Wisconsin guard Max Klesmit will not participate in Saturday’s game against Penn State due to a lower-body injury, as reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. This marks the third consecutive game that Klesmit will miss. However, he is expected to return in time for the Big Ten Conference Tournament next week.
Klesmit, who is in his fifth year, has been an integral player for Wisconsin, averaging 9.7 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game this season. He ranks as the third-highest scorer on the team, behind John Tonje and John Blackwell, who average 19.1 and 15.5 points, respectively. The injury occurred against Washington on February 25, during which Klesmit started the game but managed to play only five minutes before exiting.
Wisconsin’s head coach, Greg Gard, discussed Klesmit’s condition after their victory over Washington. Gard mentioned that while the injury is not extremely dangerous, it has been significant enough to bench Klesmit. He noted that Klesmit is making progress though has yet to recover sufficiently to rejoin the game.
This development is significant for Wisconsin, as they have moved up to a projected No. 4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament standings following Purdue’s loss to Illinois. This seeding grants them a double bye into the quarterfinals. On the other hand, Penn State, no longer in contention for the conference tournament, will conclude its season with this game.
Penn State currently holds a 15-15 overall record and a 5-14 record in Big Ten play, making this game their final chance to impact the season by potentially spoiling Wisconsin’s senior day. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on Peacock.
