What to know about the 2025–26 Wisconsin men’s basketball roster

Wisconsin men’s basketball has finalized its roster for the 2025–26 season. Here's what to know about what Greg Gard and the Badgers coaching staff accomplished this offseason.

The Wisconsin Badgers basketball court at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Photo credit: Dillon Graff, Badgernotes.com.

The University of Wisconsin men's basketball team's roster for next season bears almost no resemblance to the one that came before it. Eleven players are out. Nine new faces are in. And now that the dust has settled, what’s left is a group that feels like a fresh start, but not a rebuild.

There’s real potential here. Maybe even enough for Wisconsin to get back to the NCAA Tournament and compete in the loaded Big Ten conference, with a roster built to take the next step in its offensive evolution. And if that comes to fruition, it’ll be a credit to the offseason Greg Gard and his coaching staff just put together.

Now that the Badgers' 2025–26 roster is finalized, I think it’s fair to say this was a strong offseason. Not perfect. Not revolutionary. But it checks enough boxes, upgrades enough spots, and leans enough into modern basketball principles that I’m comfortable saying it fits their new identity.

"Retention is the priority here at Wisconsin under Greg Gard," Joe Krabbenhoft said on The Swing. "Trying to resemble who we've always been in this new landscape. Being able to adapt and get really good players out of the portal is important, but never forgetting who you are and what got you here. That’s the core of who we are. Retention and high school recruiting are always at the top of the list."

There are a couple of main reasons I feel good about the final product, at least on paper: growth from within and complementary additions.

Let’s start with the growth. I’m genuinely excited to see the leap that John Blackwell and Nolan Winter are going to take entering their third year in the program. Both members of the Badgers' 2023 recruiting class have already shown flashes that suggest the best is yet to come.

And I cannot overstate how big of a win it was to retain both of them, especially after losing cornerstone pieces like Chucky Hepburn and AJ Storr to the transfer portal the offseason prior. Wisconsin was ready to keep these guys at all costs and invest in their own, which you love to see. In this era, taking care of your players first is how you keep culture intact. It’s how you get guys to show up and work hard every day without wondering who might be brought in to replace them.

Now, they’re poised to be centerpieces. Blackwell tested the NBA Draft process this offseason and came back knowing exactly what he needed to work on. As a sophomore, he started all 37 games and averaged 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. Now, Blackwell is expected to step into the primary scoring role and lead the charge offensively.

Winter’s trajectory looks just as promising. The Minnesota native has added some size, has no shortage of confidence, plays with fire, and possesses a modern skill set that makes him a serious threat as a floor-spacing big. He started all 37 games and averaged 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds on an efficient 56.4% from the field, despite playing just 21 minutes per game. And with a 35.8% mark from beyond the arc, Winter’s already proven he can stretch the floor in a meaningful way.

Everyone in the building is expecting a big step forward. With a ceiling as high as Winter's, combined with the year-over-year growth we’ve seen, I’m excited to see what is possible for him entering his junior season. The sky is the limit for Winter.

What’s even more promising? The guys coming in to complement them have skillsets that fit so cleanly, they make an already dynamic offense even more versatile if it all clicks. Nick Boyd is a prime example.

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The 6-foot-3 guard brings pace, poise, and playmaking—three traits Wisconsin needed after losing key veterans. He’s battle-tested, with over 100 career games and three NCAA Tournament appearances to his name, including having played an important role on Florida Atlantic’s Final Four run.

Last season at San Diego State, he averaged 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, while starting every contest. Boyd gives you a veteran presence who can initiate offense, steady the tempo, play on or off the ball, and make the right read when things break down.

He carried a 27.2 assist rate last season and finished with 121 assists to just 50 turnovers across 31 games, good for a 2.4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. And he shot 35.1% from beyond the arc, which means you’ve got to respect him as a shooter, too. That’s the kind of efficiency and decision-making Wisconsin’s offense can really thrive with running the point. This team needed something closer to a true point guard, and they've got it.

"He's an exciting player in so many ways with the ball in his hands," said Krabbenhoft. "He’s probably the fastest guy we’ve had in a long time with the ball, and that’s going to be exciting for our fans to watch. He's been well-schooled under both Dusty May at FAU and Coach Dutch [Brian Dutcher] at San Diego State. He understands how to win and what it looks like.

“He pushes the envelope. His competitiveness is up there with some of the guys we’ve had: Johnny Davis, Brad Davison, guys who just bring it every day. You almost got to pull him back a little bit, and you'd always prefer to coach from that standpoint. He’s just a lot of fun to be around."

And then there’s Andrew Rohde, another experienced guard who’s going to give this team even more versatility in the backcourt.

Rohde bounced back in a big way last season, starting 26 of 30 games and becoming one of Virginia’s most reliable playmakers. He averaged 9.3 points, 4.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, while taking a massive step forward with his efficiency. Rohde shot 43.2% from the field, knocked down 41.3% of his threes on 3.5 attempts per game, and converted 77.3% at the free throw line. He also finished with 129 assists to just 55 turnovers, suitable for a 2.34-to-1 ratio.

That’s a big guard, a 6-foot-6 player who can handle the ball, make the right reads, and stretch the floor at a high clip. And here’s another stat that caught my eye: since 2008, only three high-major college basketball players 6-foot-6 or taller have posted a 25% assist rate while shooting 40% or better from deep on 100+ attempts. Lonzo Ball. Desmond Bane. And now, Rohde. That puts him in rare air and tells you exactly the type of selfless and unique skill set that Wisconsin just added to its rotation.

"We saw him in AAU, we saw him in high school, we know his high school coach well. So we knew he was a good player," Krabbenhoft said. "Our systems had changed, his game matured, his defense got a lot better under Coach [Tony] Bennett, and it was the right fit this time [to come home]. It didn’t take long for both sides to figure that out. He’s coming in with a lot of experience. He’s ready to help this team win.

"It was important to Andrew. That’s what made it neat. Guys from the state that wear that W with pride, those are the guys who help get you through tough days during the year. He understands what it means to wear that jersey, and he’ll wear it with pride."

Guys like Boyd and Rohde give Wisconsin exactly what it needs in terms of unselfish facilitators. These are guys who can push tempo, shoot it from anywhere on the court, and happily take a backseat if it’s someone else’s night. That’s rare. But it's how the Badgers like to play basketball.

Then there’s Portland transfer forward Austin Rapp. If he becomes what the coaching staff believes he can develop into, this offense opens up in a way we haven’t seen before. Rapp is a high-volume shooter who does most of his work away from the rim.

Rapp knocked down 83 3-point attempts last season at a 35.2% clip. At 6-foot-10, Rapp averaged 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 blocks per game, and also posted a 15.3% assist rate, not far off from what Steven Crowl gave Wisconsin out of the post last year. That matters. It provides this team with a way to replicate some of the offensive flow they had through the low post while adding a whole new layer of spacing.

"He's big, he's got big shoulders, and he shoots eight or nine threes a game. It fits the new game and the way we're playing. We're trying to play a little faster and be able to stretch the floor for the guards to make plays," Krabbenhoft explained. "He popped out right away on film. And then as we got to know him, his family, and his background, a lot of the connections back to Australia. It just came together really nicely for us and for Austin as well.

“This will be a great home for him to continue to develop and get to his dreams and goals as a player. It's such a great fit. It fills such a need. We had a need up front, and the way he plays is where we're going. So he's an exciting player. He's a tremendous young man. He's got a bright personality and another fun accent to be around."

He’s comfortable attacking closeouts and making the next read. The jumper pulls defenders out, the solid handle keeps them honest, and the court vision allows him to make you pay. You can run offense through him on occasion or play him off of others. That’s a really nice modern chess piece. And if it clicks? Wisconsin’s offense has a different ceiling. He’s not stepping on toes. He’s stretching defenses. And if he hits, he’s the kind of complementary forward that makes everyone else’s life easier.

This is where you start to see the blueprint take shape.

It’s not just that the pieces fit. It’s that the system around them has evolved. Under the guidance of Special Assistant to the Head Coach Kirk Penney, who has assumed a full-time offensive coordinator role, Wisconsin has leaned deeper into analytics, pace, spacing, and efficient shot selection. The result is a program that has modernized and now emphasizes player development through game-rep simulations on gamedays, a deep understanding of data, and a more dynamic playbook.

And when you factor in Greg Stiemsma’s work with the Spurs translating into a more pro-ready development structure and Marc VandeWettering effectively acting as the program’s general manager, it’s clear this is no longer a reactionary program. They’re building to stay ahead of the curve.

Now, let’s talk depth.

Wisconsin lost John Tonje, Crowl, Max Klesmit, Carter Gilmore, Kamari McGee, and Markus Ilver to graduation. Those aren’t small losses in terms of locker room presence and continuity. The Badgers also lost guards Daniel Freitag and Camren Hunter, along with forwards Xavier Amos and Chris Hodges, to the transfer portal this offseason, which impacted their depth. But the staff moved quickly and quietly to stabilize the bench.

Elijah Gray and Braeden Carrington are two names I’d keep an eye on.

Carrington, in particular, is a strong defender on the ball, can serve as a valuable spot-up shooter, do some of the dirty work, and brings valuable experience. He averaged 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game this past season at Tulsa while starting 19 of 29 contests.

“When you look at portal additions, he [Carrington] won’t be walking into anything new. He's just a really good fit culturally," Krabbenhoft said.

"That Minnesota pipeline has been a tremendous asset for us. Those guys understand the Big Ten and the culture at Wisconsin. He plays tough. He's a two-way player. Guards really well. I think from day one he'll be a tremendous defender for us. And I think we’ll kind of help his offensive game go to another level, both putting the ball on the floor and shooting.”

And while the frontcourt was looking a little thin earlier this summer, the addition of Gray from Temple fills a specific need. He’s a plug-and-play forward who brings toughness, experience, and fills a niche role. His usage rate was 23.2% last year. He shot reasonably well on spot-up 3-point attempts. He can be a tweener forward in the rotation that provides a spark, taking on some of those minutes that Gilmore used to absorb.

That gives Wisconsin options. It allows young players like Aleksas Bieliauskas, Will Garlock, and Riccardo Greppi to develop without being rushed. And it gives the coaching staff a little more clarity in how they manage rotations and stagger minutes between Winter and Rapp.

"He’s a really good young man," said Krabbenhoft. "Then you dive into who he is as a basketball player, he’s still got room to grow. I’m excited to see him take another jump here. He’ll bring some experience to the locker room. Another young man that said, 'Man, I just want to be part of a winning culture.' Everybody knows the culture at Wisconsin is all about winning. Anytime that’s the reason a kid wants to be here, that’s the fastest way to Coach Gard’s heart. So, we were excited to add him."

Jack Janicki, who carved out a meaningful bench role last year, is another name I think could push for a lot more minutes. He’s earned it.

Jannicki appeared in 37 games last season, averaging 1.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 0.4 steals in just over 11 minutes a night. The shooting numbers weren’t pretty — 39.1% from the field, 27.7% from beyond the arc, and 33% at the free throw line — but given the way this staff has talked about him, and even last offseason when Coach Penny told BadgerNotes he might be the best shooter on the team, there’s reason to believe that those numbers can climb. With more confidence and more consistent minutes off the bench, I’m curious — and honestly excited — to see what kind of jump he can make.

"I mean, he is a talented player. Guys follow his lead," Krabbenhoft shared. "He doesn’t always have to say the most. Names like Josh Gasser come to mind when I see just how he is as a teammate and a player. Different game, but same impact. You’ve just got to have him on the floor.

"Getting him locked up was just as important as anybody else in this program. We want him to be a Badger for a long time because that’s how you win championships at Wisconsin, with guys like that. Janicki is going to be right in the mix and he’s going to help this team win a lot of games."

The incoming freshman class helps elevate the floor of this team, too. That includes Garlock, a promising in-state big man from Middleton High School that the staff is high on long-term; 4-star combo guard Zach Kinziger out of De Pere, one of the top prospects in Wisconsin; and Hayden Jones, who just wrapped up playing for the New Zealand U19 national team and brings a versatile big-guard skill set that’s intriguing if it all comes together. Together, they round out a group that gives Wisconsin a blend of different skill sets, upside, and depth heading into the season.

While it’s unlikely any of these freshmen crack the rotation right away, if one of them does manage to make the jump and earn minutes on an experienced roster like this, it’ll be a clear sign the staff has something to be genuinely excited about for the future.

Does this team still have questions? Of course. The portal era is an imperfect science, and there’s always volatility in how these pieces fit until you see them under the lights. But when I look at the roster? The fits make sense. The timelines align. This team has experience. And most importantly, the structure around them has evolved to support it.

This isn’t Wisconsin trying to replicate what worked last season. This is Wisconsin men's basketball building something that works in 2025-26.

They’ve stopped playing catch-up operationally. They’ve started setting the pace. Will it all work? That’s the question Wisconsin won't be able to answer until this Winter. But from where I’m sitting today, the Badgers have a top-seven Big Ten roster with a good chance at dancing again.

And that’s not nothing.

The vision here is pretty clear: space the floor, shoot it well from deep at a high volume, and open up driving lanes for your playmakers to go to work. You’ve got experienced guards who value the ball, a frontcourt that can stretch the defense, and a system built around movement and decision-making. That’s a dangerous combination if it comes together.

Now, there are some unknowns. They’ll need most of these portal additions to hit. They’ll need internal development to continue. But if there’s one thing the last couple of seasons have shown me, it’s that Gard and this staff have earned the benefit of the doubt. They’ve built this thing intentionally. They’ve modernized the blueprint. And they’ve done it without losing sight of what’s always made Wisconsin basketball unique.

This group looks ready to compete. If this staff hits on their evaluations, they’re not just going back to the NCAA Tournament; they're doing it with a team that could win on any given night with their shooting and plays a modern brand of basketball that is appealing to both players and agents.

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