Max Klesmit has emerged as a playmaker and fiery leader in his first season with the Wisconsin men's basketball team
LAS VEGAS – Max Klesmit wanted the ball.
Wisconsin trailed Oregon by two points with less than two minutes remaining in the teams’ quarterfinal NIT game.
Klesmit used a screen from Steven Crowl to get open on the right wing and, without hesitation, hit a three-pointer to give UW a one-point lead with 1 minute 41 seconds remaining. He eventually secured the 61-58 victory with two free throws with 2.2 seconds left to send UW into the NIT semifinals.
“The shot at the end… I’m not scared to take the big shot,” the junior guard said. “That is what you work for as a kid. That’s what you dream about. That’s what you play in your driveway imagining yourself doing.
“So, you’ve worked for that moment. And we’ve got a lot of other guys on this team that love that as well.”
Klesmit is playing his best all-around ball as UW (20-14) prepares to face North Texas (29-7) at 6 p.m. (Central) Tuesday in the first semifinal at Orleans Arena.
The second semifinal features Utah Valley (28-8) and UAB (28-9). The winners meet at 8:40 p.m. (Central) on Thursday for the championship.
Wisconsin guard Max Klesmit has adjusted to new home, role
“I’m more comfortable now than I was early in the season or in the middle of the season,” said Klesmit, a standout at Neenah High School who transferred to UW after two solid seasons at Wofford. “Being on a new team in a new role.”
Klesmit in UW’s last 11 games is averaging 11.3 points, 2.8 boards, 1.3 assists and 0.8 steals per game. He is shooting 47.7% from three-point range (21 of 44), 46.4% overall (39 of 84) and 75.8% from the free-throw line (25 of 33).
“He has been terrific, especially the last three, four weeks,” UW coach Greg Gard said. “Obviously, the numbers show it.”
What the box score doesn’t detail is how much assertive and demonstrative Klesmit has become during practices and breaks in game action.
“He probably talked more in those huddles down the stretch than I did,” Gard said of the Oregon game. “He did not want to lose. From a guy that is from the state, wearing that uniform means a ton to him. And I think now that he has got his feet on the ground after having not quite a year here, he is comfortable because he has proven himself as a player.”
Klesmit has scored in double figures in seven of the last 11 games. He hit that mark six times in his first 21 games.
“You can’t really take vocal ownership of a team or in a huddle until you’ve crossed that line as a proven player,” Gard said. “I think that has been accomplished. Now he is doing a phenomenal job. He has an edge to him.”
Klesmit has displayed physical and mental toughness
That edge was on display when Klesmit contributed 13 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals in UW’s overtime victory over Marquette. It was on display when he returned from a two-game hiatus (concussion) and contributed 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists in a loss to Illinois. It was on display again when Klesmit contributed 19 points, four rebounds and three steals in a loss to Purdue.
After he buried the critical three-pointer against Oregon, Klesmit stared at the UW bench as if to say he wasn’t going to let Oregon prevail.
“I feel like he’s always had it in him,” senior Tyler Wahl said of Klesmit’s leadership abilities. “But him just getting comfortable, going through drills and not being afraid to speak up to anyone on the team if something goes wrong.
“And having a voice during the game as well. He is usually the one that is in there talking, getting everyone going and keeping them engaged and fired up.”
More:How to watch Wisconsin vs. North Texas in NIT semifinal, time, livestream and radio
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Max Klesmit is leader for Wisconsin basketball ahead of NIT Final Four
