Wisconsin Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Badgers

It’s never easy to replace a coaching legend like Bo Ryan, but Wisconsin Basketball head man Greg Gard has done a fine job keeping things rolling on the hardwood in Madison. The Badgers have remained one of the most consistent and stable programs in the Big Ten, an impressive feat in the transfer portal and NIL era.

But for all the victories Gard has racked up since taking over as head coach, NCAA Tournament success has mostly eluded him. In seven seasons at the helm, he has advanced to the event’s second weekend just once, back in 2017, when the eighth-seeded Badgers shocked Villanova and advanced to the Sweet 16. That just so happened to be Gard’s first full season in charge of the program.

The 2022-23 team appeared ready to change that narrative with an impressive start to the season, entering the bulk of their Big Ten schedule as a Top 15 team nationally. Instead, the offense went through one of the most horrific stretches in Badger basketball history and they weren’t able to build a strong enough resume to gain entry to the Big Dance. In fact, Wisconsin’s 15 losses were the most the program has endured since 2018.

Despite all the frustrations of last season, the prognosis for 2023-24 is an encouraging one in Madison. All five starters return, plus several key reserves, giving Gard his most experienced team yet. Add in a Big Ten that looks wide open beyond Purdue and Michigan State, the ingredients are in place for this to be a special season for the Badgers.