The Wisconsin Badgers are suffering some extra injuries midway through their Big 10 schedule. The one that everyone knows about is Max Klesmit's ankle injury, which he suffered during the Rutgers game. However, two more pre-game and post-game were released. One is illness related and must have been minor enough for Carter Gilmore to still play some minutes. However, head coach Greg Gard mentioned it after the game as something they are monitoring.
Max Klesmit not starting, but is "dressed and will be on the bench," per a Wisconsin spokesperson. Also, Camren Hunter is OUT tonight with a lower body injury that he sustained after the release of the Big Ten availability report. He has a boot on his left foot/leg. pic.twitter.com/x2rY2lmfGc
— Michael McCleary (@MikeJMcCleary) January 10, 2025
Camren Hunter was injured during warmups and was listed as OUT prior to tip-off.
The injury to Hunter may be something more than just a minor thing. Hunter was available for the game, but during warmups, he sustained a "lower-body injury" and was listed as OUT on the Big 10 report. This is not a good sign, and Gard addressed it briefly after the game. "When you have a really good team, you are dependent on a multitude of guys, and obviously, with some bumps and injuries that we have here, one actually happened today in a workout, it's an opportunity for others to step up."
Nothing more was mentioned post-game, nor was it even mentioned by other media outlets about Hunter's injury. It will be something that needs to be watched ahead of the Ohio State matchup. The good news is that with it being a Big 10 game, Wisconsin will need to release availability reports, which will indicate what's going on with Hunter.
Hunter came in as a prized transfer out of the portal from Central Arkansas; however, he has seen very little action this season. He's only played in four games and never more than 8 minutes, but mainly around two minutes in those games. He would have probably seen some significant run in this game with Max Klesmit being only somewhat available, but clearly, Gard was trying to keep him out of the lineup for an extra day. However, the minutes behind Kamari McGee went to Markus Ilver.
Wisconsin is a bit banged up right now, but all of those injuries seem to be minor, with not much known yet about Hunter's lower-body injury. Klesmit should be back against the Buckeyes and Gilmore played against Minnesota.