Biggest Takeaways and Insights from the Badgers Red/White Scrimmage

Take a sigh of relief, give a joyful smile, or let celebrate however you wish, because for the first time in 212 days, the Wisconsin Men's Basketball team suited up and played a game.

Sunday marked the program's annual red/white scrimmage, which splits the roster in half and pits teammates against one another in a simulated game. Moreso than years past, the exhibition served as an introduction to new players, with three players having transferred in and four true freshman entering the ranks.

There's only so much we can glean into a glorified practice. However, it's the only time fans can see these players in action before the regular season tips off and gives a preview of the campaign ahead.

Here are my biggest takeaways and insights from the scrimmage:

John Blackwell is an all-league talent

Greg Gard likened Blackwell to Johnny Davis in early October, comparing their mindsets entering their sophomore season. Gard said that when Blackwell showed up this summer "he knew he was the best player on the floor... he wanted to dominate."

The Michigan native tallied a game-high 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting while primarily being guarded by John Tonje. Blackwell showed the physical, downhill game that made him so effective as a freshman but it was his playmaking that turned heads. He issued four assists -- also a game high -- and looked comfortable running the offense.

With the Badgers losses to the transfer portal this offseason, Blackwell enters the 2024-25 season with the potential of being Wisconsin's go-to offensive option and could see extended action at the point guard spot, both of which point toward all-league honors.

Up-and-down day for transfers

Camren Hunter, John Tonje and Xavier Amos suited up in Cardinal and White for the first time but didn't exactly light the world on fire. Tonje finished with 12 points on 3-of-7 shooting (2-4 3Pt) and provided a calming presence to the White team's offense. He held up well despite being guarded frequently by Blackwell and played at his own pace when attacking off the dribble. The highlight of Tonje's day came in the second half, when he came off a screen and drilled a contested three-pointer at the top of the key. However, Tonje committed four turnovers, had a few poor defensive possessions and was blocked twice in the second half.

Hunter didn't make waves on the stat sheet but it was evident he'll be an impactful player in 2024-25 and beyond. The guard played with plenty of energy, reeling in five rebounds, blocking one shot and impacting plenty of others. He scored four points and wasn't afraid to be physical while driving to the basket. Even with a plethora of guards around him, Hunter should be a top option off the bench and could grow into a larger role.

Amos was the quietest of the three, tallying just 20 minutes while Hunter and Tonje saw 29 and 30 minutes, respectively. He put up six shots and connected on two, finishing with five points. Amos' contributions mostly came within the rhythm of the offense and didn't have any particular standout moments.

Riccardo Greppi fills hole and flashes upside

Nobody outside of the program really knew what Greppi would look like for the Badgers, with the Italian freshman being a late addition to the 2024-25 roster after paperwork issues nullified Serbian center Andrija Vukovic's commitment.

It was one heck of an introduction as Greppi swatted a pair of shots and delivered three assists while tying for the team best plus/minus (-7). Most importantly, he didn't get pushed around defensively and provided a rim protecting presence that the Badgers lacked in 2023-24. Expected to play a similar role as Chris Vogt from 2021-22, Greppi appears ready to handle 8-12 minutes per game and is capable of banging with the Big 10's traditional centers down low.

Past the upcoming campaign, Greppi has all the traits to be an above-average B1G center and could even succeed Steven Crowl in 2025-26.

Winter/Crowl frontcourt could cause issues

I wasn't particularly enthusiastic when reports came out that Winter might be Wisconsin's starting power forward this season. However, I now see the vision. Winter's main weakness in 2023-24 was his wiry frame and how he struggled with the size and physicality of Big 10 centers. At the four-spot, Winter won't need to defend much in the post and, as shown by his game-high nine rebounds, can go around or through opposing power forwards to grab rebounds. Winter lived on the glass during the scrimmage, and while he had some issues finishing around the rim (2-8 FG), he looked plenty comfortable at his new position.

He held up as a perimeter defender when tested and even walled off Xavier Amos on a dribble-drive to force a missed basket. In addition to his length impacting the rebound differential, Winter's seven-foot frame closed up passing lanes and provided an impact not seen on the stat sheet. I have no doubt teams will try to exploit Winter on the perimeter, but he and Crowl might be an overwhelming duo in the rebounding department.

Jack Janicki will be a rotation piece... sometime

Janicki isn't a household name, redshirting in 2023-24 as a preferred walk-on. However, his name came up throughout fall practices as a player who's taken a step forward. The 6-foot-4 Minnesota native was flying around the court Sunday, racking up eight points, two assists and two rebounds while playing quality defense. Janicki created one of the highlights of the scrimmage, losing Tonje with a crossover before draining a mid-range jumper. With plenty of backcourt depth, Janicki probably won't have a significant role in 2024-25. However, he's a player who could definitely contribute in 2025-26 and beyond.

Daniel Freitag looks the part of a future star

The highest-ranked point guard recruit in Wisconsin men's basketball history, Freitag's performance answered the hype. He scored nine points on 4-of-7 shooting (1-3 3Pt) and was able to get to his spots and convert for points. Freitag isn't likely to open the season in the starting lineup, and he certainly will experience growing pains as a true freshman, but his talent on and off the ball was apparent Sunday. Freitag could follow in the footsteps of Blackwell, contending for Big 10 Freshman of the Year before assuming a larger role as a sophomore. Badger fans should stay patient with Freitag, but it's difficult to not get excited about a future Freitag/Blackwell backcourt pairing.

Look at the full box score here and view the highlights from the scrimmage here.