Wisconsin Basketball: Top Storylines to Follow in Final Weeks of Regular Season

Sitting comfortably with a 23-2 overall record (11-1 in the Big Ten), Wisconsin basketball is just about ready for another run to the Final Four.

Before it begins, though, there are two more weeks of regular-season action left, and for the fifth-ranked Badgers, that means six more games to prepare themselves for the March run.

Over that stretch, there are a few more things to keep an eye on for coach Bo Ryan’s team, including the status of senior guard Traevon Jackson and the chase in Wisconsin’s record books. 

Read on to find out the top Badgers storylines to follow for the remainder of the season.

As of Feb. 15, Traevon Jackson was still in a walking boot.

Jackson fractured his right foot during the Badgers’ Jan. 11 loss at Rutgers and just began his rehab process recently. The senior guard had stated that he was looking to “finish off the year,” according to a press release via the school’s website, but it looks like the Badgers may not get Jackson’s services until the Big Ten tournament. 

Jackson provides some valuable contributions for this team. Apart from his 9.4 points and team-high 2.9 assists per game, his veteran leadership and knack for hitting clutch shots would also be gladly welcomed back by Wisconsin. However, Jackson’s transition back into the lineup may not be as simple as it seems. 

Sophomore Bronson Koenig has exceeded expectations as Jackson’s replacement, averaging 13.0 points per game and shooting 53.8 percent from range in the eight games he's started. Making an argument to relegate him back to a bench role is becoming more and more difficult.

How Bo Ryan will manage the playing time between the two could be pivotal to the Badgers’ postseason success.

Wisconsin hasn’t faced too many stiff challenges so far this season, playing against only two ranked opponents in Duke (an 80-70 loss) and Iowa (an 82-50 win). 

Finishing the season strong could be a bit difficult for the Badgers, though, as they will face two Top 25 teams in No. 16 Maryland and No. 24 Ohio State over their final six games. 

Both games will be played on the road and also mark the first time the Badgers play either team this season.

Maryland currently trails Wisconsin by 2.5 games, and Ohio State follows with a 3.5-game gap, so a loss to either team likely won’t prevent the Badgers from claiming the regular-season Big Ten title for the first time since 2007-08.

But if the Badgers can win both of those games, the confidence they will possess heading into the conference tournament could be through the roof.

With a 23-2 record, the 2014-15 Badgers have matched the best 25-game start in program history. The 2006-07 team was the last to do so. 

However, the ’06-07 Badgers could not end the regular season on a high note, as they dropped two of their final three games and ended up taking second place in the conference before getting bounced in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The ’07-08 team came close to repeating the feat and finished the regular season with four losses as well, but Stephen Curry and Davidson crushed that team’s championship hopes in the Sweet 16.

There is a chance this year’s Badgers could drop two games down the stretch, too, because of the reasons mentioned previously, but should they pass those late tests, this regular season could go down as the best in the program’s history.

For a player of Sam Dekker’s caliber, it was pretty surprising to find out that his career high in points scored is just 21, which he recorded in Wisconsin’s 65-55 win over Nebraska on Feb. 10.

Dekker has been one of the most consistent players for the Badgers and in the nation. At 13.0 PPG, the Sheboygan, Wisconsin, native is as reliable as they get in college basketball. 

With tremendous athleticism, a high-arcing shot and a capable post game, Dekker is able to score in a number of ways. 

So why hasn’t the junior forward had a monster game yet? Part of the reason could be pointed to Wisconsin’s style of offense.

At 6’9” and 220 pounds, Dekker’s size is perhaps his biggest edge on his opponents. But with Frank Kaminsky occupying the paint most of the time in the four-out, one-in system, Dekker is often forced to defer to Kaminsky and wait for his chance to attack. 

That is not necessarily a bad thing for the Badgers, as their adjusted offense actually ranks No. 1 in the nation, according to KenPom.com. But if Bo Ryan can figure out a way to get the most out of both Kaminsky and Dekker, Wisconsin’s offense can become that much more dynamic.

The end-of-season awards won’t be presented until the NCAA tournament is all said and done, but because these accolades are all based primarily on regular-season performances, Wisconsin big man Frank Kaminsky still has two more weeks to make his own case.

Kaminsky has posted 10 double-doubles on the season so far and is currently averaging 17.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 blocks per game, all while shooting 54.8 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from range and 75.4 percent from the free-throw line.

Those numbers can clearly make an argument for Kaminsky, but Duke’s Jahlil Okafor has a resume that speaks volume as well.

However, neither player can afford to get caught up in the awards race down the stretch, as there is still work left to do for both Duke and Wisconsin.

Should Kaminsky take home the PotY honor, though, he would be the first to do so in Badgers history.