Wisconsin basketball: early June news roundup

Here is some basketball news from around the Wisconsin Badgers-sphere!

• Wisconsin hoops legend Sam Dekker played in Russia this past season for Lokomotiv Kuban and averaged 13.1 ppg (on 70.5% shooting!), 5.3 rpg and 1.5 apg in Eurocup action (10 games) while he averaged 11.4 ppg (on 66.4% shooting), 4.9 rpg and 1.5 apg in domestic league play (19 games).

Dekker is now a free agent because his contract with Lokomotiv ran out and he traveled back to the United States at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Dekker played well in Russia, and even better when the competition was higher, so he may get another look in the NBA but it will be difficult due to the uncertainty around salary caps and free agency and how all of that will work for next season to say anything concrete.

• As more and more states begin reopening procedures, we are starting to see the return of sports as well! The Atlanta Timberwolves, the AAU team that 2021 wing Max Hrdlicka (Brunswick, Ga.) plays on, was in action in Jacksonville Fla. on Saturday.

Per his mom’s tweets, Hrdlicka had a productive two games, totaling 40 points and 14 boards while helping his team to a 2-0 record. There are more games on Sunday and we’ll keep you posted on how Hrdlicka plays.

Hrdlicka’s mother also retweeted a post from 247 Sports’ Evan Flood that says Greg Gard has a virtual visit with a 2021 guard this coming week ($). Hopefully with your powers of deductive reasoning you can figure out who might be taking that visit.

• You may have missed this back in the middle of May, but UW-Green Bay fired their men’s basketball coach, Linc Darner. It came as a surprise to just about everyone and the UWGB administration didn’t offer much insight into their decision. The Phoenix are hoping that tapping a familiar last name will help energize a fan base that was left confused, and without a coach, a few weeks ago. Will Ryan, the oldest son of Bo Ryan, will be taking the reigns/reins/rains in Green Bay after coaching at D-II Wheeling last year.

It will be interesting to see what a new Ryan can do in Wisconsin and if he can get the Phoenix back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.