Tyler Wahl shares key to Wisconsin's hot start in Big Ten play

On Saturday, Wisconsin completed their second six-game win streak of the season, besting Northwestern at the Kohl Center to secure a 5-0 start to Big Ten play a quarter of the way through it.

After the victory vs. the Wildcats, several Badger players took the podium to speak to media in the postgame press conference, including one of their senior leaders, forward Tyler Wahl. One of the first questions asked to him asked how this particular group has been able to put together consistent results when they’ve struggled to do so in Big Ten play in other recent seasons.

“I think the first thing is the everyday mentality,” Wahl answered. “Where we’re showing up to practice, whether it’s a game tomorrow or a game in four days, we’re showing up, we’re competing, we’re pushing each other.”

This mentality doesn’t just come from Wahl, nor is it showcased by a bunch of transfers or elite freshman. No, this Badger group, for the most part, has been together for several years now. They’re veteran and they’re familiar with one another. Plus, this group runs deep with those veterans.

“And then, I also think it’s the depth and the chemistry that we have. All the guys in here are rooting for each other, everyone’s each other’s biggest fans, and when we see each other succeed, I feel like we just build off of that and then and we play better basketball,” Wahl added.

“So I think it’s a chemistry, along with just showing up every day and work, playing our best basketball.”

That chemistry is built on the back of a handful of core guys that have now had three or more years to learn and adapt to Greg Gard’s system. Chucky Hepburn is a third-year starter at point guard and has yet to come off the bench in any of the 84 games he’s participated in as a Badger. His backcourt running mate, Max Klesmit, transferred in from Wofford last year but is now a year-two Badger and a year-four college hooper.

The front-court features a similarly experienced duo. Tyler Wahl is in his fifth year with the program, his fourth as a starter under Gard, and is averaging 11 points per game for the third straight year. That’s some remarkable consistency. Next to him is longtime center Steven Crowl, another three-year starter and also a four-year player at Wisconsin.

Few teams in the Big Ten or in the entire country feature such continuity among the core of their roster. In fact, that sort of four-man unit — who aren’t necessarily the star players or lead scorers — willing to simply do their part is eerily reminiscent of the senior-laden San Diego State squad that made a Final Four run.