MADISON, Wis. — In a promising display of skill, the Wisconsin Badgers secured a decisive 88-62 victory over Washington on Tuesday night. However, the game was marred by an early injury to one of their starting guards, Max Klesmit. Klesmit, a key player for the Badgers, exited the game with a lower leg injury just over five minutes into the first half and didn’t make a return to the court.
Coach Greg Gard of the eleventh-ranked Wisconsin team addressed the issue following the game, explaining that Klesmit had been contending with this injury for some time. Gard noted that once Klesmit exited the game, it became apparent that the injury was bothering him too much to continue.
“We decided that was going to be it for tonight,” Gard said. “It’s been improving, but for some reason, he couldn’t get it loosened up early in the game. We chose not to push it any further.” Despite averaging 10.1 points per game this season, Klesmit was unable to attempt any shots before leaving the game after 15 minutes.
Looking ahead, Wisconsin is scheduled to face No. 8 Michigan State on Sunday. When asked about Klesmit’s availability for that match, Coach Gard remained noncommittal. “I think just some time here today, and we’ve got four days,” Gard remarked, suggesting that the team hopes for a swift recovery.
The extent of Klesmit’s injury and his ability to play in upcoming games remains uncertain, as the team focuses on monitoring his progress over the next few days. With multiple days to evaluate and treat Klesmit’s condition, the Badgers are keen on ensuring their player’s health is prioritized before the upcoming clash against Michigan State.
