Lucas: Wahl’s return has next season off to good start
April 05, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Mike Lucas
‘Unfulfilled’ feeling motivating core group of returners
BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. – Upon returning from an injury that sidelined him for three straight Big Ten games in January, all losses, Tyler Wahl struggled to get back in sync with the way he had been playing. "First of all," he said, "when I went out, we were really playing well, and things were going great."
Prior to facing Minnesota at the Kohl Center (Jan. 3), the 10-2 Badgers were ranked No. 14 in the nation and owned wins over USC, Marquette, Maryland and Iowa, among others. Wahl was the team's leading scorer, averaging 14 points and 7 rebounds. Life was good. Until it wasn't.
Wahl injured his ankle in the first half against the Gophers. "I came back expecting to pick up right where I left off," he said of rejoining the lineup against Penn State (Jan. 17). "For sure, I wasn't 100 percent. But that's how it goes in the Big Ten. You're not coming back at 100 percent after an injury.
"I just feel like I was expecting one thing and another thing happened."
Even though the Badgers had hung on to beat Minnesota – marking their first 3-0 start in conference play since the 2014-2015 season (their second of back-to-back Final 4 runs) – Wahl wasn't the same player when he returned. And the Badgers weren't the same team. It was a painful reality.
"It was the first time I had really been hurt," said Wahl, a starter since midway through his sophomore year. "It was uncharted territory for me and what I was expecting. When I came back, I wasn't able to maybe jump as high or cut as fast. It was definitely something that played on me mentally."
Wahl's confidence waned. "Our team got out of sync when you've got your most experienced player sitting on the bench," said UW coach Greg Gard. "And, then, when he came back it took him awhile physically, and even longer mentally, to get back to where he felt confident and comfortable."
The team's frustrations culminated when the Badgers failed to make the NCAA Tournament. "But we were able to make the best out of a situation that we didn't necessarily want to be in," Wahl said of advancing to the NIT semifinals. "Hopefully that leads us into a good start this off-season."
It couldn't have gotten off to a much better start. On Tuesday, Wahl revealed that he was returning for a fifth season of eligibility. In so many ways, Gard has landed his most impactful recruit. On a social media post, Wahl referred to "One last ride" and creating "New memories" with his teammates.
"After the season, I took a break to step back and look at the season as a whole," Wahl said early Tuesday night – explaining how he weighed his options to move on or stay. "Ultimately, it really came down to all my past memories here and all the good things that we've accomplished.
"We might not have had the best season that we wanted. Things didn't go our way. But we were right there (in so many close games) and we still have a whole lot left to prove. I've been going back and forth on it for awhile. But I felt it was a pretty clear decision for me to make when it came down to it.
"I've also been hinting at it with my teammates the last couple of weeks."
On how much thought he gave to turning pro and playing overseas, if that was the best available situation, Wahl acknowledged, "I graduate in May so that was always a different option and that was always on my radar. But, again, ultimately, this is where I wanted to be for another year."
Moreover, on whether the transfer portal entered his thinking given college basketball's ever-changing landscape, Wahl said, "Not really. You hear a lot of truths, a lot of rumors, a lot of talk about what is going on. It's something you definitely hear. But I wouldn't say that I really considered it."
At the end of his deliberation, the decision-making process, Wahl drew this conclusion, "I've been around for all the good times here, a couple of Big Ten championships … I know how great this place can be. And it can even be better… I feel like we're just scratching the tip of the iceberg."
Once he made up his mind to return, he told his mom and dad in Lakeville, Minnesota. And they relayed the news to his sisters and the rest of the family. "It was nice to have them around to bounce ideas off – to phone them with what I was thinking," he said of his parents, Tim and Kaye Wahl.
"It was great to have them as a support system. Someone I can talk to about life…"
And other things beyond hoops. On Monday, Wahl met with Gard. "We talked about everything from A to Z," Gard said. "I had an indication for awhile he wanted to come back. But I didn't want to go there with him during the season. I really wanted to wait until we had a complete wrap on everything.
"Tyler has been a part of two Big Ten championships and that was something that we talked about. No player in program history has won three. That's a challenge in itself. He has enjoyed his time here. He's had a great four years and gotten the most out of it in terms of graduating in May."
As far as leaving on a winning note with another league title, Gard added, "He knew this was something that he wanted to take another run at with the idea in mind that we didn't accomplish what we wanted to this past year. He gets another chance to help this group get to where we want to go."
Gard alluded to how all the returning players having some "unfinished business" especially since "we all felt unfulfilled" by not measuring up to the annual expectations of playing in the Big Dance. This was true, he conceded, "Even though the NIT was a good thing and put us a in good place mentally."
Despite a brutal second half offensively in the loss to North Texas, which went on to win the NIT championship, the Badgers got back on the winning track by knocking off Bradley, Liberty and Oregon. It was the first time that they had strung together three consecutive victories since early December.
In retrospect, Wahl mentioned the "sick taste in my mouth not making the NCAA tournament" and the gut-punch from squandering a 12-point halftime lead against North Texas in Las Vegas. "It's definitely not the way, you would want to end a career," he said, intent on authoring a different ending.
Looking ahead to returning next season with the team's core players, he pointed out, "Right now, I'm focusing on getting my body back to normal. I want to take care of all the nicks and bumps. After that, I want to continue to develop my outside shot and become a little more confident with that."
Asked if he anticipated a different role for himself, Wahl said, "I feel like it will definitely change because it's a whole new team with different people on it even though we have the same core for the most part. I feel like I can take another step as a basketball player and as a leader.
"I want to continue to show up every day and work hard, both on and off the court.
"And, then, we can take it from there. The sky is the limit for this group."
One UW player, junior Jordan Davis, has entered the transfer portal. "He's got to do what's best for him at the end of the day," Wahl said. "I wish him nothing but good wishes and I want him to succeed wherever he ends up. I have nothing but good things to say about Jordan."
Gard shared the same sentiments. "I knew it was something that Jordan was contemplating and he was awesome in our meeting," Gard said. "He's a great young man. He'll always be a Badger. I love the kid. But he wanted a bigger role with more significant minutes. I completely understand.
"He's nothing but first class. As I told him, he will always have a special place in my heart.
"He'll do well wherever he ends up and we'll try to help him along the way."
As of Tuesday, Gard said that he was not aware of anyone else putting their name in the portal.
Meanwhile, the Badgers have been exploring some transfer options.
"It's the new age that we're in," Gard said. "You can't ignore it. When it makes sense and can help you, then you have to investigate it. And we've done a lot of that. There has been a lot of phone calls, a lot of Zoom calls and a lot digging deep – navigating what best fits us and who will best help us."
Wahl's return has been the best possible news to generate off-season momentum. Retaining the services of one of the most versatile defenders in the conference – someone who has appeared in 126 games and averaged double-digits points each of the past two years – is a huge starting point.
Wahl can't wait to get together with his Badger teammates. Since his Tuesday post, he said, "I've just been getting text messages and going back and forth on the phone with them. I'm excited to see them all again."
He sounded confident and comfortable with his decision. Life is good. Again.
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. – Upon returning from an injury that sidelined him for three straight Big Ten games in January, all losses, Tyler Wahl struggled to get back in sync with the way he had been playing. "First of all," he said, "when I went out, we were really playing well, and things were going great."
Prior to facing Minnesota at the Kohl Center (Jan. 3), the 10-2 Badgers were ranked No. 14 in the nation and owned wins over USC, Marquette, Maryland and Iowa, among others. Wahl was the team's leading scorer, averaging 14 points and 7 rebounds. Life was good. Until it wasn't.
Wahl injured his ankle in the first half against the Gophers. "I came back expecting to pick up right where I left off," he said of rejoining the lineup against Penn State (Jan. 17). "For sure, I wasn't 100 percent. But that's how it goes in the Big Ten. You're not coming back at 100 percent after an injury.
"I just feel like I was expecting one thing and another thing happened."
Even though the Badgers had hung on to beat Minnesota – marking their first 3-0 start in conference play since the 2014-2015 season (their second of back-to-back Final 4 runs) – Wahl wasn't the same player when he returned. And the Badgers weren't the same team. It was a painful reality.
"It was the first time I had really been hurt," said Wahl, a starter since midway through his sophomore year. "It was uncharted territory for me and what I was expecting. When I came back, I wasn't able to maybe jump as high or cut as fast. It was definitely something that played on me mentally."
Wahl's confidence waned. "Our team got out of sync when you've got your most experienced player sitting on the bench," said UW coach Greg Gard. "And, then, when he came back it took him awhile physically, and even longer mentally, to get back to where he felt confident and comfortable."
The team's frustrations culminated when the Badgers failed to make the NCAA Tournament. "But we were able to make the best out of a situation that we didn't necessarily want to be in," Wahl said of advancing to the NIT semifinals. "Hopefully that leads us into a good start this off-season."
It couldn't have gotten off to a much better start. On Tuesday, Wahl revealed that he was returning for a fifth season of eligibility. In so many ways, Gard has landed his most impactful recruit. On a social media post, Wahl referred to "One last ride" and creating "New memories" with his teammates.
"After the season, I took a break to step back and look at the season as a whole," Wahl said early Tuesday night – explaining how he weighed his options to move on or stay. "Ultimately, it really came down to all my past memories here and all the good things that we've accomplished.
"We might not have had the best season that we wanted. Things didn't go our way. But we were right there (in so many close games) and we still have a whole lot left to prove. I've been going back and forth on it for awhile. But I felt it was a pretty clear decision for me to make when it came down to it.
"I've also been hinting at it with my teammates the last couple of weeks."
On how much thought he gave to turning pro and playing overseas, if that was the best available situation, Wahl acknowledged, "I graduate in May so that was always a different option and that was always on my radar. But, again, ultimately, this is where I wanted to be for another year."
Moreover, on whether the transfer portal entered his thinking given college basketball's ever-changing landscape, Wahl said, "Not really. You hear a lot of truths, a lot of rumors, a lot of talk about what is going on. It's something you definitely hear. But I wouldn't say that I really considered it."
At the end of his deliberation, the decision-making process, Wahl drew this conclusion, "I've been around for all the good times here, a couple of Big Ten championships … I know how great this place can be. And it can even be better… I feel like we're just scratching the tip of the iceberg."
Once he made up his mind to return, he told his mom and dad in Lakeville, Minnesota. And they relayed the news to his sisters and the rest of the family. "It was nice to have them around to bounce ideas off – to phone them with what I was thinking," he said of his parents, Tim and Kaye Wahl.
"It was great to have them as a support system. Someone I can talk to about life…"
And other things beyond hoops. On Monday, Wahl met with Gard. "We talked about everything from A to Z," Gard said. "I had an indication for awhile he wanted to come back. But I didn't want to go there with him during the season. I really wanted to wait until we had a complete wrap on everything.
"Tyler has been a part of two Big Ten championships and that was something that we talked about. No player in program history has won three. That's a challenge in itself. He has enjoyed his time here. He's had a great four years and gotten the most out of it in terms of graduating in May."
As far as leaving on a winning note with another league title, Gard added, "He knew this was something that he wanted to take another run at with the idea in mind that we didn't accomplish what we wanted to this past year. He gets another chance to help this group get to where we want to go."
Gard alluded to how all the returning players having some "unfinished business" especially since "we all felt unfulfilled" by not measuring up to the annual expectations of playing in the Big Dance. This was true, he conceded, "Even though the NIT was a good thing and put us a in good place mentally."
Despite a brutal second half offensively in the loss to North Texas, which went on to win the NIT championship, the Badgers got back on the winning track by knocking off Bradley, Liberty and Oregon. It was the first time that they had strung together three consecutive victories since early December.
In retrospect, Wahl mentioned the "sick taste in my mouth not making the NCAA tournament" and the gut-punch from squandering a 12-point halftime lead against North Texas in Las Vegas. "It's definitely not the way, you would want to end a career," he said, intent on authoring a different ending.
Looking ahead to returning next season with the team's core players, he pointed out, "Right now, I'm focusing on getting my body back to normal. I want to take care of all the nicks and bumps. After that, I want to continue to develop my outside shot and become a little more confident with that."
Asked if he anticipated a different role for himself, Wahl said, "I feel like it will definitely change because it's a whole new team with different people on it even though we have the same core for the most part. I feel like I can take another step as a basketball player and as a leader.
"I want to continue to show up every day and work hard, both on and off the court.
"And, then, we can take it from there. The sky is the limit for this group."
One UW player, junior Jordan Davis, has entered the transfer portal. "He's got to do what's best for him at the end of the day," Wahl said. "I wish him nothing but good wishes and I want him to succeed wherever he ends up. I have nothing but good things to say about Jordan."
Gard shared the same sentiments. "I knew it was something that Jordan was contemplating and he was awesome in our meeting," Gard said. "He's a great young man. He'll always be a Badger. I love the kid. But he wanted a bigger role with more significant minutes. I completely understand.
"He's nothing but first class. As I told him, he will always have a special place in my heart.
"He'll do well wherever he ends up and we'll try to help him along the way."
As of Tuesday, Gard said that he was not aware of anyone else putting their name in the portal.
Meanwhile, the Badgers have been exploring some transfer options.
"It's the new age that we're in," Gard said. "You can't ignore it. When it makes sense and can help you, then you have to investigate it. And we've done a lot of that. There has been a lot of phone calls, a lot of Zoom calls and a lot digging deep – navigating what best fits us and who will best help us."
Wahl's return has been the best possible news to generate off-season momentum. Retaining the services of one of the most versatile defenders in the conference – someone who has appeared in 126 games and averaged double-digits points each of the past two years – is a huge starting point.
Wahl can't wait to get together with his Badger teammates. Since his Tuesday post, he said, "I've just been getting text messages and going back and forth on the phone with them. I'm excited to see them all again."
He sounded confident and comfortable with his decision. Life is good. Again.
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