The Wisconsin Badgers are gearing up for the 2026 campaign with a roster that looks markedly different from the one that finished last season.
A wave of departures saw Nick Boyd, John Blackwell, Andrew Rohde, Aleksas Bieliauskas and Braeden Carrington exit via the transfer portal or exhaust eligibility, leaving large shoes to fill.
New Faces on the Horizon
Coach Greg Gard has responded by tapping the portal for fresh talent, bringing in Australian point guard Owen Foxwell, George Washington guard Trey Autry, Miami (OH) wing Eian Elmer and Hofstra center Victory Onuetu.
Foxwell, Autry and Elmer are slated to start, adding depth to an offense that ranked among the nation’s top 20 a year ago, while Onuetu provides interior presence.
Returning frontcourt stalwarts Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp give the team continuity, each harboring legitimate hopes of becoming the team’s leading scorer.
Winter’s junior season produced a career‑high 13.1 points per game, whereas Rapp surged to 11.7 points per game in the latter half of the year, shooting efficiently after January 31.
The competition for the scoring lead will likely hinge on how quickly the newcomers adapt and whether Winter or Rapp can maintain their recent efficiency.