Chucky Hepburn will join elite company if he starts in Wisconsin basketball’s season-opener

Wisconsin basketball has traditionally been a program filled with upperclassmen. The 2021-22 iteration of the Badgers, however, sees a young core and exciting freshman class looking to gain Big Ten experience.

Buzz from Wisconsin practice has been that true freshman guard Chucky Hepburn looks likely to crack the Badger starting lineup when UW faces St. Francis Brooklyn on Tuesday night at the Kohl Center.

According to Assistant Director of Brand Communications at Wisconsin Brandon Harrison, that would be a feat over 20 years in the making. The last Badger to true freshman to start a season- opener? Devin Harris in 2001, who would go on to be a lottery pick in the 2004 NBA draft and spend 15 seasons in the league. Harris was also Big Ten Player of the Year in 2004 during his senior season as a Badger.

Hepburn looks to be following in elite footsteps on Tuesday night.