Busting Brackets
Fansided

Wisconsin Basketball: Analyzing the 2020-21 projected rotation

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - JANUARY 24: Head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers is seen during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 24, 2020 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - JANUARY 24: Head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers is seen during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 24, 2020 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
MADISON, WISCONSIN – MARCH 04: Micah Potter #11 of Wisconsin Basketball (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – MARCH 04: Micah Potter #11 of Wisconsin Basketball (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Power Forward

Micah Potter (R-Sr): 20 minutes

Micah Potter joined the Badgers on the hardwood late last season (due to having to sit out because of transferring) and was still rather limited when he played, but he made the most of it. He almost joined college basketballs 50-40-90 club by having 52.8, 45.1, and 86.0 percent shooting splits. Synergy listed him as Wisconsin’s most efficient offensive player last season and also as one of the most efficient players in college basketball (1.071 PPP; 93rd percentile).

Potter is a great roll man to pair with Trice and Anderson plus he’s a dominant threat inside the post. It’s his ability to stretch the floor though that should let him seamlessly slot at the four spot. Usually slotting an additional center in the starting lineup is frowned upon in today’s game, but Potter can do everything the modern four-man is expected to do. He will also give the Badgers a big size advantage against most teams, given his 6-foot-10 248-pound frame.

Ben Carlson (Fr): 10 minutes 

Wisconsin will still likely want to shrink their lineup down from time to time. Luckily they bring in Ben Carlson this year, who will be ready to kick off what should be a great Badger career right from the get-go. Carlson is an athletic, slimmer 6-foot-9 combo forward who projects to be yet another great floor stretcher taking the floor for Greg Gard next year.

Carlson’s athleticism should help him in rebounding and put back opportunities, but he also has a pretty tight handle for his size and should be an effective slasher at the college level. On defense, he should find value as a secondary rim protector and as a multi-positional on-ball defender.

Tyler Wahl (So): 10 minutes 

Rounding out the rest of the available power forward minutes is the already-discussed Wahl, though he could find himself battling for these minutes if Carlson performs up to his hype. The Badgers will be in good hands either way, as Wahl’s consistent rebounding and post-up ability should be a welcomed option at the second forward spot.