Chucky Hepburn's status unclear for Wisconsin's critical Big Ten game Thursday against Purdue
MADISON – Wisconsin could be without starting point guard Chucky Hepburn when it hosts Purdue in a critical Big Ten game Thursday.
Hepburn suffered an apparent right knee injury early in the second half of UW’s overtime loss at Michigan and he was held out of practice on Tuesday. He watched practice from the bench and wasn't wearing a brace or using crutches, but his availability for practice on Wednesday is to be determined.
"I don't know yet," UW coach Greg Gard said when asked Tuesday before practice about Hepburn's status for the Purdue game. "I would be hopeful."
The sophomore has started all 28 games this season and is tied for the team lead in scoring (12.1 ppg), leads the team in assists (3.0 per game) and is shooting 43.2% from three-point range.
Sophomore Kamari McGee took over for Hepburn at Michigan and should make his first start at UW if Hepburn is unavailable against Purdue. McGee noted after practice Tuesday he started 20 games as a freshman last season at UW-Green Bay.
"That’s definitely a help," he said. "I’m not a freshman. I’ve played college basketball. I know it is a different level but I feel I’ve played enough games – and I’ve had my games this year where I’ve played big minutes. I feel like I’m more than ready.
McGee played a season-high 25 minutes Sunday at Michigan, including the final 15 minutes 42 seconds of regulation and the entire overtime. He hit two pressure free throws to give UW a three-point lead with 8.1 seconds left in regulation and finished with six points, three rebounds and a steal.
“I thought he came in with a presence,” Gard said. “He wasn’t afraid of the moment.”
McGee has played in 24 games this season. After getting double-figure minutes just once in the first 20 games he played, McGee has played at least 13:42 in three of UW’s last four games.
He contributed six points, one rebound and one assist in UW’s 64-59 victory over Michigan in the teams’ first meeting. He had nine points, one rebound and one assist in UW’s 58-57 loss to Rutgers.
In short, McGee is producing when given more minutes.
“I think the last 20 days has really opened the eyes of not only me but our staff," Gard said. "We’ve commented on it in our meetings several times.
“And it started in practice. I think he has become more and more comfortable and accustomed to our vocabulary, how we have to do things. It has showed in games but it started in what we’ve seen in practice.
"He has always kept a positive attitude, not gotten frustrated with playing a little bit, not playing in this game. And it showed Sunday. He was ready to go.…
"He gave us a boost, a spark. So that is a great sign going forward."
Gard recently noted learning UW’s system has been akin to a second freshman season for McGee, a graduate of Racine St. Catherine’s High School. He spends practice time working on both the scout team and the No. 1 unit.
"How he’s learned and embraced those changes, that’s why I think you see the growth that we've seen," Gard said. "And he’s practiced well. I think it’s no secret that you don’t play well unless you practice well. And he’s had to wear both hats of scout team and then I bring him over and he platoons back and forth.
“But I think how he’s embraced coaching, how he’s embraced the importance of practice … and he's always a glass-half-full guy. He’s always smiling. That’s how he is every day. You never really find him in a bad mood.”
Although McGee is expected to start if Hepburn can't play Thursday, Max Klesmit and Isaac Lindsey could also fill in at point guard at times.
"I’m not going to change anything that I do," McGee said. "I’m not going to try to be Chucky. I’m just going to try to do what I’ve got to do as the point guard, make sure we get good shots, make sure we’re getting stops and make sure we’re all together. That’s what I’ve got to do."
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Chucky Hepburn's status for Wisconsin vs. Purdue Big Ten game unclear
