with this 2019-20 roster. He is fresh off shooting 38.1% from 3-point range last season and will contribute to the overall spacing of this team. Additionally, he will command the majority of the post opportunities with Happ gone and he could make the most of those. For reference, Reuvers shot just 48.7% inside the arc last season so he will need to improve there.

On the whole, Reuvers’ per-game offensive averages of 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists are not all impressive but he is due to see a major uptick in touches. Reuvers will see more than 22.9 minutes per game now that he is the lone proven option at center and should be a top option within the offense. The hope is that he will be able to take the next step with regards to post scoring. It would also help if the junior big could improve with regards to getting to the free-throw line and converting once there (63.4% last season).

On the defensive end of the floor, Reuvers will be the anchor for Wisconsin. Even though Reuvers is not the most physically imposing player, he boasts great length and timing as a rim-protector. He averaged 1.8 blocks per game last season and exhibited an 8.4% block rate that finished 80th in the entire nation and 3rd in the Big Ten. He should continue to be a menace underneath and that will help keep Wisconsin’s defense playing at a high level.

In order for Reuvers to truly take the next step, he will need to improve massively on the boards. While his rebounding numbers are slightly skewed due to the minutes he played alongside Happ, an elite glass-cleaner, Reuvers still posted a defensive rebounding rate of just 13.0%. That mark finished 132nd out of 141 players listed at 6-foot-10 or taller who played >40% of their team’s total minutes last season.

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