60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin

2018-19 Record: 14-18-5 (9-10-5, T-5th in Big Ten)
Head Coach: Tony Granato, 4th Year
Top returning scorer: Sean Dhooghe (15G-11A)
Top returning goaltenders: Daniel Lebedeff (So.) and Jack Berry (Sr.)

This should be the one where a plan comes together for Wisconsin. It's visible despite wondering when will be the season the Badgers complete a turnaround.

Five years passed since Wisconsin's last NCAA Tournament berth, the longest drought for the Badgers since restarting the program in the 1960s.

To be honest, Wisconsin not making the NCAA Tournament under Tony Granato has been surprising. Maybe that's due to year 1 where the Badgers came within an OT goal of winning the Big Ten conference tournament. Maybe that's due to some of the big moves and players, or the hoopla of Granato coming in to save the program after it hit rock bottom in Mike Eaves' final two seasons.

Change may not be immediate, but it can be seen with Wisconsin despite another Liam Folkes season-ending OT goal. The Badgers could play in an 8-2 loss and rebound for a 7-3 win. Neither result was too surprising. Wisconsin had spurts of success, most prominently towards the end of the first half with a six-game unbeaten streak and not losing to Michigan. There were struggles defensively and on the penalty kill, where UW tied for 56th of 60 teams. Both goalies had sub-.900 save percentages.

What's New: The Badgers are already practicing, preparing for an international trip to Vancouver for exhibition games Labor Day weekend.

There's not too much else. Oh, wait...

Wisconsin's seven first-year players include the 2019 fifth overall pick (Alex Turcotte), the 15th overall pick who broke Phil Kessel's NTDP goal record (Cole Caufield), and the Canadian Junior A player of the year who looks to be a 2020 first-round pick (Dylan Holloway). All three are forwards who add to an offense that returns five players with 20 or more points.

Closing Thoughts: There have been reasons to be impressed with Granato's recruiting. He's now restocked the Badgers' cabinet. Between this year's freshman class, last year's first-round pick K'Andre Miller returning healthy, Sean Dhooghe fighting guys 18 inches taller, and a young blue line getting a year older, Madison has talent.

Now the challenge is whether it comes together. On paper, Wisconsin should be a team that takes the next step.

It wouldn't be a big surprise if Wisconsin does what a lot of teams want and ends up the next UMass. Going beyond easy Cale Makar/Badger freshmen comparisons, what stands out is those freshmen forwards join a team that got 2.22 goals per game from its underclassmen, who all return. Only UMass had more.

Still, there's a catch. For as much as the foundation is there for the offense to improve, Wisconsin's defense and goaltending needs to take that step as well in an offensive-friendly Big Ten. Peter Tischke will be missed and losing Miller for the final month didn't help matters either. Wisconsin badly missed him during the Penn State playoff series (despite UW taking a game, PSU was the better team in all three games). Not even Kyle Hayton transferring solved Wisconsin's defensive issues.

If that happens, the Badgers should end the drought. If this isn't the year where the plan comes together, it'll be one where questions about Wisconsin need to start being asked.

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