Wisconsin is back into the basketball purgatory they were back in Dick Bennett's days. A top 25-30 program that needs a lot of luck to play in Sweet 16s.
I still think Gard is a decent coach and, except for the bulk of 2015 recruiting class, players did improve over the course of the last two years - Iverson and Reuvers being the best examples. The problem is guys like Davison and Trice should be the equivalent of Josh Gasser and Zach Showalter - secondary options that do the grunt work and aren't expected to score 15-20 points a game.
It's recruiting. The Badgers' run of two Final 4s and two additional Sweet 16 appearances should have made them a destination. Instead, they are just a solid program that can't get the one or two superstar recruits you need to be a top 10 program and Final 4 contender. When they got those guys (Dekker and Koenig) they took off. Obviously, Kaminsky's development was key but they don't get to the Final 4s without guys that turned down Duke and UNC to stay in state. If you get a guy like Koenig (Tyler Herro) then Davison/Trice play the roles they are suited for and Koenig/Herro is the focus of the perimeter defense. If you get a guy like Dekker (Kevon Looney/Diamond Stone/Henry Ellenson), then Nate Reuvers can play a secondary role as an underclassman and become a real featured player when he's more ready.
They can't get the Stone/Looney/Herro types, even though those guys (except for Herro) would be much better off in a developmental program like UW instead of going to a one-and-done type factory and then struggling in the pros because they never developed the skills needed to succeed in the NBA. They (or their families and friends) get it in their heads that they are one-and-done lottery guys that are going to be making tens of millions during the next decade and a few years later they are sitting on the bench in the G league.
https://madison.com/wsj/sports...bd-525ad6291357.html
GO BUCKY