The Wisconsin Badgers are off to a strong 2024 season, starting off the year 14-3, which has earned them a spot in the AP Top 25.
After an offseason of significant change, which included seven transfers out of the program and six new faces coming in, it was unclear how the Badgers would perform in the revamped Big Ten with four new teams and a ton of talent coming in.
But, thanks to the emergence of transfer John Tonje and some strong continuity on the team, the Badgers have been one of the top contenders in a strong Big Ten, most recently winning their last six games.
However, there has been one underlying factor that has been key for the Badgers this season: development, especially with their sophomore class.
A part of the reason Wisconsin felt comfortable moving into the 2024 season, despite losing key contributors like Chucky Hepburn, Tyler Wahl, and AJ Storr, was the expectation that players would be able to step up into bigger roles.
Nobody has done that better than sophomore guard John Blackwell, who has arguably been the team's best and most consistent player in 2024, averaging 15.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 48.4 percent from the field thus far.
Blackwell broke out as a freshman in 2023, showing off his skills as a slasher who could get to the rim, playing with physicality and tenacity on both ends.
As a sophomore though, the guard has turned into a more complete player, becoming better as a ball-handler and playmaker, while improving his shot off the dribble, whereas he was more of an off-ball catch-and-shoot player in 2023.
He's made a seamless transition to being a starter, playing well with the added volume and responsibility, becoming a big X-Factor for the Badgers this season.
But, the other part of the equation is sophomore forward Nolan Winter, who has enjoyed a breakout season as he went from a back-of-the-rotation player to a regular starter.
While Winter's minutes fluctuate a lot depending on the opponent, he's averaged 10.6 points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds per game, while shooting an incredibly efficient 59.6 percent from the field and 35 percent from three.
Winter has been one of the most improved players this season as he's grown both physically and mentally after a tough freshman year. He's become very comfortable in his role as a roller in the pick-and-roll, leading to high-quality shots at the rim. And his three-pointer has come along into an efficient 35 percent, as he's become more comfortable looking for his shot.
Even with the fluctuating minutes, Winter has shown he's capable of handling a bigger load when necessary, scoring in double-figures nine times and getting at least 15 points five times.
With both players being a key part of the rotation and buying into Greg Gard's vision, the Badgers have become better than they were expected to be, and arguably even better than they were in 2023, despite losing a number of key players.
The seniors are a very important part of the team, but the X-Factors for Wisconsin this season are their sophomores as their contributions have lifted the team from a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten roster to conference title contenders in 2024.
The Badgers will look to continue their strong season on Saturday when they take on the USC Trojans, with tip-off set for 2:00 p.m. in Los Angeles.