Badger of Honor
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Catching up with Badgers PG recruit Tai Strickland

By Tanner Nestle

KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 20: Brad Davison #34 of the Wisconsin Badgers shoots over Manu Lecomte #20 of the Baylor Bears during the game National Collegiate Basketball Hall Of Fame Classic Semifinal game at the Sprint Center on November 20, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 20: Brad Davison #34 of the Wisconsin Badgers shoots over Manu Lecomte #20 of the Baylor Bears during the game National Collegiate Basketball Hall Of Fame Classic Semifinal game at the Sprint Center on November 20, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Badger of Honor was able to get an interview with Wisconsin point guard recruit Tai Strickland. He hopes to earn big minutes and help the Badgers get back to the tournament in 2018-19.

Wisconsin basketball was in need of backcourt help last year after D’Mitrick Trice and Kobe King went down with season-ending injuries. Freshman Brad Davison played 31.2 minutes per game, most of them out of his natural position, to try to fill the void.

Trice will be back and healthy in 2018, King is a scoring threat, and Davison can play the point if necessary, but incoming freshman Tai Strickland is going to push the backcourt over the top.

The future Badger to talked about his game and what he’s hoping to bring to the team. “I think my ability to do everything is what separates myself. I can create plays for others, as well as myself, on one end, then on the other I can guard the best player,” Strickland said.

Wisconsin has built a reputation for being a gritty team that forces opponents to really work for any sort of efficient production. They fell away from that identity last year. Wisconsin was less-than-stellar in the major defensive categories. Strickland can certainly help on that end of the floor.

Strickland will be great on defense, but he can bring more to the table. “I would describe myself best as a winner. I make the right play, whether it’s to pass to an open teammate or make a play for myself to score,” he said.

When asked about what he liked about Wisconsin, Strickland mentioned the culture of the program. That culture is embodied in a specific player that Strickland mentioned by name. “I’m looking forward to playing with Brad Davison because of his competitiveness and his will to win. He stepped up in big moments as a freshman and was able to produce.”

Unselfish and well-thought-out basketball is Wisconsin’s brand. Strickland fills a need on depth chart, but also fits seamlessly into the culture of the program.

For those that aren’t familiar with Strickland’s style, he said he has molded  his game after players like Mike Conley, John Wall and Kyrie Irving. All three of those players are tough, relentless competitors and can impact the game in multiple ways. I expect Strickland to be exactly that in Madison.

Next: Badgers get rematch with Xavier

The Badgers are still a very young team and expecting contributions from multiple underclassmen. “I definitely want to help the team in any way possible,” Strickland said. The expectation is still to get back to the NCAA Tournament and for players like Strickland and Davison to be a large part of it.