The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program has added another player from Australia to its roster for next season.

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Forward Isaac Riddle officially signed with the Badgers, giving Greg Gard and his staff another international piece as they continue to reshape the roster with a mix of experience, development, and long-term upside.

“Isaac comes in as one of the best young prospects in Australia with terrific potential as he goes down the path of development,” Gard said. “For our program, it’s a very good time to bring in a budding star from their national team and help Isaac with the next steps in his career.

“His length and athleticism are obvious, but his desire to grow and expand his game is impressive. We’re looking forward to getting to work with him in June.”

Riddle, a 6-foot-8 forward from Golden Grove, Australia, is coming to Madison with a résumé built on international competition and efficiency around the rim. At the 2025 FIBA Under-17 Oceania Cup, he averaged 14.0 points per game while shooting 67.4% from the field, a mark that ranked among the best in the tournament. Riddle also helped lead Australia to a gold medal at the 2023 FIBA Under-16 Asia Championship, further building a track record of winning on the international stage.

That profile fits with how Wisconsin has rounded out its roster this offseason, pairing a group of experienced players expected to carry the scoring load with a younger layer of pieces who make sense from a long-term and roster-balance standpoint and have room to develop.

“Honored to join & be part of the Wisconsin Badgers program,” Ruddle said. “Grateful for the opportunity to develop, compete, and represent such a proud basketball tradition. Thank you to everyone who helped along the journey so far. Looking forward to getting to work in Madison.”

Riddle is currently playing for the Center of Excellence in Australia’s NBL1 East league, a developmental league that has produced a few notable prospects but isn’t the highest level of competition. The early returns point to a player who brings good length, thrives off finishing plays at the rim, running the floor, and impacting the game with his athleticism and motor — even as there’s still plenty of room to refine his overall skill set.

He’s not being brought in to contribute right away.

What Riddle is, at least right now, is a developing forward with tools. Someone who can score efficiently inside the arc, rebound his position, and bring energy on both ends. As Riddle transitions to the college level, the focus will be on adding strength, expanding his offensive skill set, and continuing to round out his game, particularly on the perimeter.

When you look at the roster he’s joining, that timeline makes sense.

Wisconsin’s frontcourt is expected to feature experienced options like Nolan Winter, Austin Rapp, and Will Garlock, along with portal addition Victory Onuetu. That kind of depth gives the staff flexibility to bring Riddle along at the right pace, allowing him to develop without the pressure of immediate production. His energy on the scout team and reps against Big Ten-caliber frontcourt players should help everyone improve.

He becomes part of a larger group of newcomers that includes Trey Autry, Eian Elmer, Owen Foxwell, LaTrevion Fenderson, Josh Manchester, and Jackson Ball, as the Badgers continue to build out a roster designed with hopes to compete now while also sustaining success in the future.

Riddle fits into the latter part of that equation.

He’s a long-term play. A player with the physical tools and international background that give him a foundation to build on, even if the finished product is still a ways away. It’s a low-risk addition, and the truth is, anyone who says they know exactly what he’ll become at this stage is guessing. But if the development hits, there’s a world where he grows into someone who can give you meaningful minutes over time. Time will tell.

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The Wisconsin men’s basketball program has added another in-state talent to its roster for next season.

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Mount Horeb standout guard Josh Manchester announced his commitment to the Wisconsin Badgers, giving Greg Gard and his staff a high-scoring backcourt piece to develop for the future as they continue to reshape the roster and build toward the next phase of the program.

“We’re excited to have Josh join our program,” Gard said. “As we continue to intentionally build out our roster, it’s vital to have players in a variety of roles. Josh appreciates and understands the work and development that his role will require. He’s got a competitor’s mindset paired with a knack for scoring, as witnessed by him being amongst the top 10 scorers in Wisconsin high school history. He comes from an excellently coached high school program and a basketball family.

“Josh is really fired up to be a Badger. We can’t wait for him to arrive on campus this summer and get to work preparing for the coming season. We’re looking forward to helping Josh launch his college career!”

Manchester, a 6-foot-3 combo guard, brings one of the most decorated scoring resumes in the state. He averaged 30.1 points per game as a senior, according to UW’s press release, and was a finalist for the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association’s Mr. Basketball award. In the process, Manchester finished with 2,534 career points, becoming the all-time leading scorer at Mount Horeb and the 10th-most in state history.

That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident.

Manchester has been on Wisconsin’s radar for multiple years, making visits to Madison and building familiarity with the program. He also competed on the Nike EYBL circuit with Team Herro, giving the staff another extended look at his game against high-level competition. But when the offer finally came, the fit was already there, and things moved quickly.

He chose Wisconsin over offers from programs such as East Tennessee State, Northern Illinois, Siena, and UW-Green Bay, as well as late interest from several high-major programs. For an in-state prospect who has long envisioned himself playing for the Badgers, the decision made sense.

And from Wisconsin’s perspective, it aligns with what this staff has been trying to do.

The Badgers are in the middle of rebuilding their roster, balancing retention, portal additions, and high school recruiting as they reshape the roster. Adding Manchester gives them a developmental guard that works hard, can shoot, and has a proven track record of carrying an offense.

He’ll join a 2026 class that already includes in-state forward LaTrevion Fenderson, a familiar name to Manchester from their time together on the AAU circuit. That continuity matters, especially as Wisconsin continues to emphasize fit and culture alongside talent. The Badgers have also added international backcourt pieces in New Zealand guard Jackson Ball and Australia’s Owen Foxwell, who, at 22 years old, is expected to arrive with a more experienced profile and likely won’t have four years of eligibility.

Beyond the high school and international additions, the roster is coming together, with a mix of returning players such as Nolan Winter, Austin Rapp, Jack Janicki, Hayden Jones, Zach Kinziger, and Will Garlock, as well as portal pickups Eian Elmer, Trey Autry, and Victory Onuetu.

Manchester adds another layer to that build.

He’s a volume scorer by nature, but there’s more to his game than just putting the ball in the basket. Manchester is a high-IQ guard with deep range from beyond the arc who can play on or off the ball, attack closeouts, and finish through contact when the opportunity is there. At the next level, the focus will shift to adding strength and refining his game as he adjusts to a different type of role and finds ways to make an impact.

But the foundation is there.

From a roster-building standpoint, this matters, too. Bringing in an in-state player who takes pride in representing where he’s from not only helps balance resources as programs manage the realities of today’s landscape, but also gives the staff a player they’ve evaluated closely and can develop over time. In a sport defined by constant turnover, those types of culture pieces tend to carry more value than they’re often given credit for.

For a coaching staff focused on building the right way and honoring the program’s history, while also operating within the realities of the current college basketball landscape, adding an in-state player with production, familiarity with Wisconsin, and shooting upside simply makes sense.

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The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program officially retained its top priority in the frontcourt this offseason.

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Nolan Winter announced that he is returning to Madison for the 2026–27 season, giving Greg Gard a cornerstone piece to build around as Wisconsin reshapes the roster. Winter’s decision to remain a Badger for life carries more weight than anything else they’ve done thus far.

“BADGER NATION, I’M BACK,” Winter wrote. “At the end of the day, I couldn’t picture myself anywhere other than with the Wisconsin Badgers. From the moment I stepped on campus, this program has pushed me to grow not only as a player, but as a person. The coaching staff believes in me, my teammates have become family, and the fans show up every night.

“There’s a standard here, a pride in wearing “Wisconsin” across your chest, and that means everything to me. I’m grateful for this place and excited to keep building, keep competing, and give everything I have for this team and city.”

In an era where loyalty is often defined by doing what’s best for you and your family financially, Winter took a slightly different path, staying the course for all four years at Wisconsin while steadily developing his game. It’s a reflection of a program and player who’ve invested in one another.

That context makes what Wisconsin is navigating this offseason worth paying attention to, especially with Winter positioned to provide continuity in the locker room and help carry the program’s culture forward.

The Badgers entered the offseason with plenty of turnover to navigate, starting with the graduation of senior starters Nick Boyd, an All-Big Ten selection, Andrew Rohde, and Braeden Carrington, who served as an important piece off the bench. From there, star combo guard John Blackwell chose to go through the NBA Draft process, enter the transfer portal, and ultimately signed with Duke, further reshaping the roster.

If the Wisconsin Badgers had lost Winter too, they wouldn’t have been building around much of anything. They would have been starting from scratch. Instead, the 7-foot big man stands as the lone returning starter from a team that earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

That said, Winter didn’t just take a step forward last season. He became one of the most efficient frontcourt players in the Big Ten, and the progression didn’t happen overnight. As a freshman, his PRPG sat at 0.6 before climbing to 3.5 as a sophomore and 4.6 as a junior, according to BartTorvik, reflecting a steady rise in Winter’s impact and usage within the Badgers offense.

The production followed that same trajectory. After averaging 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds as a sophomore on 56.3% shooting from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc, the Minnesota native jumped to 13.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 56.9% from the field across 31 appearances, cementing himself as a dependable frontcourt presence.

Efficiency wasn’t just a part of his game. It defined it.

He posted a 133.4 offensive rating, per T-rank. The Lakeville North standout finished with 12 double-doubles, the third-most by a Wisconsin player since 2000. And then there’s the number that really makes you pause.

Winter shot 70.1% on two-point attempts. In a league like the Big Ten, where a lot of possessions feel like they’re being played in a phone booth, that kind of efficiency is almost unheard of. In fact, no qualifying Big Ten player had hit that mark inside the arc since the 1986–87 season.

That’s not just productive. That’s remarkably efficient. And in Gard’s offense, which is built around pace, high-percentage looks at the rim, and floor spacing, it’s hard to imagine a better fit. He can run the floor, finish inside, and has already proven he can stretch the defense when needed.

So when you talk about roster construction, you’re not just talking about bringing back a high-quality starter. You’re talking about keeping a foundational piece — especially at a time when proven big men are commanding a premium on the open market.

Winter is a player that Gard can point to when recruiting in the transfer portal as someone to build around and an example of the program’s player development.

Which is exactly what they’ve done.

The Badgers had no choice but to be aggressive in the portal, and it’s not hard to see why. There’s a significant amount of production walking out the door, with as many as four starting spots being replaced heading into next season. That kind of turnover forced their hand. The frontcourt still needs another plug-and-play option following the departures of Aleksas Bieliauskas, Riccardo Greppi, and Jack Robison, all of whom transferred.

But the cupboards aren’t bare.

With Winter back in the fold, along with Austin Rapp — who has already announced his return — and Will Garlock, Wisconsin is expected to retain three rotational forwards. When you factor in the expected return of Jack Janicki, Hayden Jones, and Zach Kinziger on the perimeter and add in two incoming freshmen in the 2026 class, Jackson Ball and in-state forward LaTrevion Fenderson, along with international point guard Owen Foxwell, you can start to see the vision for next season’s team coming together.

From there, the staff has worked to supplement that group through the portal to fill gaps, adding Hofstra big man Victory Onuetu, Miami (OH) wing Eian Elmer, and George Washington guard Trey Autry to round out the roster and provide experienced depth across multiple spots.

It’s not a finished product. Not even close. But it’s a good start. And in today’s college basketball landscape, Winter’s retention might be the difference between simply reworking the roster with a few targeted players who fit your system and having to tear it down and start over.

Keeping Winter doesn’t solve everything. It doesn’t replace all of the production the Badgers lost. But it keeps Wisconsin from drifting into uncertainty without a compass. As the saying goes, sometimes the most important additions you make in the offseason are the players you keep.

Winter’s decision to spend his entire career in one place is becoming increasingly rare. It’s a reminder of what college basketball used to look like — and a chance to appreciate a player and a program that chose to see it through together.

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If you want to understand why Wisconsin men’s basketball targeted Eian Elmer, you have to start with how this offense is built to function.

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Because not all spacing is created equal.

That’s where Elmer separates himself from a typical transfer portal addition. This signing wasn’t just a move to add a perimeter option. This was a targeted addition that aligns with what this staff values offensively and what they believe translates to winning games in their system.

Start with what you already know.

Elmer averaged 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game last season at Miami (OH), doing it on 49.8% shooting from the field and 42.9% from three on volume. He attempted 285 shots, with 168 of them coming from three, meaning nearly 59% of his looks came from behind the arc.

That’s a clear identity.

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At some point, building a roster for Wisconsin basketball stops being about adding more skill and starts being about filling in what’s missing.

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That’s where Victory Onuetu comes into the picture.

This isn’t about Wisconsin expanding the offensive arsenal or finding another player to stretch the floor. It’s about balance. It’s about having a frontcourt piece who can do the things that don’t always show up in the box score but tend to matter over the course of a Big Ten season.

And that’s where Onuetu’s value starts to come into focus as he enters his final year of eligibility.

Start with the baseline. At 6-foot-11, 235 pounds with a long wingspan, Onuetu brings a physical presence that Wisconsin hasn’t consistently had down low, and historically hasn’t prioritized, in its frontcourt.

In 35 appearances at Hofstra, Onuetu averaged 4.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in just under 18 minutes per game while shooting 56.6% from the field, doing all of his work around the rim. According to Barttorvik, he also posted a 0.8 PRPG with a 109.8 offensive rating.

The production is modest. The impact isn’t. Because when you dig into Onuetu’s advanced data, the on-court identity becomes clear.

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The Wisconsin men’s basketball program has added some size and an important piece from the transfer portal.

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Miami (OH) wing Eian Elmer committed to the Badgers coming off his official visit to Madison, giving Greg Gard and his staff a player who checks a lot of boxes in terms of fit, production, and overall skill set.

“We are really excited to add another excellent addition to our spring signees,” Gard said in a press release. “Eian brings a wealth of experience and scoring punch as a 6-7 wing. He played on one of the country’s most successful teams at Miami (Ohio) that won 32 games. A terrific shooter, his skillset and production fit excellently into our plan as we build out next year’s team. Throughout our evaluation process our staff loved his size, power and skill and truly believe he will thrive in our system.

“We can’t wait to get Eian to Madison in June to join all his teammates as preparation begins for what appears to be another exciting Badger team.”

Elmer becomes the third transfer addition for Wisconsin this offseason, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry and Hofstra big man Victory Onuetu as the Badgers continue to shape their roster.

At 6-foot-7, Elmer brings the kind of size on the wing that Wisconsin has been looking to add, but it’s not just about the frame. It’s how he plays within it.

During his junior season at Miami (OH), Elmer averaged 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while logging over 30 minutes a night and starting every contest for a team that went 32-2 and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. He did it efficiently, shooting 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from three on volume. That combination alone makes it valuable.

But there’s more to it than just shooting.

The shooting profile is real, too. During his junior season, 168 of his 285 shot attempts came from beyond the arc, meaning 58.9% of his shots were threes. For his career, that number sits at 51.2%, with 375 of his 732 total attempts coming from deep, where he’s connected at a 41.3% clip.

Elmer is the type of player who impacts the game without needing the ball to stick. He rebounds his position pretty well, defends with length, and understands how to play within a team-centric offensive system.

And that’s not by accident.

“He rebounds, he defends, he can score, he can shoot, he can do a lot of things well,” Miami (OH) head coach Travis Steele said of Elmer. “Eian impacts the game in every way possible.”

According to Barttorvik, he posted a 2.3 PRPG along with a 120.5 offensive rating, reinforcing just how effective he was in his role. Elmer did it with a 17.4% usage rate and a 64.2% true shooting percentage, a mark that would have ranked second among Wisconsin’s rotation players last season behind only Nolan Winter, which gives you a good sense of the efficiency he brings to the table and how effective he was at Miami (OH).

And that’s where the fit starts to come into focus.

Wisconsin isn’t asking Elmer to come in and be the guy the same way transfers like AJ Storr, John Tonje, or Nick Boyd carried that kind of scoring load. With Winter and Austin Rapp anchoring a frontcourt that can both stretch the floor and create space, and with Australian point guard Owen Foxwell arriving from the NBL to help orchestrate the offense and get others involved, the need shifts to players who can complement that structure.

Elmer fits that mold to a T, and there’s still reason to believe there could be more to unlock offensively within a more defined role.

He’s a connective piece. Someone who can knock down open shots, keep the offense moving, and provide defensive versatility on the wing. In a system that relies heavily on ball screens and spacing, having five players who can shoot and make quick decisions is critical, and Elmer fits that.

There’s a role here, and it’s a meaningful one.

Elmer projects as someone who can step into the starting lineup immediately, provide stability, and give Wisconsin another reliable option on the perimeter. Every team in college basketball is looking for players with his combination of size and shooting ability, which only adds to the appeal.

He’s already proven capable of handling significant minutes at a winning program, and with this being his final year of eligibility, Elmer profiles as someone who will step into a starting role while providing the staff with a dependable presence on the wing as they look to build a roster that can both develop as the season goes along and compete right away.

In a transfer portal cycle where fit and NIL resource allocation matter just as much as talent, this is the kind of addition that feels like a home run. And more often than not, those are the ones that end up mattering most.

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The Wisconsin men’s basketball program has added another piece to its frontcourt, one that looks a little different than what’s already in place.

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That signing comes in the form of Hofstra transfer Victory Onuetu, who committed to the Badgers following a visit to campus as Greg Gard and his staff continue to round out the roster heading into next season.

Onuetu becomes the second transfer addition for Wisconsin this cycle, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry.

“Having Victory coming to our program is a terrific addition to our team,” Gard said in a press release. “He’s an extremely talented, athletic front line player that gives us excellent rim pressure in transition, lob threats in the half court, shot blocking capability and relentless rebounding.

“In addition to complimenting our roster plan very well, he is an extraordinary person who Badger fans are going to love getting to know. We can’t wait until we can begin working with him when he arrives in June.”

At 22 years old, the 6-foot-11 big man arrives in Madison after taking a unique path to playing college basketball. A native of Málaga, Spain, he didn’t go through the traditional recruiting process. Instead, he developed through Spain’s national system and competed on the international stage before landing at Hofstra for his first college season. During Onuetu’s time in Spain, he also played alongside Brad Davison, now an assistant coach at Wisconsin.

The numbers from Onuetu’s lone season at Hofstra don’t jump off the page at first glance, but the role tells the story.

In 35 appearances, including 17 starts, Onuetu averaged 4.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in just under 18 minutes per game. He shot 56.6% from the field, doing all of his work around the rim, and finished as one of Hofstra’s top rebounders while anchoring the interior defensively.

That’s the appeal.

And when you dig into the advanced numbers, that profile becomes even clearer. According to Barttorvik, Onuetu posted a 0.8 PRPG with a 109.8 offensive rating, but it’s the underlying rates that really stand out. He recorded a 17.0% offensive rebounding rate, a 24.7% defensive rebounding rate, and a 6.7% block percentage, numbers that help paint a much clearer picture of what he’s coming to Wisconsin to do.

Onuetu isn’t being brought in to stretch the floor or carry any kind of offensive load. He attempted zero three-pointers last season and shot under 50% from the free-throw line. That part of his game is what it is. But what he does bring is size, physicality, and a willingness to do the dirty work that every roster needs, especially in a league like the Big Ten.

With Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp expected back in the fold, Wisconsin already has frontcourt pieces who can stretch the floor and play within its spacing-based system. The staff also retained Middleton native Will Garlock, who still has intriguing upside but remains a work in progress.

That’s part of what makes Onuetu’s addition make sense.

It gives Wisconsin another frontcourt piece who can compete for minutes, raise the floor of the room, and push that group forward collectively. Because while the Badgers have pieces in place, what they didn’t necessarily have was a true interior presence who could come in, rebound, protect the rim, and change the tone physically in short bursts.

That’s where Onuetu fits.

He gives the Badgers a different look. Someone who can battle on the glass, contest shots at the rim, and provide depth behind a group that leaned heavily on versatility a season ago. Following the departures of bigs like Aleksas Bieliauskas and Riccardo Greppi to the transfer portal, there was a clear need to add another couple of bodies to the rotation.

Not every addition is about upside or expanding the offense. Sometimes it’s about rounding out the roster. Onuetu projects as a depth piece, someone who can step in and push for a limited rotation role and give you physical minutes when needed. If everything clicks, there’s a path for him to carve out a consistent role as a rebounder and rim protector. And even if that role remains situational, there’s still value in what he brings.

Having an older player like Onuetu, with international experience, who understands how to play hard, defend, and compete without needing the ball, matters. It shows up in practice. It shows up in preparation. And over the course of a long season, it tends to matter more than people think.

This isn’t a move that defines a roster on its own. But it’s one that can help stabilize things in Wisconsin’s frontcourt and raise the floor over time.

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There’s a difference between adding production and adding purpose. For the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program, the addition of George Washington transfer guard Trey Autry feels a lot more like the latter.

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This isn’t a move where you’re projecting a player into a role and hoping it sticks. The role is already defined. The question is how efficiently he can execute it. And historically, that’s where Autry has been at his best.

Start with the surface-level numbers. Autry averaged 11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game last season while starting all 34 contests and logging just under 29 minutes a night. He shot 43.5% from the field and 38.5% from three on more than six attempts per game.

That’s a solid baseline.

But the deeper you dig, the clearer the picture becomes.

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The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program has added a transfer portal guard from the mid-major ranks.

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The Badgers landed a commitment from former George Washington guard Trey Autry. This move gives Greg Gard and his staff another experienced perimeter piece who understands how to play within a role. The news was first reported by Matt Zenitz and confirmed by BadgerNotes.

“We are very excited to have Trey coming to Wisconsin,” Gard said . “He brings some size, physicality, and experience to our backcourt. As a son of a coach, his basketball IQ is high and his ability to stretch defenses from 3 is a great asset to our offensive balance.

“We are looking forward to beginning preparation for next season when he gets to Madison this summer.”

Autry, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound guard, comes to Madison after appearing in 100 career games with 68 starts across three seasons at George Washington. This past year, he started all 34 games, averaging 11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in just under 29 minutes per game.

The production is solid. The efficiency is what stands out.

Autry shot 43.5% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc on high volume, attempting more than six threes per game. He finished fifth in the Atlantic 10 in total made threes with 84, despite taking the second-most attempts in the conference. And the consistency for Autry was there, too, knocking down at least one 3-pointer in 31 of 34 games last season.

This is a player who knows exactly what he is.

"His shot-making numbers are incredible,” George Washington coach Chris Caputo said of Autry. “He’s just not a mistake player, rarely a guy who does something outside of himself, and because of that, just incredibly efficient.”

More than 75% of Autry’s field goal attempts across his college career have come from 3-point range (498 attempts), and he’s converted at a 37.6% clip over that span. Autry is a perimeter-oriented guard who thrives as a spot-up option and has developed into a reliable scoring threat.

According to Barttorvik, Autry posted a 2.8 PRPG with a 125.4 offensive rating while operating at a modest 15.3% usage rate. That combination reinforces what the eye test shows. He’s efficient, he plays within himself, and he doesn’t need the ball to impact winning.

So where does he fit?

There’s a clear parallel to what Wisconsin got from senior guard Braeden Carrington a season ago. An experienced player stepping into a defined role, bringing shooting and stability off the bench, and understanding how to complement the pieces around him. And when you look at George Washington’s roster makeup, with eight players averaging 8.0 points or more per game, it suggests Autry comes from a culture that encouraged operating within a team-first structure rather than isolation basketball.

With players like Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp expected back to anchor Wisconsin’s frontcourt, along with Australian point guard Owen Foxwell facilitating and creating looks, the value of another perimeter shooter becomes obvious. Autry gives the Badgers coaching staff the ability to keep spacing intact and maintain the offensive flow when rotations shift.

He also adds another veteran presence who can lead by example and create more competition for minutes in the backcourt with returning options like Jack Janicki, Hayden Jones, and Zach Kinziger, as well as incoming freshmen LaTrevion Fenderson and Jackson Ball.

And that’s where this addition starts to matter more than it might seem.

In a system that continues to lean into pace, spacing, and shot creation through a European-influenced ball-screen continuity offense, having multiple shooting threats on the floor at all times is critical. Wisconsin finished 10th in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency last season, and if the goal is to maintain that standard, additions like this make a lot of sense.

Autry projects as someone who can come off the bench, provide instant offense, and keep defenses honest without disrupting the group’s rhythm. There’s also value in the experience piece. With over 100 Division I games under his belt, Autry fits what this staff has clearly prioritized: keeping the roster older and more reliable. The less projection involved, the better.

He’s not being brought in to take over games. He’s being brought in to fill a defined role and help finish them. And in an offense that continues to lean more and more into the three-point shot, that role carries real value.

Wisconsin averaged 32 three-point attempts per game last season, ranking seventh nationally, so having another high-volume shooter who can step in and let it fly fits exactly with where this system is headed.

For a roster that’s still taking shape, that kind of addition makes a lot of sense.

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There’s a difference between filling a roster and shaping one. Right now, Wisconsin men’s basketball feels like it’s leaning toward the latter.

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With Austin Rapp already announcing his return and expectations that Nolan Winter, Jack Janicki, Hayden Jones, Zach Kinziger, and Will Garlock will also be back, along with Australian point guard Owen Foxwell and incoming freshmen LaTrevion Fenderson and Jackson Ball, the foundation is starting to take shape. That matters. Because then the staff’s conversation shifts internally from “who’s left?” to “what do you add?”

Wisconsin also doesn’t have the spending power that many of its Big Ten counterparts operate with, which means every move Greg Gard and Marc VandeWettering make has to be intentional. The fit, the analytics, and the NIL investment all have to align before pulling the trigger on a transfer.

And that’s where things start to get interesting, with Wisconsin in the mix for a number of portal targets worth taking a closer look at.

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The Wisconsin men’s basketball program has its first retention win of the offseason.

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Austin Rapp announced his plan to “Run it back ❤️” on social media, signaling he’s put pen to paper on a new deal for the 2026–27 season and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

That matters more than it might seem on the surface.

In a stretch where roster turnover has become the norm and frontcourt pieces like Aleksas Bieliauskas and Riccardo Greppi have already entered the transfer portal, getting Rapp back gives Greg Gard and his coaching staff something to build around instead of starting from scratch.

And when you zoom out, this isn’t just about continuity. It’s about betting on a player who already showed you what the ceiling can look like.

Rapp’s first season in Madison didn’t follow a straight line. It rarely does for transfers making the jump into the Big Ten, especially when you’re a 6-foot-10 forward expected to space the floor and hold your own physically.

He came in with real expectations after a freshman year at Portland, where Rapp averaged 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds, won WCC Freshman of the Year, and established himself as one of the more unique shooting bigs in the country. Wisconsin saw that skill set and envisioned a frontcourt piece that could stretch defenses and open everything else up.

Early on, though, the adjustment was challenging.

The physicality, the speed, the nightly grind of playing the Big Ten exposed some things. His role shifted. The production dipped at times. Rapp battled through a lower-body injury and a lingering illness, which disrupted any chance to find a rhythm. There was a point where Rapp wasn’t just struggling — he was trying to find his place entirely.

Then something clicked.

Down the stretch, Rapp started to look like the player Wisconsin thought it was getting. The shot came back, and when it did, it came in bunches. He hit five threes against Ohio State in a first-half scoring burst. He gave them 18 off the bench in a road upset at Illinois. He followed it with efficient shooting nights against Iowa and Purdue. And in the Big Ten Tournament, Rapp caught fire against Michigan, knocking down six straight triples in a second-half surge in the semifinal that flipped the game.

That version of Rapp changes things.

For the season, the Australian big man averaged 9.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 36.3% from beyond the arc. Among players 6-foot-10 or taller, he ranked near the top nationally in made threes per game (1.9). And when Rapp scored in double figures, Wisconsin was 12-2.

That’s not a coincidence. That’s impact.

According to Barttorvik, Rapp finished with a 2.6 PRPG, which ranked fourth on the team behind only Nick Boyd, John Blackwell, and Nolan Winter, while posting a 120.1 offensive rating.

Now, heading into Rapp’s junior season, the conversation shifts. This isn’t about whether or not he can adjust. He’s already done that. It’s about what happens when a player with that kind of shooting ability, at that size, pairs it with a full offseason in the program and a clearer role. And just as importantly, it’s about the way he got there. Rapp didn’t pout when his role changed. He took the hard coaching, continued to develop his game as the season wore on, and showed real growth on both ends of the floor.

“The jump Austin’s made? Tremendous,” Gard said after the loss to Michigan. “It’s not just the 3-point shooting. Everybody gets caught up in that, but it’s the other parts of his game that have grown — the defensive awareness, the embracing of physicality, the importance of rebounding. All the things that have nothing to do with shooting have improved, which have helped make him a better shooter and a more confident player.

“His growth has been terrific, and that’s a credit to him to stay true to it. He started early in the year, and he wasn’t ready for that. I thought we needed to make a change. He’s taken that and used it to his advantage, grown his game, and improved immensely as a player.”

With plenty of pieces to replace and a frontcourt still taking shape, Rapp becomes the first real building block. There’s plenty of optimism internally that Winter and Will Garlock will also be back. However, even with that, Wisconsin still needs to add depth and experience to the rotation, whether that comes from the transfer portal or overseas. Not just a returning player, but someone who can step in and play real minutes.

And if the second half of last season was any indication, Wisconsin may be getting back a player whose best basketball is still in front of him.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.

You can also follow Site Publisher Dillon Graff at @DillonGraff on X.

The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program lost another starter to the transfer portal.

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This time, it’s forward Aleksas Bieliauskas, who is expected to move on after spending one season in Madison, leaving Greg Gard and his staff with another frontcourt piece to replace as they reshape the roster.

Bieliauskas’ departure doesn’t come as a major surprise, but it does come with real substance. The 6-foot-10 Lithuanian was asked to grow up quickly in his first season of college basketball, appearing in all 35 games and earning 28 starts as a true freshman. He averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 43.1% from the field and 34.6% from beyond the arc, including a strong stretch of 37% 3-point shooting in Big Ten play.

That matters in this system.

Wisconsin has leaned into spacing more than ever, and Bieliauskas showed flashes of being able to function within that structure. He wasn’t a high-usage player, but he understood where to be, how to keep the ball moving, and when to take what the defense gave him.

There were moments where it clicked, including a career-high 17-point outing in a road win over Michigan and a 16-point outburst against Purdue on the road that showed what it could look like when everything came together.

But zoom out, and this becomes less about what he was and more about what the path forward looked like.

At 20 years old, Bieliauskas arrived from Lithuania with professional experience under his belt. However, he was still early in his development relative to some of the other international additions that Wisconsin targeted. He was learning on the fly, adjusting to the physicality and pace of the college game while carving out a role that, at times, felt more complementary in nature than foundational to the Badgers’ success.

But that progression was evident to the coaching staff.

“I can’t be more proud of him, of how he’s just stayed the course,” Gard said of Bieliauskas. “He’s tough, he wants to get better. He’s just thirsting for knowledge and instruction. I’m just so happy for him. In a short period of time, he’s progressed and really immersed himself in the team.”

And heading into next season, the picture in the frontcourt was starting to get crowded.

If Wisconsin is able to retain its top priorities, Nolan Winter projects as a centerpiece for the Badgers. Austin Rapp, who settled in and improved drastically as the season went on, gives them another floor-spacing option in the frontcourt. Add in a year of growth from a younger piece like Will Garlock and any potential additions from the transfer portal, and you start to see where an expanded role could become harder to come by.

That’s the reality of it.

For Bieliauskas, the question likely became whether there was a clear path to a larger role, or whether his development might be better served in a different situation. In today’s landscape, those kinds of decisions happen quickly, and they don’t always come with a long runway.

For Wisconsin, it’s another reminder of how fluid roster construction has become. The Badgers are now looking at a group that has already seen multiple departures, including starters like Bieliauskas and star guard John Blackwell, with more work to be done as the transfer portal cycle unfolds.

What they’ve shown, though, is a willingness to adapt, whether that’s leaning into the international market, targeting experienced players, or reshaping the frontcourt to better align with how they want to play.

That said, Bieliauskas’ exit fits into that larger picture.

He gave Wisconsin meaningful minutes as a freshman (20.1 per game), handled a role that expanded as the season went on, and showed enough to suggest there’s more in his game to unlock. But this is a transactional sport now, and he came in and did what this staff needed from him in his one year, which is about all you can realistically ask.

When you’re operating with a limited pool of resources, you have to make decisions on where your priorities lie. Wisconsin has already seen Jack Robison and Riccardo Greppi enter the portal this offseason, and with a roster being retooled in real time, not every piece is guaranteed to carry over. And now, both sides will move forward in search of the right fit.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.

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It’s one thing to lose in the NCAA Tournament in Round 1 and spend the weeks that follow picking apart what went wrong on the court. It’s another to hear your head coach explain, in plain terms, the financial environment his program is trying to navigate while doing it.

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That’s where this conversation gets more interesting.

Because when Greg Gard recently discussed the Wisconsin men’s basketball team’s offseason approach, the takeaway wasn’t panic. It was clarity. The Badgers’ staff knows exactly what they are up against. They know what they need to improve on after a season that ended in a 5-12 upset loss to High Point. And they know that they are operating in a market where keeping up financially is a fight that never really stops.

“You have to have a top 10 offense, and you have to get your defense close to the top 25,” Gard explained. “Obviously, we were not in the top 25 defensively. So, those are the things that you continue to evaluate and tweak, and some of it’s the adjustment of different personnel.”

That part matters because it reminds you this offseason isn’t just about money. It is also about fit, identity, and correcting what held Wisconsin back. The Badgers had a top-10 offense in the country a year ago, but the defensive tradeoff eventually caught up with them, finishing No. 55 in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency. Gard knows that. He owned it.

So, Wisconsin’s roster construction from here has to reflect it. But it would be naive to act as if the basketball conversation exists in a vacuum.

Under the new revenue-sharing model, programs work with a capped pool — roughly $20.5 million annually — that is distributed across sports, with Wisconsin men’s basketball projected to receive around 15–16% of that as a baseline. But anything beyond that number, which is necessary to stay competitive in today’s market, has largely been up to Gard and his staff to raise on their own through NIL donors and outside support.

This is also about what resources Wisconsin men’s basketball is actually working with and what it has had to do behind the scenes to keep pace. Gard said out loud what most fans already suspected: the Badgers aren’t operating with an NIL budget that ranks in the top third of the Big Ten.

“We’re continually trying to grow it, through third-party and outside donations,” Gard said of Wisconsin’s NIL funds. “It’s grown exponentially. It’s grown almost 15 to 20-fold, I would say, since its start. But the market has gone bananas. It’s gone up another 35 this year from last year.

“You’ve had to keep growing it to keep your head above water. And we’re not anywhere near the top of our league. But we have been able to grow it and put it in a good position. With how the market is playing out and even retention has taken a huge jump, there are challenges that come with it.”

That is probably the most revealing part of all of this, even if it doesn’t come as a surprise. Wisconsin’s staff has not been sitting around waiting for help to arrive. They have clearly put in real work to grow that number. But there is a substantial difference between growth and advantage.

There is a difference between increasing your program’s NIL budget and actually gaining ground in a conference where others are spending at a different level. It’s not just theoretical anymore. Wisconsin saw it play out in real time when star guard John Blackwell entered the transfer portal.

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A University of Wisconsin men’s basketball star is set to test the NBA waters again this offseason — but this time, with another layer added to the process.

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John Blackwell announced that he’s entering his name into the 2026 NBA Draft while also planning to enter the transfer portal, beginning what will once again be an important evaluation period for one of the Big Ten’s most productive guards.

“After a lot of thought and prayer with my family, I want to share that I won’t be returning to play for the Badgers next season,” Blackwell wrote. “I plan to ENTER THE NBA DRAFT AND THE TRANSFER PORTAL as I explore every opportunity to take the next step in my career.

“This was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make because my experience here has been nothing short of incredible. The work I’ve put in alongside the guidance and direction I’ve received from Coach Gard and his staff has helped me grow into a player I didn’t know I could become. But that growth is exactly what’s driving this decision. I believe I owe it to myself and my family to chase the highest level I can reach, and this is the right time to take that step and leap of faith.

“My time in Madison has truly changed my life. Through every high and every tough loss, Badger Nation showed up with unwavering support. I’m beyond grateful—and I’ll carry that with me always.

“My prayer is that you understand my decision. Madison will always be a second home to me for the rest of my life. This place and this community will always be part of who I am. Thank you for everything!”

While the situation is different this time around, parts of this process aren’t unfamiliar.

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The path that led Owen Foxwell to the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program doesn’t look like your typical recruiting story.

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It’s not built on AAU circuits, the transfer portal, or late summer rankings bumps. It’s built on five years of professional basketball, more than 100 games against grown men, and a steady climb from development player to starting point guard in one of the better leagues outside the NBA.

And now, that path runs through Madison.

Foxwell, a 22-year-old lefty guard from Australia, arrives at Wisconsin after averaging 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game this past season with South East Melbourne Phoenix. He shot 41.1% from the field, 35.2% from three, and finished with 125 assists to 43 turnovers.

It’s production. But more than that, it’s experience.

So when the opportunity came to leave that environment and take on college basketball, the decision wasn’t just about timing. It was about fit.

“The fit was perfect,” Foxwell told BadgerNotes. “Talking to coach Krabb [Krabbenhoft], he instilled a lot of confidence that Wisconsin would have success with me being a key contributor in the program, which was really important. The main reason that we all do this is to win and be successful on the court, and get a chance to play for a national championship.

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The Wisconsin men’s basketball team didn’t wait around for the transfer portal to officially open before making its next move.

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Instead, Greg Gard and his staff went the international route to add another piece to the 2026 recruiting class. And this one comes with a résumé that doesn’t look anything like a typical freshman.

Melbourne Phoenix point guard Owen Foxwell has committed to Wisconsin after flipping from LSU, according to a report from 247Sports’ Travis Branham, which cited his agency, ProMondo Sports.

The 22-year-old point guard arrives in Madison with five full seasons of professional experience in Australia’s NBL, bringing a level of maturity and live reps that is almost unheard of for an incoming freshman.

There’s less projection here and more proof. It’s production, with years of development on film, competing against professionals to be evaluated.

Foxwell averaged 11.1 points, 4.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game this past season while stepping into a full-time starting role for South East Melbourne Phoenix. The 6-foot-2 guard played 24.4 minutes per game, shot 41.1% from the field, 35.2% from three, and 80% from the free-throw line, all while keeping turnovers low at roughly 1.5 per game, posting a 125-to-43 assist-to-turnover ratio across 28 games.

That combination tells you a lot about the player before you even turn on the film. From my own evaluation, he’s extremely fast, crafty, with impressive floor vision and a clear feel for how to run a team. He relies on a floater when he gets into the lane, does a good job creating space with a stepback to get off a three, and profiles as a good shooter with room to grow in this system.

Defensively, he’s got quick feet and can stay in front, though at his size he can lean a little too much on reaching to generate steals. In the Big Ten, the question will be how consistently he can get over the top of screens, because if you gamble and miss, it can put your defense in a tough spot.

There’s also a level of built-in familiarity here, as Foxwell previously shared the floor with Wisconsin Badgers forward Austin Rapp during their time with South East Melbourne Phoenix in the NBL.

The version of Foxwell Wisconsin is getting didn’t show up overnight. His game has evolved year over year at the professional level.

Foxwell originally signed with the Melbourne Phoenix as an 18-year-old development player and gradually worked his way into a starting point guard role by the 2025-26 season. Along the way, the lefty guard logged more than 100 games in a professional league, spent time in New Zealand’s NBL, where he led the league in assists at 8.0 per game, and even debuted for the Australian Boomers at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. That’s no small feat.

So when Wisconsin brings him in as part of its 2026 class, the label may say freshman. The reality is something different. And he also joins a 2026 class that is starting to take on an identity. The Badgers have already signed New Zealand guard Jackson Ball, along with in-state forward LaTrevion Fenderson, giving this group a blend of international feel and homegrown presence that fits what this staff has been building toward.

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There’s a fine line between identity and imbalance, and the Wisconsin men’s basketball team spent most of the 2025-26 season walking it.

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A season filled with so much promise ended with an 83-82 loss to High Point in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament — a No. 5 seed bounced early, and a result that makes you reflect on a team that showed an incredibly high ceiling but ultimately fell short of expectations.

But if you zoom out, you start to see something more nuanced.

Because this wasn’t just about one game. It was about the trade-offs this team made that defined Wisconsin’s season.

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The Wisconsin men’s basketball staff isn’t done exploring opportunities within its 2026 recruiting class.

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In fact, the Wisconsin Badgers have now entered the mix for one of the most decorated in-state prospects available, extending a late scholarship offer to Zavier Zens out of Wisconsin Lutheran, as he shared on Instagram.

This move comes shortly after he reopened his recruitment following a release from his National Letter of Intent with Northern Iowa.

Timing matters here.

Zens had been committed to Northern Iowa since August 2025, but when longtime head coach Ben Jacobson left for the Utah State job, that changed everything. Suddenly, one of the most accomplished players in the state was back on the board — and programs didn’t waste time.

Before reopening his recruitment, Zens held offers from Colorado State, Northern Iowa, Buffalo, Miami (OH), Toledo, Wyoming, and Drake. Since then, Utah State, Wisconsin, and Illinois have all jumped into the mix.

And when you look at what Zens brings to the table, it’s not hard to understand why.

At 6-foot-7 and around 215 pounds, the Milwaukee native fits the mold of what this staff has leaned into — a skilled, versatile wing who can space the floor, make plays, and impact the game in multiple ways. This past season, Zens put together one of the more dominant years you’ll find at the high school level, averaging 23.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 61.8% from the field and 41.7% from three.

That’s not empty production, either.

He led Wisconsin Lutheran to a perfect 30-0 record and a third consecutive state title, earning Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year honors, Mr. Basketball, and honorable mention All-American recognition along the way. That’s a résumé that speaks for itself.

But beyond the numbers, it’s the skill set that stands out.

Zens can score at all three levels. He’s comfortable handling the ball. He sees the floor. And with his size on the wing, there’s a natural fit within what the Wisconsin Badgers want to do offensively — a system built around spacing, shooting, selflessness, and sound decision-making.

That matters.

Because when you look at how this roster is evolving, there’s a clear type.

The Badgers have already signed New Zealand guard Jackson Ball in the 2026 class, along with in-state forward LaTrevion Fenderson — two players who bring positional versatility and developmental upside. Adding someone like Zens would fall right in line with that approach.

And it also helps offset movement elsewhere.

With players like Jack Robison entering the transfer portal, there’s an opportunity to continue building out that wing depth with players who can grow into roles over time. Not every addition has to be plug-and-play. Some are about development. About fit. About building a foundation.

That’s where a player like Zens makes sense.

Now, this won’t be uncontested.

Illinois has already entered the picture, and there’s still the possibility of Zens following his previous coach to Utah State. Marquette is also believed to be in the mix and could present an appealing option for a number of reasons. This recruitment is going to have layers to it.

But for Wisconsin, there’s a bigger picture at play.

In-state recruiting still matters here. Maybe more than ever.

Finding players who understand the program, who are willing to work on their game, who buy into what Wisconsin asks of them — that’s how this thing has historically been built. And in an era dominated by the transfer portal, there’s still value in identifying and investing in players like that.

Especially when they have a skill set worth developing.

The transfer portal officially opens on April 7, and that’s where the bulk of the Badgers’ roster construction will take place. Wisconsin will build from the top down — starting with retaining its stars, then identifying impact additions, and finally filling the remaining scholarship spots.

But those open scholarships matter. And when Zens makes his way to Madison for an official visit, it’ll be another opportunity for the Badgers to make their case and sell him on long-term development within an offensive system that has proven it can maximize players with his profile.

Wisconsin’s staff had previously shown interest in Zens, and with the opportunity to circle back and re-evaluate, they’re now in a position to revisit that initial eval. He has taken a step forward over the course of his senior season, and this feels like the type of late-cycle opportunity where you take a calculated swing on a player whose game has clearly grown.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.

You can also follow Site Publisher Dillon Graff at @DillonGraff on X.

There’s something brewing in the state of Wisconsin right now, and if you’ve been paying attention, it’s hard to ignore.

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The 2027 class isn’t just solid for a group of in-state recruits — it’s loaded. Depending on where you look, you’re talking about four, maybe five in-state prospects carrying four-star grades, and six guys in the top 200, which isn’t something that happens here often. And when that kind of talent shows up in your backyard, it’s not just an opportunity. It’s a test.

Can you keep it at home?

That’s where things start with a player like Donovan Davis.

The 6-foot-7 forward out of Kaukauna (WI.) has established himself as one of the top players in the state, and now, the Wisconsin men’s basketball staff will have a chance to make a lasting impression. Davis has locked in an official visit to Madison on April 13, according to a report from Dushawn London. It will be the first of several stops he has lined up this spring.

That matters.

In recruiting, especially at the Power Four level, getting that first official visit isn’t everything. But it’s not nothing either. It gives Wisconsin the first real opportunity to set the tone, to lay out its vision, showcase what it has to offer, and to make a case before the rest of the field gets its turn.

And there will be plenty of competition.

Davis has visits scheduled with Iowa, Marquette, Nebraska, and Iowa State — programs that aren’t just kicking the tires here. Iowa State, in particular, has made a habit of coming into Wisconsin and leaving with top talent, landing the state’s No. 1 player in each of the last two cycles.

So no, this won’t be easy.

But Wisconsin does have something working in its favor — familiarity.

They were the first program to offer Davis back in June of 2024. He’s been on campus multiple times already. There’s a level of comfort there, and in today’s recruiting world, that still counts for something.

Now the question becomes whether they can turn that into momentum.

Because Davis isn’t just a name on a board. He’s a legitimate national prospect. A consensus top-35 player with a skill set that jumps out the moment you watch him. He averaged 21.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game during the high school season, leading Freedom to a 25-2 record and earning First Team All-State honors.

And on the EYBL circuit with Team Herro, he’s held his own against high-level competition, averaging 12.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and nearly three assists per game across the sessions Davis played in last summer.

That’s production. That’s versatility. That’s a player who impacts the game in multiple ways. Which is exactly why this recruitment is what it is.

For Greg Gard and his coaching staff, though, this is about more than just landing one player. It’s about positioning. High school recruiting still matters — especially when the talent is this close to home — but it doesn’t exist in a vacuum anymore. The transfer portal will dictate how the top of your roster is built. That’s just the reality of the sport right now.

So when you get into a recruitment like this, you’re not just selling an immediate opportunity. You’re selling development. Fit. A pathway.

And Wisconsin has shown it can do that — and they’ve built an offensive system that has produced high-level performers, with an up-tempo, spacing-based style that’s become increasingly attractive to players.

At the same time, they’ve cast a wide net across the state. Offers have gone out to names like Kager Knueppel (Wisconsin Lutheran), Jalen Brown (Wauwatosa West), Deuce McDuffie (Nicolet), and Jack Kohnen (Slinger). At the same time, the Badgers have also positioned themselves in regional battles, including for Minnesota prospect Baboucarr Ann.

No commitments yet in 2027. Still early.

But this is where it starts to take shape. Because Wisconsin’s staff absolutely wants to come out of this in-state class with a few key pieces — and if they can find a way to win some of these battles and keep that talent home, it changes the trajectory of the roster in a meaningful way.

And getting Davis on campus first? That’s a step in that direction.

Wisconsin might not be considered the favorite right now, but in today’s landscape, things can shift quickly — staffs change, the portal reshapes rosters and scholarship availability, and timelines move fast. A lot of this, especially as it pertains to the Badgers, is going to come down to timing.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.

You can also follow Site Publisher Dillon Graff at @DillonGraff on X.

There’s no good way to move on from a loss like the Wisconsin Badgers had in Round 1 against High Point, but in today’s college basketball landscape, you don’t really get the luxury of sitting idle for very long.

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The offseason starts the moment the clock hits zero — and if we’re being honest, it typically begins well before that. And for Wisconsin’s front office, that means balancing two things at once — acknowledging the frustration of another early NCAA Tournament exit while also recognizing that this program is still operating from a position of strength.

Because both can be true.

Greg Gard and his staff built a team this year that could score with anyone in the country. That wasn’t accidental. It was a conscious shift made over the last few years as they leaned into spacing, tempo, and offensive efficiency.

The result? A group that averaged 83.0 points per game, the program’s highest scoring output in more than five decades, and one of the most efficient offenses Wisconsin has had in the modern era.

They knew what they were building. And they’re owning it.

But the trade-off was real, too. Defensively, this wasn’t up to the standard Wisconsin has historically set. The balance wasn’t quite there. And in March, when possessions tighten and margins shrink, that showed up.

So now the question becomes simple. How do you maintain what made you dangerous as a team — while fixing what held you back?

That’s the puzzle this offseason.

And it starts, as it always does now, with retention.

There’s a strong belief internally that if Wisconsin can keep the right core pieces in place, they’ll once again be in position to go out and add impact talent through the portal. This staff has earned that benefit of the doubt.

They’ve adapted to this era as well as anyone — identifying fits, developing them, and, more often than not, hitting on key additions. You don’t have to look far for proof. AJ Storr. John Tonje. Nick Boyd. It’s not hard to sell that track record to players on the open market when you can point to what those guys were able to do in this system.

And it’s why there’s confidence they can do it again. With the transfer portal officially opening on April 7, what this staff targets this time around matters — because the needs are pretty clearly defined.

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