Wisconsin Basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Badgers
By Jason Belt
Starting Lineup
Point Guard
D’Mitrik Trice – Senior
Trice has been around the Wisconsin program for what seems like a decade. Since joining the team as a freshman in the 2016-17 season, the pass-first point guard has been able to figure out his role over the past three-plus seasons.
Last season he averaged close to 10 points per game while dishing out 4.2 assists per game, making it known that he was the main facilitator for the Badgers.
This season with the cast he has surrounding him, Trice will need to continue making plays and become even more of a true point guard for Wisconsin to live up to the hype.
Since the ball will be in his hands so often, his leadership and poise will be on display each and every game.
Shooting Guard
Brad Davison – Senior
Brad Davison is a guy who is loved by many but also hated by many.
Over his three seasons in Madison, Davison has developed a reputation as a guy that you can easily dislike if you are a fan of an opposing team.
Some of his antics and exaggerations have been pointed out and ridiculed for being childish and whatnot, but there is no denying the heart and passion he has for the game.
Davison has proven himself to be a clutch player.
He is a guy who wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line and will take and make the big shots when asked upon.
He’s coming off a year where he averaged just under 10 points a game while chipping in a little over 4 rebounds per contest as well.
A spot-up shooter and someone with his level of activity in a game is something that Wisconsin will have to rely on to be successful this season.
Small Forward
Aleem Ford – Senior
With the amount of depth that Greg Gard has at his disposal, there are many places he could place a guy like Aleem Ford, but his best fit may be at small forward.
Ford has good size for a wing at 6’8 and can easily slide down to power forward when the Badgers want to go small.
On the offensive side of the ball, Ford can provide some decent shooting from the perimeter, knocking down 34% of his threes last season.
He’s a scrappy, athletic forward that can go get himself a basket when asked upon, but knows his role. He doesn’t try to stray too far from his comfort zone and knows his limits within the offense.
What Ford may be lacking offensively, he more than makes up for on defense.
The versatile senior can guard at least three positions, causing matchup nightmares for opposing guards and forwards.
Look for Ford to be a catalyst on the defensive end for the Badgers this season.
Power Forward
Micah Potter – Senior
Potter is a wildcard for Greg Gard and the Wisconsin Badgers and made a name for himself in Madison even in the limited amount of minutes he got in 2019-20.
In the 21 games he played in last season, Potter was an efficient scorer off the bench.
Now more comfortable in the rotation, Potter will likely start at power forward, providing three-point shooting and size down low.
He averaged a little over 10 points per game last season while grabbing 6.2 rebounds per game as well.
Where he excelled though was in the pick and roll game.
The 6’10 forward knocked down 45% of his threes, and the pick and roll combo of him and Trice proved to be lethal.
He even has the size to slide into the center position when needed, which is a luxury for when Greg Gard wants to go small.
Keep an eye out for Micah Potter this season.
Center
Nate Reuvers – Senior
Rounding out this impressive starting five is maybe the most important piece, senior Nate Reuvers.
The big man jumped from 7.9 to 13.1 points a game last season, leading the Badgers in that department.
His game has expanded over his three years in Madison, going from a spot-up shooting center who occasionally got his feet in the paint to a fairly dominant force inside on both offense and defense.
His offensive versatility is what makes him so special, and the ability to knock down the three-ball at a decent rate (33% in 2019-20) makes him another matchup nightmare for opposing teams.
Reuvers’ rebounds are a little below the majority of big men around the country at 4.5 a game, but that’s not where he makes his money.
He has grown into a solid face-up player who can put the ball on the floor and get himself a basket on the interior.
Reuvers will be the engine that sparks the Badgers in 2020-21.