Wisconsin Basketball: Players expecting bigger roles next season
By Dillon Graff
Tyler Wahl
This may be another obvious choice considering he was the only other non-senior in the rotation last season, but it’s not without merit. Tyler Wahl is the kind of player that embodies everything that Wisconsin has stood for over the years. Defensively he allows for great versatility, which will give Coach Gard options at the forward spot.
Shooting isn’t a strong suit for Wahl, and it may never be. However, another off-season of improvement would be significant. Forcing defenders to respect the jumper will give him the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim more frequently. Something I think we’ll see more of next season will be low post touches for Wahl. Wahl has exceptional footwork and nice touch around the rim. He scored (1.1 points per possession) on low post touches, putting him in the 93rd percentile in all of college basketball. It may have been a small sample size, but he proved to be quite effective with his opportunities.
With an inexperienced roster and not much for returning scoring, Wahl makes a jump in that department. Most likely averaging at or near double figures while taking on more of a leadership role.