BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. – Outside of going 4-0 on the exhibition tour, Max Klesmit's main takeaways from the 10-day trip to France punctuated what Wisconsin coach Greg Gard was counting on his players developing – and maybe even accelerating – during their free time together. Team chemistry.

Beyond touring the Eiffel Tower at night after their first win in Paris and jet skiing the coast to Monaco on their final day, it was breaking bread (and the ice) with new teammates – "Finding a spot to eat, talking with the guys, finding out more about one another'' – that stood out for Klesmit.

"For me especially, going out of the country for the first time, seeing stuff like that leaves you in awe – and with the guys we've got, it made it even better,'' said Klesmit, the Wofford transfer. "Taking in every moment we could, but really just being around each other, that was probably my favorite part.''

As far as what he learned about the UW's personnel and personality, he said, "To be honest, the biggest thing I learned is how close we are going to be as a team and how close we are already as a team. That's one of the biggest things in having a good team and being successful during the year.''

It's exactly what Gard had banked on while playing out the excursion in his mind beforehand.

"Aside from the basketball, just having that much time together helps formulate and start your growth of chemistry or accelerate your growth or chemistry of your team,'' Gard said. "Just through the travel, hotels and sights we saw, in addition to the basketball, brings this group closer together.

"And you're not going to be a good team, if you're not together. From that standpoint, I liked how guys interacted. I didn't see anybody isolated. I thought that accomplished what we wanted in terms of getting these guys out of their comfort zone a little bit where they have to rely on each other.''

Although Klesmit didn't finish among the leading scorers on the trip – he had 10 points in the final game, the only time he broke double-figures – Gard felt that he lived up to his advance billing. He wasn't looking for a splashy offensive threat despite Klesmit averaging 15 points last season at Wofford.

"There are so many things you notice and see that maybe by looking at a box score or highlights don't show up,'' Gard said. "He just brings an edge to the game and a toughness about him. Our better teams have always had somebody like that. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He really competes.''
 

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Relayed what Gard had said about that chip, Klesmit admitted, "I think that's a fair assessment. I've always played with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder. I had to. One of the biggest reasons why I've gotten to play college basketball for these last two years was having that chip and never letting it go.''

It was something, Klesmit pointed out, that materialized during his prep career at Neenah High School. Three times, he was named All-State. As a senior, he was the Fox Valley Association Player of the Year after averaging 25 points and 8 rebounds. And yet, there was still the need to prove himself.

"I would say it was a culmination of a lot of things as a high schooler that kept me looking ahead and looking forward to playing on the biggest stage possible one day,'' said Klesmit who was eyeing a Power 5 program all along. It was just a matter of convincing others. Which he did at Wofford.

The 6-3, 190-pound Klesmit – who has filled out physically since leading Neenah to a 23-2 record and sectional final – started all 31 games in 2021-22 and scored double-figures in 26, including 27 versus South Carolina and The Citadel. He had the game-winning layup against VMI in the SoCon tournament.

Anticipating what his role might be with the Badgers, he said. "Just bringing experience to this team given the knowledge I've got playing college basketball (50 career appearances). That's the one thing I think I can bring – experience and savviness on how we're going to try and win every game.''

Klesmit has the ability to stretch a defense with his range. He led Wofford with 68 3-pointers (34%) last season. He can also put the ball on the floor. In the VMI win, he used his left hand to dribble to the rim and scored over a defender with his right, also drawing a foul. He shot 84% from the line.

"You can just tell that he's had college experience,'' Gard said. "He picks things up quick.''

To which Klesmit responded, "It's a fun system to play in. But it takes time to learn. Kamari and I are soaking up as much as possible.'' Kamari McGee, a 6-foot point guard from Racine, is a Green Bay transfer. "The transitioning part between the team has been fluid and awesome,'' Klesmit added.

The in-state players on the Wisconsin roster have some history, however limited. Klesmit remembered playing against the Davis twins, Johnny and Jordan, in the fifth or sixth grade. "You don't really know of anybody at that age,'' Klesmit said. "But we sure knew about them after that.''

He also had crossed paths with Carter Gilmore (Hartland) and Isaac Lindsey (Mineral Point) at a younger age. And he has found all the players to be welcoming to himself and McGee. "There has not been an issue or any concerns in terms of team comradery,'' Klesmit said of their transition.

By design, Gard utilized different starters in each game and employed hockey line substitutions (five out, five in) to evaluate his roster (Jahcobi Neath is still rehabbing). In the opener, the Big 3 – Tyler Wahl, Steven Crowl and Chucky Hepburn – were joined in the starting lineup by Klesmit and Davis.

Said Gard, "Jordan did some really good things – you can see his confidence growing and growing – and I thought Max really fit in seamlessly with how we play.'' Klesmit called Davis "a super hard worker'' and concluded, "I think that's the common theme throughout the team.'' Spot on.

Speaking of which, Gard spotted Wahl, Crowl and Hepburn. "Do they need to play? Sure. But not as much as those other guys,'' Gard explained. "And they understood completely. We talked about it before we left. If I was going to load manage anybody it was going to be those three.''

Three players who "popped'' on the trip were Connor Essegian, Chris Hodges and Marcus Ilver.

Gard on Essegian, a 6-4 freshman from Fort Wayne, Ind.: "Probably the biggest surprise. He knows how to score. Defensively, he got better as time went on. As he got some more experience, he kind of learned what works and what doesn't. More athletic than he looks.

"He's got a gunner's mentality and you've got to live with that. In his mind, there's no bad shot. He's got a very confident mindset at that end of the floor. We've got to help him with the other aspects of the game, and we'll do that as we go into this preseason. He's got to get stronger, bigger, thicker.''

But his instincts emerged. "He made plays,'' Gard said. "Offensive rebounds. Reads. He got the ball in the right spots. The ball popped out of his hands to an open teammate. He hit cutters on drives. He does some things really well that you can't teach on the offensive end.''

Noted Klesmit, "He puts a lot of work and time into it. Takes his craft very seriously.''

Gard on Hodges, a 6-9 redshirt freshman from Schaumberg, Ill.: "You've got to keep it in context. It's the first time he has played in a real game since he was a junior in high school. I thought it was fast for him early. But I thought he got better as time went on.

"Defensively, he rebounded well. Offensively, he kept some possessions alive and was on the glass for us. He got better in ball screens but still has a way to go and that's going to come through experience – like it has for every other big that has been in that position before.
 
"He does a great job of taking care of the ball. He rarely turns it over. So, he makes really good decisions and knows who he is and stays within his lane, so to speak. He doesn't have to do anything astronomical. Just be solid, defend, rebound and finish around the rim.''
    
Gard on Ilver, a 6-8 sophomore from Estonia: "The games he played with the U20 team gave him a head start on everybody else going into this tour. Shot it really well. Rebounded really well. Getting better defensively. Embraces how important that end of the floor is. He was active.''
    
True to his word, Gard tinkered with a zone defense, a sharp departure for his system.
               
"It was good in certain situations,'' he said. "There were some things I liked about it. There were some things I didn't like about it. This group will still be at its best in man-to-man. But the zone gives you some stuff to think about. We'll continue to tinker and see where we can adjust and adapt it.
    
"But our bread and butter will be, as always, in the man-to-man.''
    
Eating bread and cheese with every meal was one of Gard's takeaways off the court.
    
"I did a lot of pointing at the menus,'' he said. "I didn't butcher the language too bad.''
    
The trip created memories. None more meaningful to Gard than the snapshot of Normandy.
    
"Unbelievable, very somber, very emotional,'' he said. "When they were playing the national anthem and taps, it really got to everybody. I thought we did a pretty good job of educating and making sure our guys understood what they were walking into. I was told it would be No. 1 on my list. It was.''
    
Klesmit could see where Gard was coming from.
    
"Me, specifically, I didn't have any family members who served in that war,'' Klesmit said. "But there were a lot of lessons and takeaways. One of the tour guides that we had at the cemetery said, "These guys didn't want to let the guy next to them down.' It was super strong and impactful.''
    
It was a keepsake for Klesmit, who just turned 20. There was another more relevant to hoops.
    
"I got a feel for the guys,'' he said, "and what we have to do to win.''
    
It was the point of the trip in the first place from Gard's perspective.
    
"We're going to see better competition, there's no doubt,'' Gard said. "We saw a few top-level guys but not a full team of top-level guys. But getting those reps and in-game decisions and experience was huge for our guys … We're not where we need to be. We've got a long way to go.
    
"But we're a heckuva lot farther than we were 10-weeks ago, I'll tell you that much.''