For freshman guard Zach Kinziger, playing for the Wisconsin Badgers has been a life long dream.
“I’ve been growing up cheering for the Badgers my whole life, so wanting to be a part of that culture is a big reason why I committed,” Kinziger told The Daily Cardinal.
Late this fall, that dream will become a reality.
Kinziger was a four-star recruit coming out of De Pere High School in Wisconsin. As a freshman on the varsity squad, he averaged 8.2 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. His stats grew steadily every year, finally ending his senior year with 24.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
His growth and work ethic helped him gain some division one offers and interests, including an offer from Cal Poly and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He ultimately committed to Wisconsin on August 4, 2023, around two months after his initial offer.
“I had a couple of schools reach out to me and be like, ‘Should we even bother recruiting you, or are you sold on Wisconsin?’ And I was. I was sold on Wisconsin," Kinziger said.
Not only was Madison close to home for Kinziger, but the facilities and coaching staff wowed him enough to eliminate the competition.
“The facilities really jumped out to me. I never really got the opportunity to be inside the weight room and the locker room, and that really surprised me,” Kinziger said. “Also, how intent they are when they recruit you. How much they show that they really want you to be a Badger. I know they wanted me, and I just committed as fast as I could.”
The jump from high school to college is a learning experience, not just academically. The athletic transition is major, even for the most prepared.
“The speed of the game is the biggest difference. Especially where we play, how we play, it's always moving up and down,” Kinziger said.
Along with the speed of the game, Kinziger also noted the size difference. The Badgers have five listed players at 6'10” or above, including two seven-footers in freshman Will Garlock and junior Nolan Winter.
“You always have a seven-footer probably sitting in the lane, so that’s different than high school for sure,” Kinziger said. “Then the overall talent level is just obviously way better, too. Guys can handle and shoot the ball like crazy, so you have to respect everyone from everywhere.”
The Badgers first official game is against the Campbell Camels, Nov. 3 at the Kohl Center, and reality is starting to set in for Kinziger.
“I’m ready to go. This is almost everything I’ve ever dreamed of since I was a little kid. If I can get out on the court this year as a freshman, that’d be great," Kinziger said.
Kinziger understands it's hard, no matter where you are, to get on the court as a freshman, but ultimately his season goals are to get better each day and learn from his veterans.
“I come to practice every day and show everybody that I belong, and when I do get on that court, it’s going to feel surreal,” Kinziger said.
The Badgers have a competitive schedule this season, including a rematch with the BYU Cougars. BYU eliminated the Badgers last season in March Madness, and Kinziger said his teammates are looking for revenge.
“Those Big Ten teams that we play this season are those games that you live for, you know, playing in front of those 17,000 people,” Kinziger said.
De Pere, Wisconsin has a population of around 25,000. Madison has over 200,000. Moving to a city with a drastic population change can be overwhelming for any college freshman, let alone a Division 1 athlete. But for Kinziger, the qualities of Madison make his transition smooth and enjoyable.
“The campus is a big upside. You just walk everywhere, and it’s super beautiful. The lake as well. Being close to home is really nice, too,” Kinziger said.
He also said his teammates have made the transition easy, saying “the people are really what make it special.”
When the Badgers play Oklahoma in an exhibition game at Fiserv Forum on October 24, Kinzinger will be ready to begin his Badger destiny.
