Wisconsin Basketball Back on Track; Max Klesmit Injury Status
Madison, WI – After a disappointing loss to Oregon on Saturday, during which Wisconsin basketball led by 11 points with six minutes remaining, the Badgers bounced back Tuesday night. Wisconsin led for 35 minutes and 56 seconds in a near wire-to-wire 88-62 victory.
Wisconsin showcased what Washington Huskies head coach Danny Sprinkle called “championship culture and championship habits” in the win.
“I don’t think we ever really relented and backed off,” said Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard. “Even when we had a large lead, it was a mindset in all the timeouts to continue to attack and play aggressive. To be able to do it for that long of a stretch – obviously we didn’t do it for that long of a stretch Saturday – lesson learned.”
However, the victory came with an apparent setback. One of Wisconsin’s starters, who has been battling injury throughout the season, exited the contest early on Tuesday and did not return.
Wisconsin Basketball Guard Max Klesmit’s Injury Woes Continue
Badgers guard Max Klesmit has been battling through injury all season long. The senior guard was held out of practice as early as October with a “lower body” condition. Last month, the senior exited Wisconsin’s victory over Rutgers with an apparent ankle injury and did not return. He missed the team’s following game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
The injury bug bit Klesmit again Tuesday night. Under five minutes into the game, the Neenah native headed to the bench, where he sat the remainder of the evening. The reason for his absence was not immediately clear, but the career 35.3% three-point shooter was seen with his right leg wrapped.
In a post-game interview, Gard said Klesmit was held out of the game due to that lingering “lower leg” injury.
“I don’t think it’s serious, he just can’t get it loose. He can’t get it warmed up. Once he came out, it was bothering him, so we just decided that was going to be it,” said the head coach on the Naismith Coach of the Year Watch List.
“We’ve got some time here. We’ve got today, we’ve got four days here, and that will be good to kinda get it – it’s been getting better, but for tonight – for some reason – he couldn’t get it loose early in the game, so we just decided not to go any farther with it.”
As he did in the contest against Minnesota, Kamari McGee started the second half in place of the injured Klesmit. Wisconsin’s sixth man recorded his first start for the Badgers in that matchup with the Gophers. If Klesmit were to miss additional time with injury, McGee would likely get the starting nod.
Klesmit is averaging 9.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game this season with Wisconsin basketball.
John Blackwell Showcases Scoring Punch with First Half Flurry
It was a warm February evening, but no one in Madison had a hotter hand in the first half than John Blackwell. Wisconsin’s sophomore guard finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists, and he did most of his work in the first twenty minutes.
“He was a man on a mission tonight,” said Gard succinctly of Blackwell’s performance.
Of the Badgers’ 43 first-half points, Blackwell scored poured in 19. In the final 8:55 of the half, Wisconsin outscored Washington 21-13, with the Bloomfield Hills, Michigan native accounting for 17 of his team’s points to close the half. Shooting 8-11 from the field and 3-4 from beyond the three-point arc, Blackwell could not be denied in the opening 20 minutes.
“I thought Blackwell was tremendous the entire game,” Sprinkle said. “He was the best player on the floor for all 40 minutes.”
It was an all-around impressive performance for Blackwell, who gathered a career-high in rebounds. Bringing down ten boards, the Brother Rice High School product recorded his first career double-double.
