Wisconsin Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Badgers
Starters
Guard – Chucky Hepburn (Junior)
There were some understandable growing pains for lead guard Chucky Hepburn in 2022-23 as he went from being a complementary piece to one of the stars of the show for the Badger offense. But even with that adjustment, plus pesky injuries along the way, Hepburn finished as the leading scorer for the team a season ago, with 12.2 PPG. Now, the junior appears fully healthy and in the best shape of his collegiate career, slimming down 15 pounds over the offseason. That should give Hepburn an extra burst of his explosiveness to pair with his smooth outside shooting touch. If things fall into place, there’s no reason why he can’t be an All-Big Ten performer this winter.
Guard – Max Klesmit (Junior)
Max Klesmit was a pleasant surprise for the Badgers in 2022-23, his first for the program after a two-year stint at Wofford. The veteran guard wasn’t leaned on for his scoring prowess, although he did average 8.4 PPG on 42% shooting, but made his presence felt as a relentless defender who could open things up with a timely three ball as needed. He’s likely to slide into a similar role again this season, where he can give the team efficient, smart play offensively while often matching up against opponent’s best scoring option.
Guard/Forward – Connor Essegian (Sophomore)
Following a prolific high school career at Central Noble High School in Indiana, Connor Essegian made his presence felt quickly on the Badgers. He set the program’s all-time record in three-pointers for a true freshman, with 69, and finished up averaging 11.7 points per game. It was a truly dazzling debut, but now Wisconsin is hoping for even more from Essegian in Year Two. We know he can shoot, but if he can continue to round out his offensive game and grow on the defensive end, the sophomore has a chance to be one of the best guards anywhere in the Big Ten.
Forward – Tyler Wahl (Senior)
Injuries to Tyler Wahl were one of the main reasons for Wisconsin’s offensive woes last winter, but the 6’9″ forward appears back to 100 percent as he prepares for one last run with the Badgers. Wahl has seen steady growth throughout his time in Madison, evolving from a role player off the bench to the most reliable offensive option on the team. In that span, he’s racked up 85 starts and plenty of accolades, but the goal for him this year is being a part of a winner come March.
Center – Steven Crowl (Senior)
Steven Crowl is another Badger who has enjoyed impressive development over the course of his Wisconsin career, going from averaging just 0.7 PPG during his freshman campaign to 12.1 as a junior last year. Crowl has the perfect game for modern college basketball; despite standing seven feet tall, he moves exceptionally well and shoots well enough outside to keep defenses honest. Add in the fact that he is one of the best passers anywhere in college basketball, he will again play a large role in Wisconsin’s success in 2023-24.