More on Austin Alexander out of Kentucky, who recently picked up an offer from Wisconsin. Told me he was planning to visit this weekend for the Ohio State game.

MADISON, Wis. – Fifth-year senior forward Tyler Wahl was named to the preseason watchlist for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award, as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Named after Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 16-year professional basketball player Julius Erving, the annual honor, in its tenth year, recognizes the top small forwards in Division I men's college basketball.

One of twenty players in the country chosen, this marks the second straight season that Wahl has been named to the preseason watchlist for the Julius Erving Award.

Wahl joins Nigel Hayes (2016) and Sam Dekker (2015) as UW's only preseason candidates for the award. Both Hayes and Dekker went on to become finalists for the award in their respective seasons.

The Julius Erving Award preseason watchlist will be narrowed down to 10 players in late January, with plans to announce the award's five finalists in late March.

A two-time Big Ten champion, Wahl has developed into one of the most versatile players in college basketball. Having played in 126 games (85 starts), Wahl is 32 points away from becoming just the eighth player in program history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 assists.

The Lakeville, Minnesota native finished last season ranked second on the team in rebounding (6.3 rpg), third in assists (2.3 apg), third in steals (1.2 spg) and fourth in scoring (11.3 ppg).

After being sidelined with injury for a three-game stretch in the middle of the season, Wahl began returning to form and finished last season with momentum, averaging 10.9 points (48.2% FG), 7.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game over the final 10 games while leading UW to the semifinals of the NIT.

One of Wahl's best individual performances came against No. 3 Kansas at last year's Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, in which he matched his career high scoring 23 points, plus 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists.

JULIUS ERVING AWARD PRESEASON WATCHLIST
Anton Watson – Gonzaga
Arthur Kaluma – Kansas State
Baylor Scheierman – Creighton
Coen Carr – Michigan State
Dalton Knecht – Tennessee
David Joplin – Marquette
Dillon Jones – Weber State
Glenn Taylor Jr. – St. John’s
Harrison Ingram – North Carolina
Jalen Bridges – Baylor
Jamison Battle – Ohio State
Jaylon Tyson – California
Johnny Furphy – Kansas
Justin Edwards – Kentucky
Mark Mitchell – Duke
Matthew Cleveland – Miami
Payton Sandfort – Iowa
Tucker DeVries – Drake
Tyler Burton – Villanova
Tyler Wahl – Wisconsin

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Watching PSU vs OSU and am NOT impressed with either QB! Allar is 6 for 17 for around 90 yards and most of his incompletions aren't even close. McCord is 11 for 21 for 125, constantly throwing behind his receivers.

For me, it is the lack of a running game. During the winter and spring, we heard about spreading the field and making the defense play boundary to boundary, opening the box and running lanes. At this point, that is feeling very hallow, and is the biggest surprise to me.

What say you?

Never really hear anything about him, but he has shown an ability to shoot from outside in last years summer highlights and this years red/white scrimmage. Any idea what’s holding him back? Seems like a big that can shoot brings more problems for your opponents and creates space for driving.

Just received word that Phil Longo and Mike Tressel will be made available to the media on Wednesday at noon.

Lots of snaps for Braelon Allen.

No Trey Wedig

C.J. Goetz quietly putting a string a good games together. Not a great showing for the guards, as well as Alexander Smith.

Does Wisconsin bounce back today against Illinois?

What are your predictions for today's game?

Personally, I wasn't impressed I know that he was thrust into a position that he wasn't prepared for, but really, that's his job. From what he showed us, he has very little arm strength. Can we use Evers for a series here and there? I know that Longo said that he didn't know the playbook, but we're months away from that