Wisconsin Herd: Re-establishing path towards success for 2019-20 season

With their restructuring this offseason, the most recent example being the appointment of new head coach Chase Buford, the Wisconsin Herd are slated to take on something of a fresh start going into their third season of existence.

As the Milwaukee Bucks are eager follow up their remarkable run in the 2018-19 season with fighting for a shot at an NBA title next year, their G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, is looking to take on a different challenge from a different end of the spectrum.

Since becoming an addition to the Bucks organization more than two years ago, the Herd have looked to be an extension of the parent club, both in play style and in success, to mixed results as they have built a loyal fanbase throughout the Fox Valley at Menominee Nation Arena.

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To call last year a sophomore slump for the Herd would be a little generous as they stood on the opposite end of the spectrum when compared to their parent club, the Milwaukee Bucks, as they tied the Northern Arizona Suns for the worst record in the G League last year at 12-38.

Even as the Herd struggled to establish some level of success, bright spots flashed along the way, all of which centered around the assignments of young Bucks players, and Christian Wood was certainly the headlining performer in that regard before he was waived in the stretch run of last season.

But as a result of the Herd’s fall to the bottom of the G League by the end of their second season, the organization ended up parting ways with the franchise’s first-ever head coach, Jordan Brady, who ended up tallying a 33-67 record through his two seasons at the helm.

Although the G League may not be as results oriented compared to the NBA level, having a lack of success is still something that doesn’t come without changes as Herd general manager Dave Dean referred to when talking Margaret Naczek of the Oshkosh Northwestern back in late June:

"“We do need to send people home happy. They’re spending hard-earned money to see wins every night. I promise you we’re going to do a lot more of that this year,” Dean said."

Since the end of their second season, the Herd have made additions to their front office under Dean, hiring Arte Culver as Director of Basketball Operations and Peter Herman of Coordinator of Basketball Operations.

But the biggest development so far this offseason for the Herd has been the hiring of new head coach Chase Buford. Having worked his way up on through both the G League and the NBA level over the last several years, most recently acting as an assistant coach with the Delaware Blue Coats, Buford has now landed his first head coaching gig by joining the Bucks organization.

In Buford’s introductory press conference earlier this week, Dean glowed about what the addition of Buford will mean to the Herd, to the Bucks organization as a whole and the elements that drew the general manager to hiring the 30-year-old as the affiliate’s newest head coach, all of which which was relayed by Jordan Jacobson of the Appleton Post-Crescent:

"“Chase is an absolute slam dunk for us as a franchise and organization going forward,” Dean said. “Everything is about his background, who he is as a person, what he believes in, culture, accountability and communication is really on another level and I think he’s going to be a great partner. I know for myself, I know for the organization, from the Bucks to the Herd, we found a great one in Chase and we’re extremely excited to have him with us.”"

Buford provided a mission statement to what he’s personally looking to set out with the Herd under this opportunity, even going as far as setting his sights high in the goals he wants to achieve next season:

"“We’re going to work hard to develop our players, it will be the most important thing we do,” Buford said. “We’re going to teach, support and nurture them in every way we can. Ultimately, we want to build a group of competitors who will fight for each other, fight for the Herd each and every time we step out onto the floor.For a G League head coach, if you can lead the league in call-ups, you’re obviously doing something right and personally, I would love to see as many of our guys go on and make that next step in their career,” Buford said. “I want to be a great defensive team, top five in defense. We just want to come in and get better every day, just consistently improving.”"

We’ll wait patiently to see the roster that Dean and the rest of his front office craft over the coming weeks and months that will join two-way players Frank Mason III and Cam Reynolds as well as Luke Maye, who was reportedly signed to an Exhibit 10 deal after being a part of the Bucks’ Summer League squad in Las Vegas. That certainly includes those who may return from last year’s squad as well with the Herd holding their G League rights.

There may be a ways to go in the Herd being a true reflection of the Bucks as they look to raise themselves from the basement of the G League, but there’s nowhere else to go but up from here.