The Badgers defense has slipped since McGee got injured in mid-January. His return to the lineup will be critical.
By Nathan Denzin, BADGER STRIPES
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});After a much needed week-long break, Wisconsin Badgers basketball returns to the court Tuesday night against a struggling Indiana Hoosiers team.
Wisconsin hasn’t exactly been the picture of stability recently either, posting a 4-5 record – including a 1-5 stretch to start February – since the last meeting against the Hoosiers.
In those nine games, Wisconsin has been kneecapped by an even bigger loss than any one contest: junior guard Kamari McGee. McGee suffered a foot injury during that game, and left in a walking boot.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#Badgers guard Kamari McGee still using the scooter to get around. Greg Gard said Tuesday ago that he’s still “two-plus weeks” out from a potential return. pic.twitter.com/qfiGz5ocY2
— Michael McCleary (@MikeJMcCleary) February 2, 2024
McGee has never been a household name with the Badgers after transferring from Green Bay following his freshman season, but his value to the team has never looked higher. Especially when freshman guard John Blackwell sat out multiple games due to injury, Wisconsin’s guard depth was especially poor.
Head coach Greg Gard recently said McGee still isn’t ready for game time, but that he is out of the walking boot and his return is getting closer.
So why is McGee so important to this lineup, and what have the Badgers been missing?
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Defensive slips since McGee injury
As a defensive anchor for the second unit, Kamari McGee has been sorely missed.
Gard has talked about this following a few recent losses, but Wisconsin’s defense hasn’t been up to the level they expect during this skid. Opponents have been averaging four more points per-game since McGee went down with injury. During the 1-5 stretch, opponents averaged seven points more per-game than pre-injury.
On the season, McGee checks in with a 1.7 box plus/minus (BPM), which means the Badgers outscore opponents by about 2 points per-100 possessions when he is on the floor. That number is fourth best on the team, behind only Steven Crowl, Tyler Wahl and Chucky Hepburn.
Further breaking out that number, McGee has the best defensive box plus/minus (DBPM) on the team by a wide margin. He has posted a whopping 6.2 DBPM on the season, which tops the second best defensive player (Hepburn) by more than three full points.
McGee has been a ballhawk as a defender, posting the best steal percentage on the team – even over Hepburn. About 6% of Wisconsin defensive possessions end in a McGee steal when he’s on the court. Hepburn comes in with a 3.8% steal percentage.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});During Wisconsin’s recent slide, one loss was by just four points, and two more losses came in overtime. If McGee is in those games his presence could have saved Wisconsin a few points, and won them the game.
Until then, the Badgers are going to need to keep grinding out games until the lineup is back to full strength, hopefully in March.
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