Wisconsin Basketball: 2024-25 season preview for the Badgers
Key Reserves
G: John Blackwell
Blackwell shined as a freshman last season, averaging 8.0 PPG and 3.2 RPG off the bench for the Badgers, earning a spot on the 2023-24 Big Ten All-Freshman team. Blackwell is a major breakout candidate not only for Wisconsin but for the Big Ten. Blackwell is unquestionably capable of cracking the starting lineup this season -- and very well may be Wisconsin’s most influential X-factor down the stretch of the season as a go-to scorer.
G: Daniel Freitag
The prized recruit from its 2024 recruiting class is Freitag, who chose the Badgers over Baylor, Notre Dame, Minnesota and Virginia. With Chucky Hepburn departing the backcourt, the three-star PG is tasked with immediately playing a pivotal role in Wisconsin’s backcourt. Despite being a freshman, Freitag has a mature feel to his game. He can take control in high-pressure situations and has leaping bounds of athleticism -- all key assets to a Greg Gard-led backcourt.
G: Kamari McGee
Kamari McGee’s stats may not immediately jump off the page, but his impact on the court is evident. McGee’s defensive-minded, facilitator-like approach was missed during the Badgers’ February slide in which Wisconsin lost six of its eight games. McGee won’t log 30+ MPG, but having the experienced, returning veteran in the backcourt is crucial for Wisconsin’s success in 2024-25.
C: Nolan Winter
We talk a lot about rising sophomore breakout candidates in college basketball. Can Nolan Winter fit that bill? Greg Gard certainly thinks so, detailing how the 6-foot-11 big can be a surprise for the 2024-25 Badgers after taking a big jump this offseason, according to Badger basketball reporter Michael McCleary of Badger Extra.
Greg Gard on a player who could be a surprise for the #Badgers: Sophomore forward Nolan Winter
— Michael McCleary (@MikeJMcCleary) October 3, 2024
"For Nolan to take the jump he has... he still's got a ways to go, but we really like what we've seen so far."
F: Carter Gilmore
Carter Gilmore has been a serviceable depth piece in Wisconsin’s rotation over his four-year career in Madison. Returning for his fifth and final season, the 6-foot-7 forward/big is the perfect embodiment of knowing one's role -- and excelling in it, too.
F: Markus Illver
It’s taken a while for Markus Ilver to crack Wisconsin’s rotation, however, the tail end of last season is a promising signal of what Ilver can bring to the table in 2024-25 after finding more minutes in the rotation. Although Iilver hasn’t established consistent minutes yet, he’s a name to watch on the wings as a reliable stretch-forward.