Although the statement appears outrageous on the surface, it becomes clear that Nolan Winter belongs exactly where he is in Wisconsin when placed in the entire backdrop of the situation.
With the recent news that Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball big man Nolan Winter is returning to school, many wondered why he did not follow in the footsteps of former teammate John Blackwell and enter the transfer market in search of greener pastures. However, in a recent interview with Brian Butch, Winter explained his motivation for the move, some of which were unexpected.
The fact that the 7-footer preferred to stay at home and be loyal to the institution that supported him when few others did was not surprising. Winter indicated in the interview and to those around him that he wants to be a Badger for life, something that is becoming more uncommon in today’s college basketball scene.
Nolan Winter stated that he met with his parents, agents, and coaches the day after the season finished. Made the final decision to stay with the Badgers a few weeks later. Wants to play in the NBA and believes that Wisconsin is the best way to get there.
With that said, Winter stated his NBA ambitions when explaining his decision to return to school, stating that Wisconsin was the ideal springboard for him to realize that ambition. At first look, that claim may appear strange, since the Badgers are not exactly the most established NBA pipeline.
However, when a few factors are taken into consideration, this assertion appears to be much less extreme. For one thing, Winter clearly has NBA size and skill. It is well known that the NBA values interior physicality and outside skill, both of which Winter has demonstrated he can bring.
Enhancing Skillset
The Minnesota native demonstrated all of his talents during his junior season with the Badgers, averaging 13. 1 points and 8. 5 rebounds per game—both significant increases over his sophomore year. Winter’s three-point percentage dipped slightly, from 35. 8% to 32. 6%. However, his rise in attempts per game indicates that, with another offseason of growth, he may make a jump in that area as well.
A increase in shooting would be extremely beneficial for Wisconsin as a team, since the departure of its two best scorers has left the team short on offense. The Badgers are expected to rely heavily on Winter for offensive output next season, making any improvements he can make critical to the team’s success.
Future Outlook
Those expectations may appear high, yet they really create the ideal atmosphere for Winter to improve his draft stock. If he relocated elsewhere, he would most likely be forced to take a back seat, playing an ancillary role on a more well-rounded squad. However, since Winter decided to remain at home, he is expected to be granted a wide leash in his senior year, giving him the chance to demonstrate the entire range of his skills.
Whether he can capitalize on that and raise his draft stock beyond the late-second billing he is now slated for remains to be seen, but it would be difficult to say there is a better area to do so than Madison.
