Wisconsin Basketball Teases Starter's Return from Injury
In a social media post that may as well have read, "we are so back."
Madison, WI - As the Big Ten Tournament approaches, Wisconsin basketball is in as precarious a position as it has been all season.
Despite starting conference play 11-4, positioning itself for a double-bye in the Big Ten tournament, and giving it an outside shot at the regular season crown, UW settled for a fifth-place finish. After dropping three of its last five games, the Badgers (23-8, 13-7 Big Ten) are saddled with the challenge of playing on the second day of the conference tournament in Indianapolis.
However, when head coach Greg Gard's squad begins post-season play, it may have reinforcements on the way as a key player is seemingly prepared to return to his lineup.
Wisconsin Basketball: ‘Good to have you back Max!’
Max Klesmit has been absent from the lineup for the majority of those recent disappointing performances. Less than five minutes into the game, the guard headed toward the bench and did not return as he dealt with a lingering "lower leg" injury.
At the time, Gard said he did not "think it's serious."
Since then, the senior missed the final three games of the regular season. In that stretch, the Badgers went 1-2, were eliminated from the Big Ten regular season title race, and fell out of position for a double-bye.
However, if Wisconsin's recent social media post is any indication, things are moving in the right direction for Klesmit.
UW posted an Instagram photo of Klesmit participating in practice with the simple caption, "Good to have you back Max!"
Wisconsin will open conference tournament play on Thursday, March 13th. The game will air on the Big Ten Network, beginning 25 minutes after the conclusion of the matchup between the Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks, and tip off at 11:00 a.m. Central.
Wisconsin's first opponent in post-season play will be the winner of the first men's Big Ten Tournament game between the Northwestern Wildcats and Minnesota Golden Gophers, which begins at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday and can be streamed on Peacock.
Why on Earth Have the Badgers Been Losing?
So, what gives lately with this Wisconsin basketball team? Has Klesmit been having such a stellar career-best year that UW simply cannot afford to play without him? Well, not quite.
Although he is shooting a career-low 28.8% from three, UW has struggled to shoot the ball with Klesmit on the bench. Even including his numbers this year, the Neenah native is still a 35.4% shooter from beyond the arc in Big Ten play. He provides a shooting threat that opposing teams cannot ignore, sucking defensive gravity in his direction, allowing Wisconsin to better space the floor.
Connecting on shots from deep at a 35.0% clip, Gard has transformed his offense. Wisconsin basketball is having its best season shooting from beyond the arc since the 2020-21 season and has made more threes than any other team in the Big Ten.
In the three games the former Wofford transfer has missed, the Badgers shot a combined 23.5% on threes. Against the Michigan State Spartans, Wisconsin had its worst three-point shooting performance of the season, making only five of 32 attempts. At Minnesota, UW had its fourth-worst performance of the season. On senior day against Penn State, the Badgers went through a horrendous shooting stretch, missing 16 of 17 threes.
With the NCAA Tournament approaching, Wisconsin basketball hopes a healthy Klesmit can help right the ship. On the season, he is averaging 9.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 0.9 steals per game.