Big Ten Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2023-24 season

7. Wisconsin Badgers

2022-23 season record: 20-15 (9-11)

It’s been a very quiet offseason so far for the Badgers but that’s a good thing for them. From the entire rotation this past season, they return everyone except Jordan Davis, who averaged 5.1 ppg and 3.5 rpg. The Badgers arguably got a better replacement in AJ Storr, an athletic freshman 6’6 wing that produced 8.8 ppg on 40% shooting from deep.

All four rotation players that averaged double figures are back next season. That includes guards Chucky Hepburn and Connor Essegian, as well as forwards Steven Crowl and Tyler Wahl. Having a healthy Wahl is the most important thing, as his injuries last season seemed to have derailed the Badgers in the last half of the year.

There’s also going to be a need for better offense for Wisconsin. They ranked 331st nationally in scoring, second only to Minnesota in Big Ten Basketball. The team was the worst shooting team and while they took a ton of three-point shots, weren’t very efficient from the field.

So that’s the concern with bringing so much production back from a team that didn’t even make the NCAA Tournament. Unless there’s a clear improvement in the backcourt, Wisconsin could be destined for another middle-of-the-road finish in the Big Ten.