Steven Crowl’s latest Summer League outing did him no favors.
The former Badger, still trying to carve out a path to either an NBA contract or another G-League opportunity, turned in a rough 11-minute stretch against the Phoenix Suns. Crowl finished with zero points on 0-for-2 shooting, added three turnovers and three fouls, and managed just two rebounds, both on the offensive end. For a player trying to make himself impossible to ignore, it was the kind of night that makes the climb steeper.
Detroit’s struggles as a whole took some of the spotlight off him, but only a little. The Pistons Summer League group lost 100-88, and every player except two finished in the negative in plus-minus. Crowl was one of the two who stayed on the positive side, though only barely with a 1 +/-.
That’s a sharp contrast from how his summer had started. Crowl opened the first game without any minutes, then earned a bigger look in the second and made the most of it. In his third outing, he looked comfortable in his role and flashed enough to make a possible G-League stash feel realistic.
This game, though, was a setback. A scoreless night with three turnovers in a 12-point loss is not the kind of line that strengthens a case for a roster spot, especially when the margin for error was already thin.
Crowl is only under contract for Summer League, so the clock is moving fast. With just a few games left, he’ll need another deal once the summer ends. The hope is still to land on an NBA roster, but the more realistic target is a G-League spot, like the one he had last season.
The Utah Jazz gave him that chance with the Salt Lake City Stars a year ago, but when the season ended, they didn’t bring him back or sign him to a new contract. He didn’t do enough to convince them that he was on an NBA track, and that’s exactly the kind of evaluation he’s facing again now.
Getting back into Summer League was a meaningful step. Whether it leads to anything more may come down to whether Crowl can make the last few games count in a big way.
In Other News...
Greg Gard Just Sent A Message Badger Fans Will Notice
Greg Gard used an open practice this week to make it clear that Wisconsins new athletic director has already made an impression inside the mens basketball program. Gard praised Shawn Eichorst as a breath of fresh air and a home run hire, pointing to the kind of presence and work ethic that coaches tend to notice quickly when a new administrator arrives.
Eichorst has wasted little time getting around the program, showing up at practices, meeting with coaches and making the rounds at donor events early in his tenure. For Gard, the value seems to go beyond simple introductions, because the Badgers coach framed Eichorst as someone who is already available and helpful in ways that matter around a basketball operation. [Read more 🡒]
Greg Gard Just Reignited Wisconsin's Biggest Remaining Roster Question
Wisconsin is headed into the season with 15 players on the roster, and Greg Gard is still working to fill the final spot. The Badgers have not rushed the decision, but the search is very much active, with Gard leaving open a few different paths as camp approaches and the roster picture keeps shifting.
One familiar name already hanging around practice is Braeden Carrington, whose case depends on whether he can secure another year of eligibility. Recent NCAA rule changes and the legal fight around them have made that far from certain, which is why Wisconsin is also weighing other possibilities, including a walk-on, an in-state player or another addition from the portal. [Read more 🡒]
Greg Gard May Have Found The Badgers Big Fans Wanted
Victory Onuetu is the kind of addition Wisconsin has spent plenty of time trying to identify in the transfer market: a big body with real defensive utility and enough athleticism to change the feel of a frontcourt. After arriving from Hofstra, he gives Greg Gard a chance to add length, rim protection and rebounding, with the versatility to help in weakside defense and pick-and-roll coverage. For a Badgers team that values reliability, that profile alone makes him worth watching closely.
The question now is how quickly that toolkit translates into steady minutes in Madison. Onuetu has the traits to compete for a larger role right away, but the next step is smoothing out the parts of his game that can stall an offense and force a coach to work around him. If Wisconsin can get him to the point where the strengths show up consistently, Gard may have found the kind of interior piece fans have been waiting for. [Read more 🡒]