Badgers heave halfcourt shots during NCAA Tournament open practice
See Wisconsin players attempt halfcourt shots toward the end of the Badgers’ open practice at the Moda Center in Portland.
- Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter is expected to return from an ankle injury for the NCAA Tournament.
- Winter missed four games after injuring his ankle in a win over Maryland on March 4.
- The Badgers achieved a 3-1 record, including two ranked wins, during Winter’s absence.
PORTLAND, OR – All signs continue to point toward Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter making his return from an ankle injury in the Badgers’ upcoming game against High Point in the first round of the men’s NCAA Tournament.
“I do expect him to be available,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said on March 18 in his Portland press conference. “He was full-go yesterday in practice. I assume he’ll be the same today.”
The update at the tournament site is in line with Gard and Winter’s past public comments that he was expected to be ready for the NCAA Tournament. Winter fully participated in the Badgers’ open practice at the Moda Center.
Asked how close he is to being 100% healthy, Winter said he is “getting there day-by-day.”
“Every day I do a little bit more and a little bit more,” Winter said in the UW locker room ahead of the open practice. “And I think every morning, I’ve responded pretty well to what I did the day before. So we’re getting there for sure.”
Winter missed four games after suffering an ankle injury in the second half of the Badgers’ 78-45 win over Maryland on March 4. It was the first time he missed a game in his UW career after appearing in every game as a freshman and sophomore. The seven-foot forward has averaged 13.3 points and 8.6 rebounds in his junior season.
Wisconsin, now No. 20 in the USA TODAY coaches poll, went 3-1 despite Winter’s absence. The Badgers picked up ranked wins over then-No. 14 Purdue and then-No. 9 Illinois.
“Seeing how much fun it was out there and for me to not be out there – it sucked,” Winter said. “I was itching to get back out there, watching them. But obviously they were super successful and did very well. So happy to see that, but I’m ready to get back out there.”
