The transfer portal has been a hot topic for Badger fans this year and not for the right reasons. Wisconsin has lost seven players to the portal thus far and has yet to replace one. Now it looks like Greg Gard will have his best chance so far to land a top target.
According to Joe Tipton of On3Sports, Cross will be visiting both Wisconsin and Iowa this week.
UMass transfer forward Matt Cross is visiting Wisconsin and Iowa this week, he tells @On3sports.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 24, 2024
Averaged 15.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game this season.
The dates for each trip: https://t.co/CZyrWW5PQU pic.twitter.com/JUW7veh80D
The visit is about the closest the Badgers have gotten to receiving a commitment, at least publicly. The Badgers have reached out to presumably a few dozen transfers at this point, but nothing amounted to anything more than a check-in. Thursday can be a real turning point for Greg Gard and team that has come under some fire lately.
Cross is a talented stretch four who would be a nice pairing in the frontcourt with Steven Crowl. Last season he averaged 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists per game while shooting 54% from the floor. He has previously played for Miami, Louisville, UMass and will have one year of eligibility left.
This spring has not gone the way the Badgers had hoped with several key players leaving for bigger NIL deals. This visit with Cross offers a real opportunity to replace some of that production, hopefully without breaking the bank.