Wisconsin Basketball: Badgers Ranked No. 7 in AP Poll
By Paul Bretl
The AP has released their first poll of the 2020-2021 college season, and the Wisconsin Basketball program comes in at number seven.
We are inching closer to the start of the college basketball season, and with that, there is a lot of buzz around this Wisconsin Basketball team. After an up and down start to the 2019-2020 season, over the final month the Badgers were one of, if not the hottest team in the country.
During the last few weeks of Big Ten play, Wisconsin would win eight consecutive games and grabbed a share of the Big Ten regular-season title. This is a team that was poised to make some serious noise both in the Big Ten Tournament and in the NCAA Tournament as well. Unfortunately, they never got the opportunity as the remainder of the season was canceled due to the coronavirus.
However, a new season is almost upon us and expectations are high for this Badgers team. A majority of both their offensive and defensive production from last season is going to be back as the only player who saw significant playing time from 2019-2020 that won’t be return is Brevin Pritzl. This means Wisconsin’s starting-five will be made up of only seniors.
Of course, this group includes D’Mitrik Trice, Micah Potter, Brad Davison, Aleem Ford, and Nate Reuvers. With Potter finding himself of the Kareem Abdul-Jabar Center of the Year watchlist, Reuvers on the Karl Malon Power Forward of the Year watchlist, and Trice on the Bob Cousy Award watchlist, which is given to the nation’s top point guard.
On top of that, both Trevor Anderson, who played 12 minutes per game last season, and Tyler Wahl, who averaged 15 minutes per game will be back as well. Along with a recruiting class that ranks 30th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten.
So with the Associated Press recently releasing their first top-25 poll of the year, as you can imagine, the Wisconsin Basketball program is ranked very well. Number seven, to be exact.
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Once again, the Big Ten Conference is going to be very good, with three teams in the top-10 and seven in the top-25. But this Wisconsin Basketball team will be as well-equipped as any to handle a grueling Big Ten schedule with their experience and high level of play.
It’s funny how quickly things can change in the world of sports. Back in January, we didn’t even know if the Badgers were going to make the NCAA Tournament, but they instead ended up with a share of the Big Ten regular-season title. And now, they’ll enter the 2020-2021 season as the seventh ranked team in the country with what could very well be a special season ahead.