Wisconsin Basketball: Analyzing the 2020-21 projected rotation
By Cody Larson
Small Forward
Aleem Ford (R-Sr): 28 minutes
Wisconsin could elect to slot Aleem Ford at power forward (like he often did last season) but his multi-positional versatility will also make him the perfect starting small forward next season. He is a trustworthy off-ball spot-up threat (career 35.2 percent 3-point shooter) and that’s all he really needs to be on offense. The Badgers have plenty of guys who can put the ball on the floor; having a consistent kick out option in Ford will help open up the offense for those players.
There’s an argument to be made that Ford is Wisconsin’s best defender; if not the best then the most well-rounded. He stands at 6-foot-8 but is very mobile for his size; his strength and mobility allow him to cover anyone from guards to bigs. He’s an excellent on-ball defender who is tough to get a clean shot off against (he ranks towards the top of college basketball when guarding off-the-dribble and isolation possessions per Synergy).
He does everything one wants a supporting starter to do. He will be rewarded because of that with a heavy minute load, of which he should perform very well with.
Tyler Wahl (So): 12 minutes
Not many expected Tyler Wahl to become a big contributor for the Badgers down the stretch last season, but alas, that is exactly what he was. Wahl fits the Badger mold quite nicely; he’s a trusty presence when posting up, he can stretch his game out to the perimeter and he makes his impact felt in the little things (cutting, rebounding, playing within the system). His numbers didn’t pop off the box score by any means, but he definitely showed he’s ready for a bigger role in 2020-21.