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Carter Gilmore Expecting a Bigger Role for UW in 2022-23

dillon graff
·4 min read

Badgers junior forward Carter Gilmore initially committed to Wisconsin as a walk-on despite having scholarship offers from Appalachian State, Brown, DePaul, Illinois-Chicago, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, and UW-Milwaukee.

Gilmore, a standout at Arrowhead High School (Wisc.), was a first-team All-State selection during his senior season, averaging 26.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.

Since joining the UW program, the 6-foot-7, 200-pound forward quickly earned the trust of Greg Gard and his coaching staff, receiving a scholarship after spending just one season as a walk-on.

Last season, Gilmore appeared in 22 games, averaging 0.9 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 7.8 minutes per game. He had a consistent role off the bench early in the season for coach Gard. However, the sophomore forward was phased out in favor of a tighter rotation down the stretch.

Forwards Ben Carlson and Matthew Mors transferred in the offseason, so it would appear that a more prominent role for Gilmore could soon be on the horizon.

“This spring, Carter was dedicated to working on his strength, flexibility, speed, and agility. Of course, he also worked on basketball, but his focus was on getting his body ready for the season,” his mother, Stephanie Gilmore, told BadgersWire.

The junior forward’s most significant assets on the court are his fundamentals and defensive versatility. He’s counted on to do many different things for UW without making mistakes – which is why coach Gard worked to find him minutes.

Gilmore’s role last season was clear; be a low-usage player focused on taking care of the ball (led the team with a 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio), play sound defense, make good decisions, and get the starters a breather.

There’s this misconception that if rotational players don’t score, they’re of little value, which isn’t true. It’s the little things that earn you playing time at Wisconsin, and those are the things Gilmore puts a premium on doing well.

In the clip below, UW runs a chin series where Lindsey feeds Gilmore the ball on the free-throw line extended after he sets a backscreen on Davis. Instead of engaging in a DHO with Bowman, Gilmore sees his defender cheating, turns the corner, takes two dribbles, and spins away from his man for an easy left-handed finish.

“I’m most proud of the great teammate he’s become. Carter is unselfish and will do whatever it takes to help his team be successful, and he’s equally or even more happy for his teammates’ successes than his own,” Gilmore’s parents explained.

His counting stats might not jump off the page, but he’s a reliable option off the bench that can provide minutes at either forward spot – which UW will need to fill behind Tyler Wahl this season.

“If he [Gilmore] is asked to score this year, I’m confident he can. He is also a good passer; he can find ways to get the ball into people’s hands, so they can score, which is equally important.”

The Hartland (Wisc.) native garnered his first taste of legitimate Big Ten minutes last season, which should help the game slow down for him in 2022-23.

Leaning on this experience could help mitigate some of his current athletic deficiencies. Gilmore’s confidence and familiarity with the system should allow him to process things quicker and make the right reads.

Coach Gard has also mentioned that Gilmore has thrived on the scout team while playing the opposing team’s leading scorer. So, it’s certainly possible he has more to offer on the offensive end than we saw last season, specifically from beyond the arc.

He’s a better shooter than his 1-for-13 (7.7%) shooting split from three would lead you to believe, although that’s not exactly going out on a limb.

“Carter was a bit of a late bloomer, so he arrived in Madison with a lot of room for growth. Knowing the Badgers system, he has honed all of his fundamental skills, his body has changed a lot, and with that additional strength, I suspect he can do some things that maybe he didn’t have the strength to do his first year or two. Going against Tyler Wahl and Johnny Davis in practice for two years has been a great means for Carter to improve his game and prepare to battle in the Big Ten.”

Gilmore prides himself on his unselfish style of play, but don’t be surprised if we see an expanded role from the former walk-on off the bench during his last two seasons in Madison.

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Story originally appeared on Badgers Wire