Big Ten Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season

Wisconsin basketball will have some work to do repairing the backcourt if they hope to contend for the Big Ten basketball title in 2021-22. The Badgers return nine players that made appearances in last year’s rotation but just two with a combined 49 starts under their belt.

Brad Davison ( 31 starts) and Tyler Wahl (18 starts) are the lone players with starting experience that return for the Badgers as they look to lead the scoring attack. Davison is the top returning scorer after producing 10.0 ppg along with 3.5 rpg, 2.4 apg

Davison and Jonathan Davis are two guards that will need to prove they can coexist in the backcourt or it could make way for the emergence of Jahcobi Neath (Wake Forest) or Chucky Hepburn to carve out roles for themselves.

Chris Vogt is a frontcourt name to watch out of the transfer portal from Cincinnati. He averaged 8.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 1.4 bpg across 53 appearances (50 starts) for the Bearcats. He’ll look to bring a similar presence to the Badger’s lineup.

They were the Big Ten’s best defensive team in 2020-21, allowing just 64.6 ppg as a unit. They’ll look to replicate that with a more all-around feel to their identity once again with some new faces.

Head coach Greg Gard will have his work cut out for him to improve upon last year’s finish and disappointing offseason that saw seven departures (six seniors, 1 transfer) and a rather scathing picture of life as a Wisconsin basketball player.