Big Ten Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2021-22 season
By Adam Childs
. Badgers . 7. team. 493. .
Wisconsin came into the 2020-21 season as one of the favorites to win the Big Ten after their surprise share of the title in 2019-20. They returned a lot and had more experience than anyone in the conference. Instead, they fell flat and tumbled down the standings.
They relied heavily on the three-ball and when that wasn’t dropping they were in trouble. They were smaller than a lot of teams and were overpowered and it showed.
Brad Davison is returning for what seems like his eighth year and that will help but they still will need to shoot the ball better if they expect to win this year. They have some shooters, but the Big Ten figured them out last year and were able to slow them.
They could be about as good as last year, but too many teams are just better than them now. Head Coach Greg Gard is doing a good job in Madison, but he will have to patch some things together next year if he expects to win.
Expect the Badgers to still play tough defense and be deliberate on offense, but unless they bring in size they will still struggle with Purdue and Michigan among others.