WATCH: Wisconsin HC Greg Gard previews 2024-25 Badgers basketball season

The Wisconsin basketball program posted a lengthy sit-down conversation with head coach Greg Gard on X earlier this month. The video includes an exclusive look at the Badgers’ upcoming 2024-25 campaign, paired with Gard’s thoughts on expectations and excitement for the group.

“As you look at the new roster now, I’m excited about…” Gard said. “We bring in three experienced players and a fourth coming in that’s played at a really, really high level…Individually, on paper, they look really talented. We’re big. We’re deep. The pieces are here to be a really, really good team.”

The Wisconsin head coach went on to explain the reality of the current age of college basketball. No longer will the starting lineup be comprised of four-year players who tangibly improve each season. Now, rosters are more of a year-to-year situation.

The Badgers’ 2024 offseason perfectly embodies that dynamic. The program lost stars Chucky Hepburn (portal, Louisville) and A.J. Storr (portal, Kansas), plus fifth-year senior Tyler Wahl (graduation) and depth pieces Connor Essegian (portal, Nebraska) and Gus Yalden (portal, Seton Hall). Gard’s response: commitments from experienced transfers John Tonje, Camren Hunter and Xavier Amos. That trio, paired with an incoming freshman class led by top-ranked point guard Daniel Freitag, and several returning contributors including Max Klesmit, Steven Crowl and John Blackwell, has expectations high entering the upcoming season.

Gard’s preview focused on those new transfer additions and what he and his staff are now required to do in order to compete in the modern college basketball landscape.

Excitement for the season is growing with tipoff now nearly four months away.

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