The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Montana State Bobcats 79-67 at the Kohl Center in the first game of the Bobcats’ 2024 season.
The Badgers they expected a tough fight to strengthen the competition after the match against Krzyżowcy Świętokrzyski at the opening of the season. The Crusaders gave Wisconsin a headache and led for part of the game despite being ranked 345th in the college basketball rankings. Montana State also caused headaches for the team, playing solid basketball and staying close to earning the No. 189 ranking.
Rankings aside, Wisconsin managed to settle matters on the field and finish the season with two wins. After their victory over the Wisconsin Bobcats, the Badgers still have some questions to answer going forward.
Wisconsin Badgers Question #1: Will Camren Hunter play against App State?
After he missed the season-opening match against Holy Cross Crusaders due to an injury, transfer defender Camren Hunter was again available. The guard was removed from the inactive list on the Big Ten Conference website, but Hunter never made his season debut against the Bobcats.
Many Wisconsin Badgers fans are wondering what the potential problem is, as Hunter was a major transfer factor and an expected factor. However, injuries take time and unfortunately for Hunter, injuries have been slowing down the defense for some time now. Hunter missed the entire 2023 season with an ankle injury and also missed portions of offseason training camp with the Badgers due to the injury.
The Wisconsin Badgers will play App State in an afternoon game on Sunday, November 10, a game where Hunter could finally make his debut.
Wisconsin Badgers Question #2: Can Kamari McGee start in the 2024 season?
An fascinating thing the Wisconsin Badgers staff did at times against the Montana State Bobcats was leave Klesmit and Blackwell on the field with Kamari McGee. The defenseman played 27 minutes per game to start the season for the Badgers, serving as the team’s “floor general.”
One of the concerns many players had about the Badgers was that the team lacked a “true” point guard in the starting lineup. While McGee still isn’t the true facilitator that many analysts and fans would like, the defenseman provides exceptional on-court recognition that the team needs. Considering the Badgers have used McGee in two games, it doesn’t seem that crazy to think the defenseman could start games later in the season for Wisconsin.
McGee is a player who offers spark on offense and above-average defensive ability on the perimeter. What McGee lacks as a player, the rest of the Wisconsin Badgers team is forceful in terms of shooting accuracy (Blackwell) and shooting with high volume (Klesmit, Tonje). McGee also looks like a brand novel competitor this season as he has drastically changed his physique, gaining almost 15 pounds.
Wisconsin Badgers Question #3: What role will Xavier Amos play off the bench?
One of the biggest signings the Wisconsin Badgers made this offseason was forward Xavier Amos, a former NIU Huskies player. The striker can do anything on either side of the pitch and it will be fascinating to see what Amos does in the future. Amos has been quiet through two games and an appearance for the Badgers, but he should play a bigger role in the future.
Transferring a forward is an fascinating position because Wisconsin has a lot of similar forwards on their roster. The arrival of Nolan Winter essentially strengthened the striker’s role in the starting lineup, while Carter Gilmore was the first striker off the bench.
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