The College of Wisconsin males’s basketball workforce has gained the Huge Ten Convention common season crown twice up to now three seasons, however some new threats will be part of the league in 2024.
That is when UCLA and USC are anticipated to hitch the Huge Ten, and UW gamers are enthusiastic about what these packages convey to an already difficult convention.
The Bruins have 11 NCAA championships, which is greater than all present Huge Ten groups mixed (10). Michigan State is the newest convention nationwide champion in 2000.
UCLA and USC performed within the NCAA Event final yr. And each made the Elite Eight in 2021, with UCLA shedding to Gonzaga within the Ultimate 4.
“Let’s herald the perfect,” stated Isaac Lindsey, an assistant at UW. “Why would not you wish to play the perfect? Bringing in a workforce of that caliber, like UCLA, you are going to should be able to take them on and beat them if you wish to win championships. That program is aware of the right way to win championships. I believe simply by having the choice to play them within the common season, we’ll perceive what a championship program appears like. It will possibly assist us, and assist each different Huge Ten workforce, understand what it takes.”
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Lindsey is one in every of 9 gamers on the roster who may make the journey to the West Coast in 2024-25.
Youth middle Steven Crowl had blended ideas when he heard that the Huge Ten had accredited the addition of the 2 groups.
“I do not know if it is a dangerous factor,” Crowl stated. “I believe these are two fairly good school basketball groups becoming a member of the Huge Ten. I simply suppose it could be tough that touring might be the largest factor that considerations them.”
Crowl could be obtainable for that. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has a further yr of eligibility that will give him the chance to play with the brand new members of the league. The opposite 4 juniors would even have that chance. Crowl would not know if he’ll use his additional yr.
He joked that his youthful teammates would possibly get some cross-country journeys. One concern is groups having to play in California and journey to the East Coast to play at Rutgers the following day.
Crowl stated he isn’t anxious about journey particularly as a result of the workforce is used to busing and flying in the course of the season. As a substitute, he sees the addition of the Pacific time zone as an issue.
Lindsey cited the Badgers’ most up-to-date success within the Pacific time zone, the Maui Invitational Championship, as her rationale that they’re going to be positive. As a substitute of Hawaii, the annual occasion was held in Las Vegas final season on account of COVID-19. UW beat Texas A&M, Houston, and Saint Mary’s to win the match.
The sophomore stated there was already a precedent for enlargement.
“I really feel just like the SEC is beginning to do it with Texas and Oklahoma shifting into the SEC,” Lindsey stated. “I simply really feel like everyone seems to be getting the perfect collectively. We may additionally play the perfect all year long. You’re prepared for the top of the yr after taking part in an excellent competitors like that.”
A have a look at each Wisconsin males’s basketball participant chosen within the first spherical of the NBA draft
GLEN SELBO

COURTESY OF UW ATHLETICS
Tools: Toronto Huskies (BAA)
NBA profession averages: 3.2 factors, 1.8 assists
Grades: Selbo was chosen second general in 1947 in a joint draft between the Basketball Affiliation of America and the Nationwide Basketball League, which merged in 1949 to kind the NBA.
Trivia: Selbo performed one season within the NBA, showing in 13 video games for Sheboygan in the course of the 1949-50 season.
DON REHFELDT

COURTESY OF UW ATHLETICS
NBA profession averages: 7.1 factors, 5.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Grades: After being offered by the Bullets throughout his second yr within the league, Rehfeldt performed 29 video games for the Hawks, with the franchise taking part in the primary of 4 seasons in Milwaukee.
DEVIN HARRIS

ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Tools: washington wizards
NBA profession averages: 10.8 factors, 2.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists
Grades: Harris by no means performed for the Wizards, who on draft day in 2004 traded the Wisconsin guard together with Christian Laettner and Jerry Stackhouse to the Dallas Mavericks for Antawn Jamison. Harris went on to play 608 common season video games and 54 playoff contests in three seasons with the Mavs.
FRANK KAMINSKY

KATHY WILLENS, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
NBA profession averages: 10.6 factors, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Grades: Kaminsky, who was launched by the Suns in April 2022, performed the primary 4 seasons of his NBA profession with the Hornets earlier than signing with Phoenix as a free agent in July 2019.
TO ENRIQUE

Henry (prime left)
ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Tools: Philadelphia 76ers
NBA profession averages: 4.0 factors, 3.0 rebounds, 0.2 assists
Grades: After logging simply 26 minutes in six video games as a rookie in the course of the 1970-71 season, Henry appeared in 43 video games for Philadelphia the next season, which might be his final within the NBA.
WES MATTHEWS SR.

MIKE KULLEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Tools: washington bullets
NBA profession averages: 7.9 factors, 1.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists
Grades: Wes Matthews Sr. lasted lower than one season with the Bullets earlier than being traded to the Atlanta Hawks for Don Collins in January 1981. He performed for six groups in 9 NBA seasons.
SAM DEKKER

KATHY WILLENS, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
NBA profession averages: 5.4 factors, 3.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists
Grades: Dekker averaged a career-high 6.5 factors in 77 video games in his second NBA season earlier than Houston traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers in June 2017. After showing in 73 video games for the Clippers in 2017-18, Dekker struggled to search out constant taking part in time. splitting the 2018-19 season between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Washington Wizards. Dekker spent a short stint with the Toronto Raptors in the course of the 2021-22 season, taking part in only one minute in a single recreation earlier than returning to abroad play.
PAUL’S GRANT

CRAIG SCHREINER, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Tools: minnesota timber wolves
NBA profession averages: 1.8 factors, 1.1 rebounds, 0.2 assists
Grades: Grant performed solely 4 video games for Minnesota, which got here in the course of the 1998-99 season, earlier than being traded to Milwaukee in a three-team commerce. He performed two video games for the Bucks that season, scoring two factors with Milwaukee. Grant returned to the league in 2004 for a short stint with the Utah Jazz, averaging 2.5 factors in 10 video games.
Michael Finley

BILL KOSTROUN, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
NBA profession averages: 15.7 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Grades: Finley, who at present serves because the assistant common supervisor/vice chairman of basketball operations for the Dallas Mavericks, was a two-time All-Star (2000 and 2001) throughout his 9 seasons with the Mavericks. He went on to win an NBA title in 2007 with the San Antonio Spurs. Finley was a key contributor within the Spurs’ title race, beginning 20 video games and averaging 11.3 factors and a pair of.9 rebounds within the 2007 playoffs. He ended his lengthy profession with a short stint with the Boston Celtics after being minimize by San Antonio. in March 2010. Finley, who appeared in 129 profession playoff video games, averaged simply 0.8 factors and 0.6 rebounds in 18 playoff appearances for Boston, whereas solely taking part in one recreation within the NBA Finals when the Celtics fell. towards the Los Angeles Lakers in seven video games.
ALANDO TUCK

GREGORY BULL, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
NBA profession averages: 4.1 factors, 1.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists
Grades: Tucker started his profession in Phoenix, taking part in his first 51 video games with the Suns earlier than being traded to Minnesota early within the 2009-10 season. He solely appeared in 4 video games with the Timberwolves, averaging 2.0 factors and 0.8 rebounds in what could be his final motion of the NBA common season. Tucker, who has by no means appeared in a playoff recreation, signed a coaching camp contract with the Milwaukee Bucks in October 2012, however was launched later that month earlier than the season started.