Big Ten Banter: Wisconsin's AJ Storr Has Been Conference's Top Transfer Addition
When AJ Storr decided to transfer from St. John’s after last season, he thought he left the Red Storm behind. Turns out, that’s exactly what he brought with him to Madison, and it has Wisconsin in the hunt for a Big Ten title.
Storr’s arrival has been a bolt of lightning for the Badgers’ offense this season, providing a much-needed spark to a team allergic to putting the ball through the hoop one year ago. The 6-foot-7 guard is a walking bucket, and it’s why he’s been the most important transfer into the Big Ten in 2023-24.
In his first season in Madison, Storr leads the Badgers in scoring with 15.9 points per game. He’s shooting at a 44.4% clip. He can drive to the basket, knock down a mid-range jumper or bury a shot from long range. In other words, Storr is the complete package on the offensive end of the floor.
There may not be a better example of Storr’s impact than Friday’s 81-66 win over Michigan State. The sophomore scored a thunderous 28 points, making three shots from long range and converting on seven-of-eight free throw attempts.
After Friday’s win over the Spartans, Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said very little of Storr’s production came by design.
“Quite frankly, I don’t know if I called much for him tonight. He kinda got it organically,” he said. “So, he just finds ways. … Finding the basket is not a weakness of his.”
Storr’s impact for Wisconsin goes beyond his stat line and individual ability. Wisconsin’s offense has gone through a significant transformation since his arrival.
The Badgers’ offense was stuck in the mud a season ago. Gard’s squad averaged 65.3 points per game, ranking 331st nationally. There are 363 teams in Division I men’s basketball — just in case you were wondering.
Scoring average wasn’t the only ugly number last season. Wisconsin shot 41.4% from the floor (322nd) and 34.2% from 3-point range (176th). The Badgers averaged just 14.3 free throw attempts per game (347th) and connected on a measly 9.9 shots from the charity stripe (349th).
Enter Storr, who helped wash away a lot of those ugly numbers.
Through 20 games this season, the Badgers are scoring 76 points per game, ranking 134th nationally. They’ve seen improvement in every major offensive category, too.
Wisconsin’s field goal rate sits at 47.7% for the season (45th). The Badgers are hitting 3-point shots at a 36.1% mark (79th). They’re also getting to the foul line an average of 20.5 times per game (133rd) and making 15.9 of those attempts (63rd).
It becomes easier to understand why the Badgers are 16-4 overall and 8-1 in Big Ten play, doesn’t it?
Following Friday’s win over Michigan State, Gard didn’t want to give Storr all the credit for Wiscosin’s offensive transformation. He talked about the return of Tyler Wahl, Steven Crowl, Chucky Hepburn and Max Klesmit. The depth the Badgers have this year is a step a season ago.
“I think it’s that,” Gard said, when asked if Storr’s playmaking was the difference between last year’s struggles and this year’s success.
“Plus, it’s the experience of the guys that came back, plus it’s the other newcomers — specifically John (Blackwell) and Nolan (Winter). You know, we’re just deeper. I’ve said that many times, we’re deeper and we have more weapons. But obviously you have the dynamic ability of AJ”
To Gard’s point, Wisconsin does have a complete team. It’s why the Badgers are a legitimate threat to Purdue to win the Big Ten regular season title this year. But make no mistake, they’re in this position because of Storr’s arrival.
He brings an element to the Wisconsin offense that didn’t exist a season ago.
So, talk to me about Purdue’s Lance Jones, Illinois’ Quincy Guerrier or Marcus Domask, Nebraska’s Rienk Mast or Indiana’s Kel’el Ware. I’ll listen.
All five have made significant impacts as transfer players this season. But none of those players have transformed a team quite like Storr has done with Wisconsin. The Badgers went just 9-11 in the Big Ten last season. One year later, they could be at the top of the standings when it’s all said and done.
The old, tired saying is “April showers bring May flowers.” In Wisconsin’s case, the phrase may have to be tweaked to “AJ Storr takes the Badgers to the Final Four.”
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