Wisconsin Basketball Suffers Big Loss Before Season Even Begins: Yalden Takes Leave

Badgers' Freshman Star Gus Yalden Temporarily Steps Away

Wisconsin freshman forward Gus Yalden (34) seen during media day Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Ebony Cox / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel :: © Ebony Cox / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team faces a significant setback before the 2023 season even kicks off. Head coach Greg Gard announced the temporary leave of absence for their promising freshman center, Gus Yalden, due to a personal family matter. This announcement came just hours before an exhibition game against UW-Stevens Point. Gard emphasized the team's full support for Yalden and his family during this challenging time, though no return date has been specified.

"We are in full support of Gus and will always be here for him and his family," Gard said.

Gus Yalden will take a temporary leave of absence to address a personal family matter, head coach Greg Gard announced Wednesday.

“We are in full support of Gus and will always be here for him and his family"https://t.co/qYp8bhGU09

— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) November 1, 2023

A promising talent sidelined

Yalden was expected to be a key asset for the team's ambitions to return to the NCAA tournament after coming up short last season. As a highly-touted recruit, Yalden was poised to offer essential support to the team's starting center, Steven Crowl, bolstering their depth. His absence will undoubtedly test the Badgers, forcing them to look to other players to step up and fill the void. Nonetheless, the increased depth on the roster may somewhat alleviate the impact.

Wisconsin Men's Basketball Exhibition Against UW-Stevens Point

Bottom Line: Adapting to adversity in pursuit of excellence

As Wisconsin navigates the temporary absence of Gus Yalden, the "Next Man Up" approach will apply right off the bat. With that being said, this unexpected hurdle provides an opportunity for other players to shine and contribute to the team's goals. The Badgers have plenty of talent returning from a season ago, and they should be able to navigate the waters just fine until Yalden returns to the team.

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