Wisconsin Basketball: 2024-25 season preview for the Badgers

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Camren Hunter (Central Arkansas)

Camren Hunter arrives in Madison after a strong showing at Central Arkansas. Hunter, who missed the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign after suffering a foot injury, averaged 15.5 PPG, five RPG and 3.7 APG for the Bears in 2022-23. Hunter led Central Arkansas in scoring in back-to-back years. Even if the transition from the A-Sun to the Big Ten after dealing with an injury last season may be daunting, the promising physicality that the 6-foot-3 guard has is what makes the Badger coaching staff beaming with optimism.

SG: Max Klesmit

Max Klesmit improved his shooting percentages last season, shooting 43.7% from the field and nearly 40% from three. As a key veteran and proven leader in Wisconsin’s new-look backcourt, Greg Gard will look to lean heavily on Klesmit throughout the course of the 2024-25 season.

SF: John Tonje (Colorado State/Missouri)

After a promising four-year career at Colorado State in which Tonje demonstrated consistent improvement over four years, the three-level scorer had a rough go at Missouri, battling injuries that limited him to only eight games of action in limited playing time last season. Taking Tonjes short-lived tenure in Missouri with a grain of salt, look at his stats at Colorado State in 2022-23: 39% from three, 65% at the rim, and 40% from two from the combo guard. Expect a strong season from Tonje, who recently impressed at Wisconsin's open practice.

PF: Xavier Amos (Northern Illinois)

Xavier Amos comes to Wisconsin after a two-year stint at Northern Illinois. The 6-foot-8 stretch forward averaged 13.8 PPG and 5.8 RPG last season, but his season was cut short after suffering an injury in late February. Amos, the replacement for Tyler Wahl, can stretch the floor, shooting 38.5% from behind the arc last year. Greg Gard recently raved about Amos, describing his game as more versatile than just a catch-and-shoot option from the four.

C: Steven Crowl

Keeping its frontcourt intact was pivotal for Greg Gard. With Steven Crowl opting to return for his fifth and final year, Crowl may likely find himself as Wisconsin’s leading scorer this season. The seven-footer averaged 11.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG and an impressive 2.1 APG last season. Fun fact: Crowl has posted the highest PRPG (points over replacement per game) for Wisconsin over the past two seasons, according to BartTorvik.